- 19 Native Plants for Your Delaware Garden<\/a><\/li>
- Why Choose Native Plants?<\/a><\/li>
- How to Choose Native Plants?<\/a><\/li>
- FAQ<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
19 Native Plants for Your Delaware Garden<\/h2>
If you want your Delaware garden to be drop-dead gorgeous, one secret ingredient is layers! It’s all about mixing native plants in all shapes, sizes, and textures, and we’ve handpicked 19 awesome options and added them to this native plants list for you. <\/p>
We’re talking trees, shrubs, ground covers, and wildflowers, all ready to transform your garden into a lively paradise. So get ready to plant like a pro and watch your garden come to life!<\/p>
1. Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana<\/em>)<\/h3>
![\"Yellow](\"https:\/\/wp.wikilawn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/American-Witch-Hazel-Hamamelis-virginiana.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Fritzflohrreynolds<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure> The Delaware Nursery and Landscape Association picked its favorite woody plant for 2022! It’s witch hazel, and boy, is it special. This native shrub has a totally funky look that’ll make your garden stand out. <\/p>
Its flowers are like tiny confetti pieces, with four ribbon-shaped petals in bright yellow shades. And get this: It’s like the ultimate party guest because it’s the last one to bloom in Delaware. You\u2019ll even enjoy colors in a frozen January in some years.<\/p>
- Type: <\/strong>Perennial deciduous shrub or tree.<\/li>
- Best features:<\/strong> Uniquely shaped flowers in bright shades of yellow blooming late in the season.<\/li>
- Blooming time: <\/strong>October-December.<\/li>
- Size at maturity: <\/strong>10 to 20 feet tall and wide.<\/li>
- Sun exposure: <\/strong>Full sun to partial shade. <\/li>
- Soil:<\/strong> Grows in loamy and silt soils, moist but well-drained.<\/li>
- USDA hardiness zone:<\/strong> 3 – 9.<\/li> <\/ul>
Where to buy<\/h4>
\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAmazon<\/span> \t\t\t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<\/a> \t\t<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHome Depot<\/span> \t\t\t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<\/a> \t\t<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWalmart<\/span> \t\t\t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<\/a> \t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>2. Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida<\/em>)<\/h3>
![\"flowering](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_1flowering_dogwood_cornus_florida_tree_flowers_3008px_11zon.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Ram-Man<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ CC BY-SA 2.5<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Thriving in the coastal and piedmont terrains of Delaware, dogwood is one of the most spectacular flowering trees across the state. In the spring, it blooms green flowers surrounded by large white or pink bracts, so numerous and dense you can barely see the branches. <\/p>
Come summer, it’s snack time for all the best local birds. The tree grows these red fruits that attract fancy feathered friends like cardinals, robins, and mockingbirds. When autumn arrives, get ready for a color explosion. The dogwood turns its leaves into a fiery red outfit. It’s like Mother Nature went, “Boom! Look at this scarlet beauty!” <\/p>
It\u2019s a gorgeous addition to your yard year-round and easy to care for. Even though the dogwood is the official tree of Virginia, it feels right at home in Delaware. Once this tree settles in, it’s pretty low-maintenance. <\/p>
- Type: <\/strong>Trees and shrubs.<\/li>
- Best features<\/strong>: Beautiful white or pink blooms during spring and vibrant red foliage in the autumn. <\/li>
- Blooming time: <\/strong>March-June.<\/li>
- Size at maturity: <\/strong>20 to 30 feet tall and wide.<\/li>
- Sun exposure:<\/strong> Full sun and partial shade.<\/li>
- Soil: <\/strong>Prefers well-drained, acidic soil with organic matter, moist to dry.<\/li>
- USDA hardiness zone: <\/strong>5 to 9.<\/li> <\/ul>
Where to buy<\/h4>
\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAmazon<\/span> \t\t\t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<\/a> \t\t<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHome Depot<\/span> \t\t\t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<\/a> \t\t<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWalmart<\/span> \t\t\t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<\/a> \t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>3. Sweet Goldenrod (Solidago odora<\/em>)<\/h3>
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/49643187672_21ef9c6c2f_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: jimduggan24<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Wearing the hat of the official state herb of Delaware since 1996<\/a>, the sweet goldenrod is more than a beautiful face. It hides valuable medicinal properties, and its dried leaves and flowers make a fragrant tea with an exotic licorice flavor.<\/p>
Goldenrod enjoys moisture, and its natural habitat spreads along the coast of Delaware and near the edges of marshes and thickets. It blooms clusters of tiny, bright yellow flowers from late summer to mid-fall – an open buffet for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other local pollinators. <\/p>
It\u2019s also not the only one of its kind to enjoy the local climate. Other varieties you can turn to are the Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis<\/em>) and the Early Goldenrod (Solidago juncea<\/em>)<\/p>
- Type:<\/strong> Perennial forb (aka flowering plant).<\/li>
- Best features:<\/strong> Bright clusters of fragrant yellow flowers blooming from early summer to mid-fall.<\/li>
- Blooming time: <\/strong>July to October.<\/li>
- Size at maturity:<\/strong> 1 to 6 feet tall.<\/li>
- Sun exposure<\/strong>: Full sun to partial shade.<\/li>
- Soil:<\/strong> Grows best in dry to medium-wet soils. Tolerates droughts and poor soil. Avoid planting in overly rich soil or adding fertilizers, which leads to leggy plants.<\/li>
- USDA hardiness zone:<\/strong> 2 to 8.<\/li> <\/ul>
Where to buy<\/h4>
\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAmazon<\/span> \t\t\t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<\/a> \t\t<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHome Depot<\/span> \t\t\t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<\/a> \t\t<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWalmart<\/span> \t\t\t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<\/a> \t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>4. Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata<\/em>)<\/h3>
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Swamp_Milkweed.jpg\")
Photo Credit: R. A. Nonenmacher<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> This plant is like a superhero for wetland areas and gardens that get flooded sometimes. It loves soggy soils and muddy spots and feels at home in yard ponds and water gardens. When this plant blooms, it explodes in clusters of small flowers that smell amazing. <\/p>
They come in shades of pink to purple and are full of sweet nectar. All the cool local insects love it, but it\u2019s especially cherished by the monarch and queen butterflies that hang around swamp milkweeds in the summer. While it loses its leaves during winter, it still keeps its dormant stems, a precious and comfy shelter for our friendly bugs during the cold season. <\/p>
Sharing its beauty and charm, two other varieties can take root in your garden: the Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca<\/em>) and Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa<\/em>).<\/p>
Warning!<\/strong> Young shoots, seed pods, and leaves are edible cooked but poisonous if ingested raw.<\/p>
- Type: <\/strong>Perennial forb (aka flowering plant).<\/li>
- Best features: <\/strong>White, light pink to light purple flower heads with a perfume similar to cinnamon.<\/li>
- Blooming time:<\/strong> July – August.<\/li>
- Size at maturity:<\/strong> 4 to 6 feet tall. <\/li>
- Sun exposure: <\/strong>Full sun to partial shade.<\/li>
- Soil:<\/strong> Often found near lakes, ponds, waterways, and swamps, it prefers moist soils, neutral to slightly acidic.<\/li>
- USDA hardiness zone:<\/strong> 3 to 9. It can withstand temperatures as low as -38\u00b0F.<\/li> <\/ul>
Where to buy<\/h4>
\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAmazon<\/span> \t\t\t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<\/a> \t\t<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHome Depot<\/span> \t\t\t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<\/a> \t\t<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWalmart<\/span> \t\t\t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<\/a> \t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>5. Arrowwood \u2018Eskimo\u2019 (Viburnum<\/em> \u2018Eskimo\u2019)<\/h3>
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/800px-Viburnum_Eskimo_J1-1.jpeg\")
Photo Credit: Jamain<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Happy in the ground and large containers, the viburnum Eskimo is a compact, slow-growing shrub you can fit easily into your landscape design, even with a small garden. It has glossy, dark green leaves that add elegance to your outdoor space and blooms snowballs of pure white flowers in early May. <\/p>
But here’s the thing\u2014these shrubs can be a bit sensitive. They don’t like temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. So, plant them in your yard after Delaware has had its last frost. Now, the viburnum Eskimo is versatile, too. You can use it as an accent plant to add some pizzazz or create hedges and borders. It’s like a multitasking shrub, ready to bring some charm to your outdoor haven.<\/p>
- Type: <\/strong>Semi-evergreen shrub.<\/li>
- Best features:<\/strong> Ball-shaped clusters of white flowers blooming in late spring.<\/li>
- Blooming time:<\/strong> May-June.<\/li>
- Size at maturity:<\/strong> 4 to 5 feet tall and wide.<\/li>
- Sun exposure<\/strong>: Full sun to partial shade.<\/li>
- Soil:<\/strong> Grows best in heavy loam soils with proper watering.<\/li>
- USDA hardiness zone:<\/strong> 6 to 8.<\/li> <\/ul>
6. Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana<\/em>)<\/h3>
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/red-cedar-g4b55fd728_1280-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> The Eastern redcedar, although not a real cedar but a juniper, is a tough evergreen tree that provides food and homes for many animals. It’s the only juniper that naturally grows in Delaware. <\/p>
This tree can handle dryness, hot weather, and cold temperatures well, and it grows about 1 to 2 inches yearly when exposed to plenty of sunlight. People often use it in landscaping as a windbreak because of its compact, pyramidal shape and always-green leaves. <\/p>
Warning! <\/strong>Avoid planting near the house since it can catch fire faster than other trees.<\/p>
- Type:<\/strong> Perennial evergreen tree.<\/li>
- Best features: <\/strong>Scale-like fragrant foliage ranging from gray-green to blue-green and blue-purple berries. <\/li>
- Blooming time: <\/strong>April – May.<\/li>
- Size at maturity<\/strong>: 30 to 60 feet tall and 8 to 20 feet wide.<\/li>
- Sun exposure:<\/strong> Full sun to partial shade.<\/li>
- Soil:<\/strong> Grows in alkaline or acidic soils where soil pH ranges from 4.7 to 7.8. Prefers moist, deep, well-drained soils but also grows on shallow rocky terrains.<\/li>
- USDA hardiness zone: <\/strong>2 to 9.<\/li> <\/ul>
Where to buy<\/h4>
\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAmazon<\/span> \t\t\t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<\/a> \t\t<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHome Depot<\/span> \t\t\t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<\/a> \t\t<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWalmart<\/span> \t\t\t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<\/a> \t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>7. Red Maple (Acer rubrum<\/em>)<\/h3>
![\"Red](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/rsz_1red-maple-tree-1106613001860497ss.jpg\")
Photo Credit: David Wagner<\/a> \/ PublicDomainPictures \/ CC0 1.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Delaware’s got some wet soil, thanks to its coastal vibes. But that’s perfect for the red maple! These trees love soggy conditions, so if you’ve got a yard with wet spots or occasional floods, they’re your go-to greenery.<\/p>
Like delicate furry balls, red flowers pop up on the red maple in early spring, attracting beneficial insects to buzz around your garden. The broad, rounded canopy gives blissful shade during the summer, and when fall rolls around, it\u2019s a blast! All the leaves turn into a fabulous yellow, orange, and red fashion show. <\/p>
If your garden has the space to let red maples grow to their full glory, go for it! It’s like giving a big green thumbs-up to the local ecosystem while turning your outdoor space into a beautiful and comfy haven. Nature and chill vibes, all in one.<\/p>
- Type:<\/strong> Deciduous perennial tree.<\/li>
- Best features:<\/strong> Colorful foliage turning into a vibrant yellow, rust-orange, and purple mass during fall.<\/li>
- Blooming time: <\/strong>March – April<\/li>
- Size at maturity: <\/strong>30 to 90 feet tall and 40 feet wide. <\/li>
- Sun exposure: <\/strong>Full sun to light shade.<\/li>
- Soil:<\/strong> Grows in moist, acidic soil and tolerates a variety of soil types and also poor drainage.<\/li>
- USDA hardiness zone:<\/strong> 3 to 9.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Best features:<\/strong> Colorful foliage turning into a vibrant yellow, rust-orange, and purple mass during fall.<\/li>
- Best features: <\/strong>Scale-like fragrant foliage ranging from gray-green to blue-green and blue-purple berries. <\/li>
- Best features:<\/strong> Ball-shaped clusters of white flowers blooming in late spring.<\/li>
- Best features: <\/strong>White, light pink to light purple flower heads with a perfume similar to cinnamon.<\/li>
- Best features:<\/strong> Bright clusters of fragrant yellow flowers blooming from early summer to mid-fall.<\/li>
- Best features<\/strong>: Beautiful white or pink blooms during spring and vibrant red foliage in the autumn. <\/li>
- Best features:<\/strong> Uniquely shaped flowers in bright shades of yellow blooming late in the season.<\/li>
- Why Choose Native Plants?<\/a><\/li>