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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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Panicum virgatum ''Northwind'' Common Name: Northwind Switch Grass Medium grower which prefers full sun and good drainage. The plant is erect and rather stiff and can tolerate some snow load before breaking down. The yellow flowers are golden during autumn. Small seed heads.... [ More Info ]

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Panicum virgatum ''Heavy Metal'' Common Name: Heavy Metal Switch Grass Native Switch Grass and taller Switch Grass cultivars can become floppy, but 'Heavy Metal' is shorter and the steely blue-green foliage is very upright. Next to the cultivar, 'Dallas Blues,' 'Heavy Metal' looks petite. It is well-suited to the border... [ More Info ]

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Panicum virgatum ''Prairie Fire'' Common Name: Prairie Fire Switch Grass Switch Grass cultivar boasting blue-green stems with wine-red leaves. Spring foliage is blue-green, but begins turning to a stunning red color by early summer. In late summer, a bouquet of rosy panicles is displayed just above the curled foliage.... [ More Info ]

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Panicum virgatum Common Name: Switch Grass Clump-forming, warm season native grass. Plants provide cover for wildlife; birds feed on the seeds. Spreads both by rhizomes and seed.... [ More Info ]

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Parrotia persica Common Name: Persian Ironwood Deciduous tree which resembles our native Witchhazel. The smooth, pinkish-brown bark flakes to leave cinnamon, pink, green, and pale yellow patches in a similar manner to plane trees. The leaves have a wavy margin. The leaves are glossy green and tur... [ More Info ]

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Parthenium integrifolium Common Name: Wild Quinine From late spring to late summer, wooly-looking, white flowers bloom in broad, flat-topped heads. The long-petioled basal leaves are larger than the stem leaves and grow in a distinct clump. The leaves are aromatic.... [ More Info ]

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Pennisetum alopecuroides ''Hameln'' Common Name: Dwarf Fountain Grass In late summer, buff-colored flower heads pop up in profusion on 12" spikes. The graceful fountain-like plumes slowly change color from buff to soft pinks and light-colored maroons. One to three plants are effective in small gardens as an accent, and... [ More Info ]

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Pennisetum alopecuroides ''Foxtrot'' Common Name: Foxtrot Fountain Grass Forms large, upright clumps topped in midsummer with 60-inch tall tan plumes. P. 'Foxtrot' has proven to be an outstanding, non-spreading, long-lived and reliable performer with much more vigor than typical P. alopecuroides.... [ More Info ]

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Penthorum sedoides Common Name: Ditch Stonecrop This colonizing, wet-loving native occurs in ditches and on streambanks. Small, green flowers bloom from July to October. An excellent choice for wetland mitigations and bioswales.... [ More Info ]

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Phlox paniculata ''David'' Common Name: David Garden Phlox The most mildew-resistant phlox to date. The wonderfully fragrant giant flower heads adorn the top of the plant during the late spring and summer.... [ More Info ]

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Physocarpus opulifolia Common Name: Ninebark Blooms for weeks in summer with clusters of white to pinkish flowers resembling Bridalwreath Spirea. In fall, seed is formed in reddish drooping clusters which are enjoyed by birds. On mature stems, the bark provides additional winter interest when i... [ More Info ]

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Physostegia virginiana Common Name: Obedient Plant This native wildflower is easily grown in average to moist well-drained soil in full sun. Plants form erect clumps and naturalizes in gardens. Stiff, square stems feature dense spikes of pinkish, snapdragon-like flowers which bloom throughout the su... [ More Info ]

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Platanus occidentalis Common Name: Sycamore Develops a massive trunk with an open wide-spreading crown and has leaves that can grow to nine inches in width. In winter, the tree's characteristic large patches of creamy white inner bark are prominent making it a winter landscape standout.... [ More Info ]

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Platanus X acerifolia Common Name: London Planetree Large cultivar between American Sycamore and Oriental Plane Tree. Like Sycamore, it becomes more spreading than pyramidal as it ages. It tolerates dry soil and is resistant to the anthracnose that afflicts native Sycamore. The main ornamental trait i... [ More Info ]

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Pontederia cordata Common Name: Pickerel Plant The blue-violet flower spikes of this hardy water plant stand out at the edge of a pond or in a small pool from June through October. Large stands make a very showy statement. Glossy green, lance-shaped leaves grow vertically out of the water.... [ More Info ]

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Populus deltoides Common Name: Eastern Cottonwood Deciduous tree with smooth grey or white bark, sometimes rough on the lower trunk. Leaves are usually roughly triangular or diamond-shaped, on a long stalk, with a paler green or white underside. Tiny flowers in long drooping catkins are produced in ... [ More Info ]

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Ptelea trifoliata Common Name: Hop Tree A large shrub or small tree with a bushy rounded form. Fragrant, greenish flowers bloom from April to June and provide nectar for bees. Flowers are followed by yellow-green, winged fruits that later turn brown and persist through winter. The Hop Tree... [ More Info ]