I posted this in the Great Lakes forum and someone suggested I post here. I have a very shady area under some existing hardwood trees (mostly oak and maple) that butts up to a natural wooded area. The tree limbs don't start until at least 20-30ft up so I have plenty of room for large shrubs or ornamental understory trees. My problem is this - for most of March, April and part of May the area is almost under water. For days and sometimes weeks I have standing water about 4 inches deep. Of course, in the summer and fall it dries up and then the trees compete for any available moisture. Draining the area isn't really an option. I'm planning on building up with soil any place I plant but it will still be saturated every spring. Any ideas of trees or shrubs that will tolerate wet feet for several weeks a year and then dry for the summer?!?

I'm in the Cleveland, Ohio area about 5 miles from Lake Erie.