Water loving plants to suck up sitting water....

We have areas on our sloping land where water sits (great for the mozzies!) as it drains through from the property above. It is a feature of our area  and we are taking steps to remove it with ditches etc near to the house but where it gathers in other patches I wondered about planting up with plants which will benefit from so much water, hopefully remove some of it from the surface and look great to boot. if they happened to have mozzie repellent properties even better!! Any ideas? Thanks

rachel68 wrote:We have areas on our sloping land where water sits (great for the mozzies!) as it drains through from the property above. It is a feature of our area  and we are taking steps to remove it with ditches etc near to the house but where it gathers in other patches I wondered about planting up with plants which will benefit from so much water, hopefully remove some of it from the surface and look great to boot. if they happened to have mozzie repellent properties even better!! Any ideas? Thanks

Hi Rachel. You might like to have a look at these pages....

Gardenguides.com

Gardensalive.com

Good links Centauro, thanks, I have learnt alot ...

Yes - interesting links, but I'd take issue with most of the trees suggested, given that this is Italy and they are North Central US. Viburnum, Cornus (and maybe Alnus) would do. 

A stand of canna (the usual roadside canes) would be happy, if a bit invasive, and you might like to try a gunnera. Xantedeschias would adore the position, and they are much hardier than you'd tend to believe. Is the position in full sun all day, or does it have building or tree shade?

Thanks for you interest 'Original Relaxed'. In answer to your question it is South facing and the pooling area is at the foot of what will either become
foundations and a high stone wall forming the sides to a terrace or will be near steel uprights supporting a terrace. Climbers are s possibility.  Just need to be mindful of root damage to the structure of the terrace.