Poorly drained soil and gardens with a high-water table can become saturated with water at certain periods during the rainy season.
When water does not drain away, the air pockets between the soils particles get filled with water, creating poor oxygen levels in the soil. When oxygen levels are low or unavailable, basic plant functions cease and tree health will decline and can eventually cause death.
In areas where this is a yearly occurrence, it would be better to consider planting trees that can tolerate very wet soil conditions for a short period during the rainy season. Only two tree species can grow successfully in waterlogged areas, namely a Swamp Cyprus and Mangrove Trees.
Many indigenous tree species will only grow in well drained moist conditions. They are naturally found growing in the forested areas next to streams in the low-lying ravines. These trees have adapted to their environment by sending most of their roots up into the surrounding embankments. Thus, always having some roots in well drained upper embankments when the streams are in full flow.
See below a list of trees that can be grown in various degrees of moisture:
You can click on the common name to read more about the tree species on our website.
| Trees for wet sites – Deciduous trees | |||
| Common name | Latin name | Habitat | Soil Conditions tolerated |
| Silver Birch | Betula pendula | Moist shade | Well-drained soil only |
| Pecan | Carya illinoensis | Wet soil | Can tolerate Clay |
| Sweetgum | Liquidambar styraciflua | Extended wet conditions | Can tolerate Clay |
| London plane tree | Platanus x acerifolia | Wet soil | Can tolerate Clay |
| Chinese popular | Populus simonii | Wet soil/ Moist shade | Can tolerate Heavy Clay |
| Water oak | Quercus nigra | Extended wet conditions | Can tolerate Heavy Clay |
| Pin oak | Quercus palustris | Extended wet conditions | Can tolerate Heavy Clay |
| Weeping willow | Salix babylonica | Wet soil | Can tolerate Clay |
| Swamp cypress | Taxodium distichum | Extended wet conditions | Can tolerate Heavy Clay |
| Fever Tree | Vachelia (Acacia) xanthophloea | Extended wet conditions | Can tolerate Clay |
| Paperbark | Vachelia (Acacia) sieberiana | Extended wet conditions | Can tolerate Clay |
| Trees for Wet Sites – Evergreen Trees | |||
| Common name | Latin name | Habitat | Soil conditions tolerated |
| Red Elder | Cunonia capensis | Damp areas | Well-drained soil only |
| River bushwillow | Combretum erythrophyllum | Extended wet conditions | Can tolerate Heavy Clay |
| Forest bushwillow | Combretum kraussii | Extended wet conditions | Can tolerate Heavy Clay |
| Port Jackson Fig | Ficus rubiginosa | Damp areas | Well-drained soil to Clay |
| Cape holly | Ilex mitis | Moist shade | Well-drained soil only |
| Southern magnolia | Magnolia grandiflora | Wet soil | Well- drained to Clay |
| Water Pear | Syzygium guineense | Wet soil | Clay |
| Water Berry | Syzygium cordatum | Extended wet conditions | Clay |
