Maple Trees

• The red maple -- also called the swamp maple, soft maple or the scarlet maple -- grows as far north as Minnesota and as far south as Florida in the United States. According to Wisconsin's Basin Education Initiative, the red maple ranks high among the best shade trees for a landscape. It can grow in many different soil conditions, from dry, well-drained soils to wet, swamp-like soils. The average height of a full-grown adult maple is between 60 and 90 feet. The Freeman hybrid maple is another maple tree that will tolerate poorly drained soils. This tree is a cross between the red maple and the silver maple. It grows faster than the red maple and prefers a sunny area.
  
  

Ash Trees

• The black ash tree is a small, slow-growing tree that tolerates poor-draining soil. Other common names for the black ash tree is swamp ash, brown ash and water ash. The native range of this tree is the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. The average black ash tree at maturity is between 60 and 70 feet tall. The black ash needs a sunny site and is susceptible to deer damage. The green ash tree will also tolerate saturated soils. It is a bit smaller than the black ash, measuring between 35 and 65 feet at maturity. It produces greenish-yellow flowers and is a useful choice for a windbreak planting.
  
  

Oak Trees

• Many different oak trees can tolerate wet soil. Some species such as the swamp white oak, overcup oak and live oak can tolerate poor-draining soils but not swampy conditions where rain water pools near the tree for extended periods. For an oak tree that can tolerate extremely poor-draining soils, one must look at the pin oak or the nuttall oak. The pin oak is a rapid-growing large tree that can reach a height of 120 feet at 75 years old. You may plant a pin oak as a shade or as an ornamental tree from New England to Northern Arkansas. In other areas -- 6b through 8b USDA hardiness zones -- the nuttall oak is an option. This tree needs a sunny growing area and will mature at approximately 80 feet high.
  
  

Tupelo Trees

• The swamp tupelo can grow in both dry and poor-draining wet soils in USDA hardiness zones six to nine. It is often seen in home landscapes due to its colorful fall foliage and dark green glossy leaves. This tree is a member of the dogwood family. This large tree will reach a height of 100 feet at maturity. In southern areas of the United States the water tupelo -- or cotton gum tree -- is a large tree capable of thriving in poor-draining soils. The water tupelo may bring wildlife into your yard because the fruit of this tree is a food source to many birds and animals.