Specific shrubs should be chosen for moist soil or shade environments
Where water may stand for any length of time, drainage should be provided by grading for runoff or digging in soil amendments. You may, however, still be left with a generally moist soil. Some shrubs will not only tolerate moist conditions better than others, but some thirsty shrubs may also "soak up" some of that moisture.
American Cranberrybush - Viburnum trilobum
Compact American Cranberrybush - Viburnum t. 'Compacta"
Nannyberry - Viburnum lentago
Bailey Red Twigged Dogwood - Cornus sericea 'Bailey"
Ivory Halo Dogwood - Cornus alba Bail Halo
Cardinal Dogwood - Cornus s. 'Cardinal'
Yellowtwig Dogwood - Cornus x. 'Flaviramea'
Isanti dogwood - Cornus s. 'Isanti'
Kelsey Dogwood - Cornus x. 'Kelsey'
Pussy Willow - Salix caprea
Dwarf Blue Leaf Willow - Salix purpurea 'Nana'
White Snowberry - Symphoricarpus albus
These shrubs will tolerate generally shady areas with limited sun exposure. Most shady areas are also dry, but if your site is moist, you will also find many of these shrubs also listed above in Shrubs for Moist Soil.
Alpine Current - Ribes alpinum
Coralberry or Red Indiancurrant - Symphoricarpus orbiculatus
Pagoda Dogwood - Cornus alternifolia
Gray Dogwood - Cornus racemosa
Bailey Red Twigged Dogwood - Cornus sericea 'Bailey'
Cardinal Dogwood - Cornus s. 'Cardinal'
Yellow Twig Dogwood - Cornus s. 'Flaviramea'
Isanti Dogwood - Cornus s. 'Isanti'
Red Berried Elder - Sambucus pubens
Bush Honeysuckle - Diervilla lonicera
Hills of Snow Hydrangea - Hydrangea arborescens 'Grandiflora'
Annabelle Hydrangea - Hydrange a. 'Annabelle'
Juneberry - Amelanchier canadensis
Snowberry - Symphoricarpus albus
Ash Leaf Spirea - Sorbaria sorbifolia
Arrowwood - Viburnum dentatum
Mohican Viburnum - Viburnum l. 'Mohican'
Nannyberry - Viburnum lentago
American Cranberrybush - Viburnum trilobum
Compact American Cranberrybush - Viburnum t. 'Compactum'
Common Witch Hazel - Hamamelis virginiana