Plants suitable for waterlogged garden.

Hi.
I posted in the new member's section saying hello and explaining I moved house last year and I'm having problems with my garden. I've got a question and I'm getting conflicting info as to the best solution plant wise.
My garden has poor, clay soil that is almost always damp and usually completely waterlogged. It also runs downhill to the far left corner and this is the area I'm having most trouble with.
It's west facing and this area gets sun for the latter half of the day.
At the moment I've got spotted laurel along the back fence which seems to be doing fine but in front of that I've got a camellia plant that is looking brown and withered and an acer that I moved from somewhere else because it didn't seem to like it and now isn't showing any shoots in the new position so may have died over the winter ( not sure ).
I live in Bolton and I'm not exaggerating when I say it rains at least 2 days in 3 throughout the year. It's surrounded by the pennine moors on 3 sides and I can only assume this creates a micro climate for rainy conditions.
I can't put a drain in because the only place this could run off to is the houses that back onto mine and I like to think of mysef as a good neighbour so don't want to potentially turn their garden into a swamp just to improve mine a bit.
There's a wealth of info on here on ways to improve clay soil so I don't need to trouble you good member's with info on that, wht I'd really like to know is if, in your experience, there are any shrubs or plants that are happy or at least tolerant of very poor draining soil?
The lady at my local nursery suggested hosta's and astilbi's but reading elsewhere seems to suggest that both of these prefer good drainage and shade. Is this true?
If I was to have a wish list it would be that the plant need to be able to grow to several feet, is Japanese in origin, has a flowering season of some sort, interesting foliage and is easy to find and maintain. I realise though, that I'm going to have to make compromises so I'm happy to listen to any suggestions.
Thanks in advance.
Oh, and the house is only 10 years old and was just turfed when I moved in if that makes any difference.

 

I think you would be better looking at water plants, particularily what are called marginals.
http://www.lilieswatergardens.co.uk/marginal-garden-pond-plants-c-127.html
I googled it and this is just 1 site.

 

How much sun does the garden get? Is there a sunny corner where you could dig a "pond" out?

Depending on the amount of sun you could try the following;
Iris pseudacorus grows in water...............


This tall (anything up to two metres) unknown Iris grew in water for me................


Iris foetidissima is very adaptable, very variable (as the following three photos show) and self seeds producing some interesting shades and colour combinations..............






Crocosmia and Dierama are also good pond marginals.

 

Hi Coldwarkid,

How about Iris Ensata. These are Japanese plants that really thrive in permanently damp soil.

 

Hostas big and small,chusan palm maybe,marsh marigolds........

Have you considered mound planting whatever you want to grow ?

Or build a rockery and again plant up with anyhting you fancy

 

How about some of the dogwoods with their coloured stems, also some of the willows have decorative stems. Bog myrtle, some of the rushes and Carex species, but would not recommend Carex pendula; as it self seeds and spreads, if it takes a liking to you.

 

Those Iris are stunning @longk

 

Thanks for all the replies so far. Im working long shifts at the moment but when i get in i'll google all the suggestions.

 

I really like this plant. If I was to purchase some of these would it a good idea to plant several together or just one or two on their own? It says that it's clump forming. Does this mean it's best to buy a couple and let them spread over time? I can buy 8 for £19. Would it be a good idea to mix them in with hostas? Sorry about all the questions.

 

Hi Coldwarkid,

I think it's best to plant them around 18" apart, that will give them room to spread. The other thing to remember is the size of the flowers, they open out flat and can be up to 8 or 9" across.

I don't know about interplanting with Hostas as I believe ( I don't grow Hostas so someone may correct me here ) they can spread and overwhelm the Irises.

 

Perhaps you should tell mine that Anthony. It's thriving in well drained, sandy soil.

 

Yeah, I know Sheal

But they're like other Irises aren't they, they like it either way

 

As long as they get some sun I think most are fairly happy with their situation.