My garden is on heavy clay,which gets very waterlogged during the winter (ok, late autumn and winter through to early spring). I've been here a few years now and seen several plants die because they can't cope with being so waterlogged for part of the year. I've resolved this year to only plant things which can tolerate soggy ground and heavy clay soil.
Something I find a bit frustrating is that, when you look up what soil a plant likes, it almost always says 'free draining'. But it's harder to find out what plants will tolerate soggy soil,band which definitely won't. I thought a thread on the topic would be a good idea so we can share our experiences.
Currently thriving in my garden:
Camelia
Cornus (the one with red stems)
Philadelphus
Weigela
Cherry tree
Malus Rudolph (tree)
Viburnum tinus
Spirea
Acer (tree)
Pittosporum
Osmanthus burkwoodii
Enkianthus campanulatus
Leucothoe fontanesiana
Escallonia iveyi
Hydrangea
Berberis
Viburnum plucatum mariesii
Nandina domestica
It's hard to remember everything which has died, but off the top of my head:
Eucalyptus gunni (I should have seen that one coming!)
Delphinium
Choisya ternata Sundance (didn't die, but really struggled)
Syringa vulgaris (lilac) - again, didn't die, but struggled and has never flowered
Convulvus cneorum
Hebe (almost but not quite dead)
Dicentra spectabilis
Pretty much every bulb I've ever planted
I'd be interested to hear from anyone else with similar soil to see what's worked for you and what hasn't.