While occurring naturally in wetlands, this plant makes a good shrub in reasonably moist uplands. Use as a background plant in moist, shady areas. Charming when planted along a stream. Blooms are showy, longlasting. Has a tendency to produce suckers, so best planted where it can be contained.

If grown in a freshwater environment, S. patens will grow much bigger. Use as a shoreling stabilization plant on edges of sand beaches and saltmarsh.