Wetlands are the intermediate between terrestrial and open water systems, and are thus fundamentally tied to changes in water table. Under normal climate conditions, wetlands may experience short periods of water scarcity through seasonal variations in precipitation or surface water run-off. However, during anomalous drought episodes, wetland plants may experience elevated water stress resulting in considerable decreases of both productivity and survival. Despite the intricate relationship between wetland macrophytes and water supply, little is known about the physiological responses of these plants to short-term water deficits. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of simulated drought on plant water relations in five herbaceous wetland species (monocots Carex alata, Juncus effusus, Peltandra virginica, and dicots Saururus cernuus, Justicia americana). In general, plant response to water deprivation may include drought avoidance (e.g., changes in stomatal conductance, leaf area, and leaf orientation) and/or drought tolerance (maintaining cell turgor through osmotic adjustments or cell wall elasticity). In this study, simulated drought resulted in significant decreases in xylem water potential (Ψ_xylem) for all five species, suggesting that these plants were physiologically affected by water deficit. Four of the five species showed outward signs of drought avoidance, including significant reductions in transpiration (C. alata, P. virginica, J. americana, and S. cernuus) and decreases in leaf area (P. virginica and J. americana). Interestingly, while adjustments in transpiration were observed for most plants during the dry period, no significant changes in water use efficiencies (WUE) were detected until after water repletion. Notably, two species (C. alata and P. virginica) had enhanced WUE as water availability returned to pre-drought conditions. Water deficits also promoted drought tolerance responses in all five species, as indicated by a change in bulk modulus of elasticity ([Private character epsilon]; all species) and decreased osmotic potential (Ψ_π; P. virginica). Taken as a whole, this study reveals two contrasting drought tolerance strategies in wetland herbs. While four of the species alter [Private character epsilon] to generate declines in Ψ, P. virginica favored decreases in osmotic potential (as indicated by decreases in Ψ_π at full saturation and at turgor loss point).