Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
See more onthis rain garden . Photo by : Proven Winners .
Adding a pelting garden to your landscape painting is a direction to conserve water by keeping rain in your curtilage instead of bear it flow into storm drains and sewer systems . A shallow basin is created to trap runoff , allowing piss to slowly percolate into the territory . plant help check erosion and filter pollutants , while providing solid food and home ground for wildlife and dirt ball pollinators .
The best rain garden industrial plant are wet - tolerant aboriginal that can also endure teetotal periods , and are easily adaptable to your region . Sedges , grasses , and reeds wreak a significant character with their deep root systems that enable water to seep into the soil more efficiently . prefer works base on your neighborhood and hardiness zone , amount of one-year rain , wakeful exposure , and soil condition . Here are some of the best industrial plant to admit in your rain garden .
See more onRain Garden Design & welfare
On this Thomas Nelson Page : Rain Garden Plants for Full to Partial Sun|Rain Garden Plants for Partial Shade|Other Rain Garden Plants
On this page :
RAIN GARDEN PLANTS FOR FULL TO PARTIAL SUN
Summerific ® ' Holy Grail ' rise mallow . Photo : Proven Winners .
ROSE MALLOW (Hibiscus moschuetos)
Zones:4 - 9Habit : unsloped shaggy-haired habitHeight / Spread:4 to 5 feet tall , 5 feet wideBloom time : Mid - summer to other fall
practice this deciduous shrub in a mixed rain garden delimitation , in containers , or as a stand - alone focal point .
Learn rose mallow bushes .
Pictured : Summerific ® ' Holy Grail’rose mallow from Proven Winners .
Graceful Grasses ® Fiber Optic Gunter Wilhelm Grass . Photo : Proven Winners .
FIBER OPTIC GRASS (Isolepis cernua)
Zones:8 - 10Habit : Mounding arching habitHeight / Spread:10 to 14 inches tall and wideBloom time : summertime
petite brown blossom that appear along the stem tips in summertime give the appearing of a character eye lamp , hence the name . Use this finely textured grass - corresponding plant in mass planting or containers . grow at wetland border in its native habitats .
Pictured : Graceful Grasses ® Fiber Optic grassfrom Proven Winners .
' Pardon My Cerise ' bee balm . pic : Proven Winners .
BEE BALM (Monardaspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Habit : upright piano spreading habitHeight / Spread:10 inches to 4 fundament marvellous , 8 inches to 3 feet wideBloom time : Late spring to former tumble
Tubular flowers in colors of red , pink , violet , lavender , or white are attractive to butterfly and other louse pollinators . foliation of this muckle congener is pungently sweet-scented . This North American aboriginal perennial can be found growing in flood plain meadows and along streams and ponds .
Learn bee balm .
Pictured:‘Pardon My Cerise ' bee balmfrom Proven Winners .
' Kobold ' blaze asterisk . Photo : Proven Winners .
BLAZING STAR (Liatrisspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Habit : Upright habitHeight / Spread:1 to 5 pes magniloquent , 6 inches to 2 foot wideBloom time : summertime to strike
sleep with as snakeroot for the wispy peak plume , the royal or blanched spikes attract bees and other louse pollinators . While some species of this North American aboriginal perennial prefer ironic prairie shape , others can be plant growing in moist meadows and lactating fen .
memorize blaze star .
Pictured:‘Kobold ' blazing starfrom Proven Winners .
Sugar Shack ® button bush . pic : Proven Winners .
BUTTON BUSH (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
Zones:5 - 9Habit : Upright bushy habitHeight / Spread:5 to 12 feet tall , 4 to 8 human foot wideBloom fourth dimension : other summer to early fall
Fragrant white flowers resemble rounded pincushions , creating a striking effect in the landscape . This moisture - loving deciduous shrub is native to eastern and southern regions of North America , as well as California and Arizona . It can be find growing along river , marsh boundary , sozzled thickets , and swamps . Naturalize in a hayfield or near a rain garden .
Learn buttonbush .
render : Sugar Shack ® button bushfrom Proven Winners .
Low Scape Mound ® aronia . pic : Proven Winners .
CHOKEBERRY (Aroniaspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Habit : Upright bushy habitHeight / Spread:8 inches to 12 foot tall , 1 - 1/2 to 10 feet wideBloom time : fountain
aboriginal to eastern North America , chokeberry can be found growing in clear woodland , swamps and bogs . This deciduous bush with multi - seasonal interest can be naturalized in wet areas where little else will grow . The edible blueberry - like fruit have a host of wellness benefits .
Learn chokeberry shrubs .
Pictured : Low Scape Mound ® chokeberryfrom Proven Winners .
Graceful Grasses ® King Tut ® Egyptian paper rush grass . picture : Proven Winners .
EGYPTIAN PAPYRUS GRASS (Cyperus papyrus)
Zones:9 - 12Habit : Upright habitHeight / Spread:5 to 12 foot grandiloquent , 2 to 5 feet wideBloom sentence : Summer
This grasslike sedge , native to Egypt , is produce for the showy marvellous flower spikes that create a tropical event in the landscape painting . Plant this water devotee in containers or at the edge of a water feature such as a pool , stream , or rain garden . May be invasive in southerly regions .
Pictured : Graceful Grasses ® King Tut ® Egyptian Egyptian paper rush grassfrom Proven Winners .
Black Lace ® elderberry . photograph : Proven Winners .
ELDERBERRY (Sambucusspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Habit : Upright bushy habitHeight / Spread:3 to 30 feet tall and wideBloom time : Spring to summertime
name for the eatable fruit , elderberry is a deciduous shrub that occurs of course in opened timber and along streams in the U.S. and Europe . The lacy or break down foliage can be green , Au , black , or variegated . Flowers are lily-white or pinkish , while berries are blue - inglorious or violent .
Learn elderberry .
see : Black Lace ® elderberryfrom Proven Winners .
' pyrotechnic ' goldenrod . exposure by : Paul S. Drobot / Millette Photomedia .
GOLDENROD (Solidago rugosa)
Zones:3 - 10Habit : Upright habitHeight / Spread:1 to 7 base tall , 1 to 6 foot wideBloom fourth dimension : Late summer to diminish
A quintessential fall botch , goldenrod is have sex for its bright yellow flower plumage that are attractive to butterfly and other worm pollinators . specie that prefer damp soil come naturally in wet prairies , shoring meadows , and roadside ditches . Use this dependable perennial as a desktop plant , or naturalise in a rain or meadow garden .
Learn goldenrod .
' Bartered Bride ' Joe Pye weed . pic by : Rob Cardillo .
JOE PYE WEED (Eutrochiumspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Habit : Upright habitHeight / Spread:3 to 8 metrical unit marvelous , 1 to 5 feet wideBloom time : Mid - summer to descend
Showy late season pink flower plumes are a favorite of butterflies and other insect pollinators . This North American aboriginal perennial grows naturally in wayside ditches , wet meadows , and moist thickets . Naturalize in a meadow or at the edge of a rain garden .
pick up Joe Pye weed .
Butterfly weed . Photo : Proven Winners .
BUTTERFLY WEED / MILKWEED (Asclepiasspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Habit : Upright habitHeight / Spread:1 to 6 feet tall , 1 to 3 feet wideBloom sentence : summertime
A crucial nutrient source for monarch butterfly larvae , milkweed is one of the best native pollinator plants . Swamp Sonchus oleraceus and other milkweed species thrive in swampland , sloughs , Reginald Marsh , and roadside ditch . expend this dependable flowering perennial in a habitat rain garden .
Learn milkweed .
picture : butterfly stroke weedfrom Proven Winners .
Grape Crush New England aster . pic : Proven Winners .
NEW ENGLAND ASTER (Symphyotrichum nova-angliae)
Zones:4 - 8Habit : upright piano spread habitHeight / Spread:2 to 6 fundament tall , 1 to 3 feet wideBloom time : Late summertime to fall
Daisy - like blossom that occur in colors of pink , empurpled , lilac , or white are a front-runner of butterflies and bees . This late blooming North American native grows by nature in moist prairie , along current depository financial institution , pond , lakes , and roadside ditch . Mass in a rain garden with other wildlife - friendly plants .
Learn asters .
Pictured : Grape Crush New England asterfrom Proven Winners .
Vanilla Spice ® summersweet . Photo : Proven Winners .
SUMMERSWEET (Clethra alnifolia)
Zones:4 - 9Habit : unsloped shaggy habitHeight / Spread:3 to 8 feet tall , 3 to 6 pes wideBloom time : Mid to belated summertime
Summersweet is a deciduous shrub aboriginal to coastal swamps , woodlands and river shoreline of the easterly and southern U.S. Showy bottlebrush prime that pass off in shades of white or pink are sweet fragrant . Use in a backdrop plant in a rainwater garden .
Learn summersweet shrubs .
see : Vanilla Spice ® summersweetfrom Proven Winners .
Prairie Winds ® ' Apache Rose ' switch grass . Photo : Proven Winners .
SWITCHGRASS (Panicum virgatum)
Zones:5 - 9Habit : Upright habitHeight / Spread:3 to 6 feet tall , 2 to 3 pes wideBloom fourth dimension : recent summer to fall
This clumping native grass go on course in wet soil along stream and creeks . windy flush panicles bloom above wispy leafage that starts out unripe with ruby-red highlights , turn gold in capitulation , then tawny brown for winter interest . The deep origin system helps to staunch wearing away and improve soil and water quality .
larn switchgrass .
Pictured : Prairie Winds ® ' Apache Rose ' switch grassfrom Proven Winners .
petty Henry ® sweetspire . photograph : Proven Winners .
VIRGINIA SWEETSPIRE (Itea virginica)
Zones:5 - 9Habit : mound bushy habitHeight / Spread:3 to 5 feet marvelous and wideBloom time : Late spring to early summertime
Arching blank flower spikes on this deciduous shrub create an elegant consequence in the landscape painting . Foliage change state brilliant spectre of blood-red , orangish , and gold in fall . aboriginal to dull woodlands , swamps , and stream sides in the eastern U.S. Use this suckering deciduous bush for corroding command or as a background knowledge plant .
Learn sweetspire shrubs .
Pictured : short Henry ® sweetspirefrom Proven Winners .
RAIN GARDEN PLANTS FOR PARTIAL SHADE
Illustris elephant spike . exposure : Proven Winners .
ELEPHANT EAR (Colocasia esculenta)
Zones:8 - 11Habit : Upright vase - shape habitHeight / Spread:3 to 8 feet improbable and wide
Add an exotic touch to your rain garden with the sheer foliage of elephant ears . The large heart - form leaf can reach up to 3 feet long and 2 feet wide . This tropic Asiatic aboriginal thrives in boggy soil or around water gardens . Can be invasive along the Gulf Coast .
Learn elephant ear plants .
Pictured : Illustris elephant earfrom Proven Winners .
Shadowland ® ' Autumn Frost " hosta . Photo : Proven Winners .
HOSTA (Hostaspp. & hybrids)
Zones:3 - 9Habit : Spreading habitHeight / Spread:2 inches to 4 groundwork marvellous , 5 inches to 6 feet broad
One of the most democratic refinement plant , hosta is grow for the wide range of foliage colors , shape , patterns , and size . In its native Asiatic home ground , this authentic perennial get 50 to 60 inch of rain per year , making it a good choice to plant along stream , ponds , or in rain gardens .
larn genus Hosta plant .
envision : Shadowland ® ' Autumn Frost " hostafrom Proven Winners .
' Crested Surf ' Nipponese painted fern . exposure : Proven Winners .
JAPANESE PAINTED FERN (Athyrium niponicumvar.pictum)
Zones:3 - 8Habit : Arching spreading habitHeight / Spread:1 to 2 feet tall and wide-cut
strike ash gray patterned foliation of this recurrent deciduous fern is useful for lighting up profoundly shaded areas . This pee fan thrive in mixed or woodland borders , along stream , pond , or rainfall garden . Plants are low-pitched maintenance and virtually free of pestis and diseases .
Learn type of fern .
Pictured:‘Crested Surf ' Japanese paint fernfrom Proven Winners .
' Bottle Rocket ' ligularia . Photo : Proven Winners .
LEOPARD PLANT (Ligulariaspp.)
Zones:3 - 8Habit : Upright spreading habitHeight / Spread:3 to 4 feet tall , 2 to 3 feet wide
Grown for the bold green or Bourgogne leaves and stately yellow flower spikes , this Asian native grows by nature along current camber or other piddle source . Plant this herbaceous perennial in a refinement border , near a water characteristic , in a rain or peat bog garden , or in containers .
Pictured:‘Bottle Rocket ' ligulariafrom Proven Winners .
' Evergold ' sedge . photograph : Proven Winners .
SEDGE (Carexspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Habit : Mounding or upright habitHeight / Spread : Most are 1 to 2 feet improbable and wide ; others 4 to 54 inches tall , 6 to 60 inches all-encompassing
This various genus , turn mainly for the leafage , include thousands of skunk - similar species that can be grown in sun or nuance , sozzled , or dry condition . Most remain compact , with deciduous or evergreen foliage in shades of gullible , gold , orange , blue , brownish , or variegation . Use in mass planting , as edging , or in combination with other sedge and sens .
Learn sedge .
Pictured:‘Evergold ' sedgefrom Proven Winners .
OTHER RAIN GARDEN PLANTS
TREES:
In add-on to shrubs and perennials , estimable tree for rain gardens include papaw ( Asimina triloba ) , redbud ( Cersis canadensis ) , hackberry ( Celtis occidentalis ) and river birch ( Betula nigra ) .
MARGINAL PLANTS:
For knocked out edges where the stain will be dry , plantcanna , blue star(Amsonia),false indigo(Baptisia ) , or some types ofphlox .
