Please find me a magic shrub

[copernicium]

Is there a shrub that lives in flooded soil (not clay, constant water flow from next garden) and sun from morning to early evening? Everything I plant dies on that side and it's so frustrating as the rest of the garden is quite established.

It would also help if it can be purchased already quite large in size but not £££

And bonus points if it's evergreen!

(I don't want much do I?!)

Dogwwoods might be okay, but not evergreen. They do have lovely stems in winter though. Viburnums might be okay and I have physocarpus in a wet bit of soil. Bamboo would probably love it but go mad.

Agree - a dogwood would be stunning. What about a cornus kousa? You positively have to keep the soil moist in the summer as they are drought intolerant. The neighbours would be doing the job for you. They can get really quite big. Beautiful pale yellowy green flowers. Like an origami folder would do. I love them.

What about a giant rhubarb?

How about a Flamingo Willow? They're usually sold as a "standard", grafted onto a trunk from another tree, so will never grow taller than the height as sold. Being willows, they love the wet soil and sunlight. They're not evergreen but they have pink leaves in the spring, dappled green and cream foliage in the summer, and pinkish branches in winter.

Oh, and the "lollipop" appearance in the pic above is achieved by pruning. If you prefer a more natural silhouette, just don't prune it and the canopy of the tree will spread out.

@Mrsmorton do I remember that they are poisonous to....(something)? I have cats, dogs and young children...

These are all lovely suggestions thank you, I like them all! I have the space for 4-6, depending on size. Spread and coverage is good but next door would go mental if a bamboo shoot sprung up!

Just the leaves OP, same as normal rhubarb. Hope you find something fab.

I bought a dog wood a couple years ago and it’s seems to like my garden (nothing else does), they are pretty versatile. I also have loads of ferns that have multiplied in my soggy/shady area.

I've tried ferns, I think it's too sunny.

Dogwood seems a definite.

@Mrsmorton hmm I love rhubarb and always had it in the garden as a child. I love the coverage it would give too. Very tempted by this!

Have you tried Royal Fern? (Osmunda regallis) It says partial shade, but I've seen it on Scottish moorland without a tree in sight.

Willow is obvious. You could also try alder, which is a large bush or small tree and has catkins rather like hazel. "Alder carr" is the name of a habitat type - flooded woodland with alder.

Perennial plants for that situation would include Rodgersia (architectural leaves and big panicles of small white or pink flowers), Astilbe (attractive leaves with fluffy spikes of white, pink or red flowers), and Lathyrus salicifolia - purple loosestrife - tall dense spikes of reddish purple flowers.