Planertree: The Unsung Hero of Wet Spaces
If you’ve ever wondered what to plant in that soggy corner of your yard where nothing else seems to thrive, meet the planertree (Planera aquatica). This native North American tree might not win any beauty contests, but it’s absolutely perfect for those challenging wet spots that leave most gardeners scratching their heads.
What Exactly Is a Planertree?
The planertree is a perennial deciduous tree that typically grows as a single-stemmed specimen reaching 40-50 feet at maturity. Think of it as the practical cousin of the elm tree – it has similar elm-like leaves and a naturally graceful form, but it’s much happier with its feet wet. This slow-growing tree develops a moderate canopy that provides nice summer shade while allowing plenty of light through in winter when the leaves drop.
Where Does It Call Home?
This tree is a true southeastern native, naturally occurring across 14 states including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. You’ll find it thriving in floodplains, swamps, and along riverbanks throughout its range.
The planertree is classified as an Obligate Wetland species across all regions where it grows, meaning it almost always occurs in wetlands. This isn’t a tree that’s just tolerant of wet conditions – it actually prefers them!
Why You Might Want to Plant One
Here’s where the planertree really shines: it solves problems. If you have:
- Areas with poor drainage or seasonal flooding
- Clay soils that stay soggy
- A desire to create habitat for native wildlife
- Interest in naturalistic or restoration landscaping
- Need for a shade tree in consistently moist conditions
Then planertree might be your new best friend. It’s particularly valuable for rain gardens, bioswales, and naturalized areas where you want a native tree that can handle challenging conditions.
The Perfect Growing Conditions
Planertree is surprisingly specific about what it wants, but once you understand its needs, it’s quite low-maintenance:
- Moisture: Loves consistently moist to wet soils and can handle periodic flooding
- Soil: Prefers fine to medium-textured soils (clay and loam work great)
- pH: Adaptable to a wide range from 5.0 to 8.5
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade (quite shade tolerant)
- Climate: Hardy in USDA zones 6-9
- Drainage: Poor drainage is actually preferred!
One thing to note: this tree has low drought tolerance, so it’s definitely not for dry sites or areas where you’ll forget to water.
Planting and Care Tips
The good news is that planertree is relatively easy to grow if you’ve got the right conditions:
- When to plant: Spring is ideal, giving the tree time to establish before winter
- Spacing: Allow 15-20 feet between trees for proper development
- Watering: Keep consistently moist, especially during establishment
- Fertilizing: Medium fertility requirements – a balanced fertilizer in spring is usually sufficient
- Pruning: Minimal pruning needed; remove dead or damaged branches as needed
The tree is commercially available through native plant nurseries and can be propagated by seed or purchased as bare root or container plants.
What About Wildlife and Pollinators?
While planertree flowers are wind-pollinated and not particularly attractive to pollinators, the tree still provides valuable ecosystem services. As a native species, it supports local wildlife food webs and provides nesting sites and shelter for various birds and small mammals.
Is Planertree Right for Your Garden?
Planertree isn’t the showiest tree you can plant, and it’s definitely not the fastest growing. But if you’re dealing with wet, challenging sites where other trees struggle, or if you’re passionate about native plants and habitat restoration, it’s an excellent choice.
Consider planertree if you want a reliable, long-lived native tree that can handle the wet conditions that send other trees to an early grave. It’s perfect for naturalistic landscapes, restoration projects, and anywhere you need a set it and forget it tree for difficult wet sites.
Just remember: this is a tree with very specific habitat needs. Don’t try to grow it in dry, well-drained soils – you’ll both be miserable. But give it the wet feet it craves, and you’ll have a dependable native tree that will thrive for decades to come.
