Shrubs That Soak Up Water

Properly landscaping yards in poor draining areas can prevent the need for drainage pipes or gravels. Many shrubs require a large amount of water and will soak up the standing or sitting water that accumulates in yards during routine watering or rainfall.

A dappled willow, or salix integra, is a shrub that uses and soaks up a large amount of water. The shrub can grow to be four to six feet tall and wide. The small oval shaped leaves begin spring as a bright pink color. As the foliage matures in summer, the leaves change to a cream and then green color. In late fall to early winter, the leaves change to red and start the cycle again as they change to a bright pink again in spring. In mid spring, the shrub blooms with white, cream or pink two inch long, cone-shaped flowers. The shrub is best planted in USDA zones 4a through 9b. The shrub requires full sun and constantly moist soil. It must be watered routinely.

Caladium, or caladium x hortulanum, is a shrub that requires a large amount of water and can soak up water. The caladium shrub usually grows to be one to two feet wide and tall. The shrub is characterized by its large, 8 to 12 inch, arrowhead shaped leaves. The leaves are normally red, green and/or white in color or any mixture of the colors on any one particular leaf. The shrub is best grown in USDA zone 8 through 11. The shrub requires full sun, rich soil and sufficient water.

A clethra shrub, or clethra alnifolia, can be used to soak up water. The shrub can grow to be 6 feet tall and 5 feet wide and grows in an oval shape. The dark green leaves are oval in shape with serrated edges. The leaves change to a golden yellow color in the fall. The flowers bloom in mid to late summer, measuring 4 inches long. The white or light pink blooms are bottlebrush-like and attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds with their fragrant smell. A clethra shrub is best grown in USDA zones 4 through 9. The shrub is best grown in full sun to full shade conditions and needs moist to wet soil.