Spring Showers, Meet Your Match: 5 Native Plants for Wet Yards

April Showers are upon us, and while they do bring May flowers, they can also bring wet yards! However, there are some plants that can help keep your landscape dry during those April showers. Check out our list of the top 5 native plants that will keep your yard dry this April!

Spring is a common time for Arborvine’s professional consultants to get called out to properties for drainage concerns. If you are seeing water pooling in your yard, getting into your home or causing erosion, you may need a professional site visit from our team to engineer a plan & solution. However, if you are simply looking for a way to help dry your yard up quicker, this list is for you! Arborvine installs a lot of engineered rain gardens, which are retention areas for water that are planted with carefully curated species & cultivars that don’t mind wet feet. These native plants are tried & tested to tolerate these conditions & may be a great addition to your home’s landscape!

1. Button Bush

A beautiful Delaware native shrub that has fragrant, white flowers during the summer months. This shrub is sure to attract your favorite pollinators! Buttonbush thrives in damp areas & can even handle mild pooling of water! A great choice as a foundation shrub or specimen feature!

2. Cardinal Flower

A naive perennial that tolerates full sun to partial shade. Use this perennial in a damp area and watch the vibrant flowers that produce stunning red spikes. The best part, these flowers are guaranteed to attract hummingbirds! A must have in a Delaware native landscape!

3. Winterberry

One of Arborvine’s favorite native shrubs to incorporate into our designs! A member of the holly family, this plant has smooth green leaves that shimmer in the summer sun. With cultivars maturing at multiple different sizes, this versatile plant can find a home in almost any landscape! The best part, in the winter, this plant stays true to its name offering one of a kind winter interest! Stunning red berries will remain vibrant all winter long. The perfect pop of color in a serene, snow covered winter landscape! Plus you may find one of your favorite birds snacking on the berries!

4. Joe Pye Weed

A unique perennial that can be used for meadows & perennial gardens. In late summer you can expect large, dusky pink flower heads which are butterfly magnets! Place this plant in a damp area and the roots will thrive! You may find this perennial lining one of Arborvines exquisite rock swales or dry creek beds throughout Delaware & Pennsylvania.

5. Swamp Rose Mallow

A true stunner to add color, texture & movement to your landscape! A mid to late summer bloomer with large, showy pink & white flowers. If you love color, this is a great naive perennial for you. Rose Mallow is not phased by damp soil conditions & will use this excess moisture to grow & thrive!

As April showers continue, the right plant choices can make a meaningful difference in how your landscape handles excess water. Incorporating native, moisture-tolerant plants is a simple and effective way to support better drainage while enhancing the beauty and ecological value of your yard. If you’re dealing with persistent pooling, erosion, or water making its way toward your home, Arborvine’s team is here to help. From thoughtfully designed rain gardens to fully engineered drainage solutions, we work with you every step of the way to create a landscape that performs as well as it looks.

Reach out today to schedule a consultation and get your property ready for the seasons ahead.

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Testimonials

I was very happy with my experience with Arbovine from the initial consultation through the completion of the job. They were very professional and did an excellent job! The work at our house included several things including new sod, new shrubs, and a lot of work with rock in the front and back of the yard with landscape edging. It all turned out great and I would certainly use them again for the next time we need work done!

Patrick Hanley

Wilmington, DE
Another superb job completed by the Arborvine H1 crew. They shored up our split-rail fence with stronger wiring and it looks fantastic. They are a diligent and hard working crew that pays attention to details! Thank you!

Rob C

Wilmington, DE
We called Arborvine to help us with a drainage issue in our yard. The entire experience from beginning to end was reat. We received, in my opinion, a fair estimate. From there, the project went smoothly. Greg and Peter were great and his team was outstanding. They arrived on time, focused on the project, worked all day, and paid attention to detail. The crew was friendly, courteous, and professional. Our yard looks great, even better than before, and the water problem seems to have been resolved. The cleanup was outstanding. They will be our first choice when we need landscaping in the future.

M. Jean Chamish

Wilmington, DE
Working with Greg & his crew was a smooth & seamless experience. I live in a new build and needed a front walkway & Greg was able to bring our vision to life. Even our neighbors all had positive comments on the work that was done. We also had some landscaping done (installing flowerbeds + mulch, plus pruning/trimming of some tree branches). It was a bit pricey but, in the end, it’s definitely worth it since now our property has higher curb appeal. There are also warranties too, so Greg/his team will come out to check on the walkway in a few years. Greg is responsive and communicates in a timely manner, which was a big plus. Super professional and friendly. Will definitely hire him again for future projects.

Zef Bergado

Wilmington, DE
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Arborvine Landscaping on multiple occasions. Whether it was mulching beds or building a new hardscape, Greg and his team were always professional and respectful of my property. Their attention to detail is superb, as well as their communication. I highly recommend hiring Arborvine Landscaping for your next outdoor living project!

Chris Rossetti

Wilmington, DE
Arborvine designed and constructed a new front stoop with two steps and a walkway from the driveway. They gave excellent advice and helped us select materials that would look nice and function well. They have a good aesthetic sense — the new hardscaping is pleasing to the eye. They were careful with existing plantings and repaired or replaced them as needed. They are very friendly and professional.

Steven Zimmerman

Wilmington, DE
Arborvine just completed a hardscaping project at my home that involved the installation of a new brick walkway and lighted pillars. The owner, Greg, was very responsive and easy to work with. His crew was excellent — hardworking, detailed and collaborative. Everyone at Arborvine wanted to make sure we were happy. We are thrilled with the result and have received so many compliments from our neighbors.

Kate Sullivan

Greenville, DE
Greg and his team worked closely with us on a major transformation for our front yard. When we moved into a new property, the steep hill was a huge concern from a safety and aesthetic perspective, not to mention a nuisance to upkeep regularly. Arborvine provided initial design concepts and partnered with us to refine our selection, from materials to plants, and led a beautiful improvement to our property that raised curb appeal, made our front entrance much more accessible, and changed the entire vibe of our yard for the better.

We have now worked with Arborvine for two major transformations across our property, and I will continue to partner with them as other projects come up. If you’re looking for a team who knows hardscaping / landscaping, is easy to work with, transparent, and agile – look no further. This is your crew.

Greg D’Antonio

Newark, DE
Love the workmanship, professionalism , design, and outcome of our outdoor project. Always on time, friendly, beautiful workmanship, cleaned up every day and on final day. Would highly recommend Arborvine for anyone. Thank you for an amazing outcome!

Karen Rockwell

Springfield, PA
We had Arborvine remove overgrown bushes and plant smaller ones. They worked quickly and efficiently. We appreciate their professionalism.

Nicole Macturk

Newark, DE