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Rain Garden Plants

Deep-rooted plants and the sunken profile of rain gardens help infiltrate stormwater runoff and reduce erosion. And rain gardens can be as beautiful as they are functional. In fact, many of our most beautiful regional plants need the type of regular moisture found in a rain garden to thrive.

Keep in mind that your rain garden, unlike a water garden, will be dry most of the time. Plants should be able to tolerate short periods of inundation, but not require constant standing water. Select plants with moderate moisture requirements for areas that will have moist, well-drained soil. For drier sites like the edge of your rain garden, use plant that have low or moderate moisture requirements. Perennial plants should be hardy in your growing zone. if you are not sure about your zone, see the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

Save plants for your project by clicking the 'My Plant List' button on the plant's page. For help in making your selections, use our Find the Right Plant feature.

View All Types Annuals Only Butterfly Attracting Only Drought-Defiant Only Midwest Native Only Ornamental Grass Only Rain Gardens and Bioswales Only Salt-Tolerant Only Shade-tolerant Only Summer Color for Sunny Sites Only Trees & Shrubs Only Vines and Groundcovers Only Wetlands and Streambank Stabilization Only

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Ilex decidua Common Name: Deciduous Holly Shrub or small tree that produces white flowers in late spring and early summer followed by orange or red berries on female plants. The berries are enjoyed by birds but especially by bluebirds. A male plant is required for pollination. It prefers wel... [ More Info ]

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Ilex glabra ''Compacta'' Common Name: Inkberry Very compact shrub for variety of sites.... [ More Info ]

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Ilex opaca Common Name: American Holly This evergreen tree with a narrow, pyramidal crown and dark green leaves produces red berries on the female plant that ripen in October and persist through the winter. The berries attract birds.... [ More Info ]

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Ilex verticillata ''Winter Red'' Common Name: Winter Red Winterberry Holly Winterberry is a slow-growing, deciduous, suckering shrub with an upright rounded habit. Among winterberry cultivars, both 'Winter Red' and 'Berry Nice' are noted for heavy fruiting, bright red fruit color, clean mildew resistant foliage and good ret... [ More Info ]

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Ilex X meservae ''China Boy', 'China Girl'' Common Name: China Boy Holly, China Girl Holly Tough, compact evergreen shrub. Medium-green lustrous foliage. Bright red fruit on female plants. Fruit requires pollination from male plant.... [ More Info ]

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Impatiens hybrida ''SunPatiens'' Common Name: Busy Lizzie Impatiens Sun-loving Busy Lizzie SunPatiens has exceptional vigour and ability to withstand rain, wind, humidity, scorching heat and cool shade. It's a plant of superior qualities: quicker to establish, stronger root system, thicker petals and much larger flow... [ More Info ]

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Imperata cylindrica var. koenigii ''Red Baron'' Common Name: Japanese Blood Grass Slow-spreading clump grass. Tall upright leaves emerge green with red tips in spring, turn completely red by late summer and fall, then copper in winter. Plant in full sun for best color with evenly moist, well-drained soil.... [ More Info ]

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Iris cristata Common Name: Crested Iris Blue flowers float above the foliage which remains handsome through summer. Good choice for a naturalized ground cover.... [ More Info ]

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Iris fulva Common Name: Copper Iris In late spring, beardless, crestless, deep copper flowers bloom. The flowers are attractive to and are pollinated by hummingbirds. The leaves are bright green and sword shaped; they remain attractive all season long.... [ More Info ]

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Iris versicolor Common Name: Blue Flag A hardy lakeshore perennial of shallow water, two to three tall. Flowers bloom May to June and are large and showy. Petals are light to deep blue with yellow and whitish markings at the base of the sepals. Each stem bears two or three flowers. The w... [ More Info ]

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Iris virginica shrevii Common Name: Southern Blue Flag Narrow, bright green leaves and fragrant, blue violet flowers with falls crested in yellow and white. A perfect choice for rain gardens and along pond edges.... [ More Info ]

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Itea virginica ''Henry's Garnet'' Common Name: Henry's Garnet Sweetspire Erect, rounded, deciduous shrub with fragrant drooping clusters of white flowers. Oval, dark green leaves turn garnet red in fall. Flowers and fall color of this cultivar are superior to that of the species.... [ More Info ]

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Itea virginica Common Name: Virginia Sweetspire Broad habit with slender upright branches that eventually arch over. Blooms in May or June with fragrant clusters of drooping creamy white flowers. In fall, the dark green leaves turn scarlet and remain showy for many weeks.... [ More Info ]