what tree to plant in wet flood plain area? (front yard, weeds, planting)

[cdelena]

First check what is native in local wetlands... if you don't like those choices look at what will grow and make you happy. I have always liked Bald Cypress for wet areas.

[BoydS]

I agree with the bald cypress. I have 3 of them ... great for shade and they look great.

[lifelongMOgal]

Have you considered the water tupelo?

1437086 - water tupelo, Nyssa aquatica (Cornales: Nyssaceae) @ Forestry Images

http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/us...d/269tupel.pdf

[paperhouse]

Red Maples can tolerate a bit of standing water too. The weeping willow will reach 60' tall and about 40' wide. With that much water, they will grow very fast.

[MI-Roger]

Weeping willows drop a tremendous amount of branches. They look nice if trimmed properly but their canopy is dense enough to block the sunlight to grass underneath, and their branches are notoriously weak - lots of storm damage. If not properly maintained you can wind up with an tall tree looking like Cousin It of Addams family fame, growing in a patch of wet dirt.

The Dawn Redwood is a deciduous conifer (the needles turn rusty brown, then fall off the tree every autumn) that LOVES wet soil. Maximum height is 150+ feet for this species, and the bark develops into the thick craggy bark as seen on the much taller California Redwwods. This tree may be the only conifer that likes wet soils. Our single Dawn Redwood, now about 20 ft tall, has dried the wet areas in both our yard and our neighbor's yard. (Photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c4/SJSU_Dawn_Redwood.JPG/250px- (broken link)

[gentlearts]

They will absolutely be great in that situation, but they are huge, so allow enough room.

[misplaced1]

If you want to add a bit of a more decorative willow, try a curly leaf willow, they are quite interesting.

[nezlie]

Bald cypress are very nice and thrive in wet habitats. They do lose their leaves in winter, and in the fall they turn a red-orange.

[nezlie]

Bald cypress are very nice and thrive in wet habitats. They do lose their leaves in winter, and in the fall they turn a red-orange. The Bald Cypress is a conifer even though it sheds its leaves.

[southernnaturelover]

Atlantic White Cedar is another option. For a hardwood you could also plant Overcup Oak.