15 Plants That Absorb a Lot of Water: Top Choices

Plants that absorb a lot of water are great additions to rain-soaked gardens.

Not only do these plants take in excess water, but they also bring beauty, fragrance, and a bit of drama to homes – think of a trumpet creeper or elephant ear!

In this article, we will discover the amazing plants that soak up large amounts of water.

Water Absorbing Plants for Yard Spaces

1. Monkey Flower

Areas that are frequently soaked with water can be bad for plants, especially for those that are prone to root rot. Standing water can also affect yards negatively by causing the soil to turn muddy. 

These charming yellow flowers have markings on their petals that seem like monkey faces, hence the name. Since they are wildflowers, monkeyflower plants host the larvae of butterflies, including the Common Buckeye and Baltimore species.

By providing foliage as food for the caterpillars, these plants in turn benefit from the pollination activities brought about by the butterflies.

2. Trumpet Creeper

This fast-growing creeping vine produces beautiful flowers in wet areas that are often inhospitable to most plants.

These vividly colored flowers also play an important part in feeding neighborhood hummingbirds and hungry butterflies. In turn, the plant benefits from visiting birds and insects through pollination.

3. Carolina Jessamine

Another vine makes the list of the best plants for water runoff by being beautiful and extremely easy to care for. When cultivated as a ground cover, this plant is recommended to be kept at 3 feet in height or even less.

The flowers are sweetly scented, attracting bees and butterflies, and making these great pollinator-attracting plants. 

4. Hardy Hibiscus

This vigorous grower is known by many names, such as swamp rose mallow, crimson-eyed rosemallow, and eastern rosemallow.

The hardy hibiscus or Hibiscus moscheutos provides thirsty hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees with sustenance in the form of nectar. In return, these happy pollinators make sure that the flower’s pollen is well-distributed.

5. Indian Grass

These types of grasses absorb water abundantly, making them ideal clumping plants for gardens.

The richly colored flowers attract high-value beneficial insects while native bees make use of the grasses for nesting materials. The grasses themselves make nutritious fodder for livestock and wildlife.

6. Elephant Ear

Under Colocasia, Alocasia, and Xanthosoma genera, these plants with large dramatic leaves that resemble the ears of elephants are popular indoor and outdoor plants.

Bursting with unique tropical leaves, these plants come in different sizes, but all of them require similar but low-maintenance care. Keep them away from curious nibblers as many can be toxic. 

7. Daylilies

With over 35,000 hybrids, these lilies are extremely easy to care for and make wonderful plants in gardens with areas with excessive soil moisture. Surprisingly, day lilies are popular staples in many Asian cuisines.

They are both used in fresh and dried forms because every part of the plant is edible. However, they can be hallucinogenic in large quantities.

8. Swamp Milkweed

This plant is also known as Pink Milkweed. This is due to the presence of fragrant blossoms that show up at the terminal of the tall perennial.

The flowers are rich mixtures of rose and purple shades perfectly blended to attract the eyes of humans, as well as pollinating insects and birds. This particular milkweed is one of the bushes that soak up water quite well.

9. American Cranberrybush Viburnum

This large attractive bush has exquisite white flowers that appear in mid to late summer. This is not one of the plants that soak up water in shade though, as it prefers to be exposed to full sun for at least 4 hours a day.

If you need an attractive hedge plant for the wet borders of your garden, this bush will be a great option.

10. Purple Coneflower

This plant is considered quite important for many pollinators as it provides them with pollen and nectar.

Bees, butterflies, and birds often visit this plant in the wild since it can be found thriving in prairies and open woodlands. When cultivated in gardens, the purple coneflower ensures that the surrounding plants get their visits from beneficial insects.

11. Bee Balm

This woodland native has a dense, rounded cluster of flowers that come out from a square stem. Growing up to 3 feet in height, the bee balm features large glossy dark-green leaves with a prominent oval shape.

Homeowners often bring this to their gardens in the hopes of attracting beneficial insects and birds.

12. Blue Elderberry

This plant is often grown mostly for its flowers and fruits, which are edible. The flowers contain high amounts of antioxidants. As a result, dried blue elderberry flowers are used in traditional medicine to treat bleeding and diarrhea.

The fruits, on the other hand, are often made into jams and preserves. This plant can become invasive when grown outside of its habitat.

13. Primrose

Short-lived yet vigorous, primrose plants require very little care. These perennial plants are ideal for planting in borders, garden beds, and naturalized areas.

They can even be cultivated indoors as long as they get the right amount of light. Homeowners are rewarded by their showy flowers that come in various colors, as well as in delightful color combinations.

14. Golden Club 

This plant has very unusual flower spikes that instantly grab the eye. The flower spikes come out during the early to the late spring season.

The white and yellow spikes contrast wonderfully with the deep green foliage of the plant. In the wild, it can be found thriving in the shallow waters of swamps, streams, and ponds.

15. Globeflower

The plant can grow up to 2 feet in height while its flowers are around 18 inches in diameter. When the whole plant is in bloom, it can look quite impressive with several brilliant yellow globe flowers all over it.

The globe is made up of sepals since the true flower is found inside. While it is mostly self-fertile, this plant can also be pollinated by many different insects.

Conclusion

Some plants work best in water-soaked soils, and if your garden is prone to constant wetness, then the plants mentioned above just might be for you.

Here are some reminders you will need to note:

• These types of plants are ideal for gardens with swampy, marshy, or wetland soil conditions.
• Most of the water-loving plants mentioned above may tolerate a bit of drought but will perish if it lasts long.
• When growing these types of plants, make sure that they are properly controlled and will not be invasive to your garden and neighborhood.

Do you have the conditions for growing these types of plants? Then get planting!

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