Rain garden plant selection

15 years ago

I have one area where water floods a lot when there is heavy rain. I was thinking that this is exactly what a rain graden would be.

For plants in a rain garden, we need plants that can withstand being dry and also being submerged (at least for a few days)? How do I figure out which plant can stand these conditions?

Thanks.

Paul

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

Iris GW
15 years ago
Try googling "rain garden plants in Illinois" and see what you come up with.
paulsiu
Original Author
15 years ago
I did google it and actually installed a couple of those plants like Dog tooth Daisy (Helenium autumnale), Queen of the Prairie, Cardinal flowers, and great blue lobelia. After the area got hit with water, all of the plants gave up the ghost except for the great blue lobelia. May be they're flood resistant only after they are established?

Paul
Related Discussions
short, wide plant near rain garden
Q
Comments (8)
I hope you'll stick with me while I post a few more pictures. Although the leaves look very much like the Pale Indian Plantain, it's never developed a flower stalk and shows no sign of doing so although it is admittedly still early in the season. I took some pictures with hopes it will help identify it. These unknowns came up right next to the daylilies and I didn't want them there anyhow so they got selected for culling out. The same plants shown with most of the roots still attached and shovel to show scale. And the underside of the plant: The soil it's growing in is pretty much heavy clay. Thanks for looking and for assistance. Traudi
...See More
Can you help me select plants for my Mediterranean Garden?
Q
Comments (12)
It would still help to know where you are gardening if you would like more pertinent climate specific plant recommendations. Unless you are up in the Sierra Nevada foothills at sufficient elevation to receive significant snowfall, it is also highly unlikely you are receiving 6 feet of rain in an average year. Kentfield in Marin County is one of the local wettest spots in the SF Bay Area, and even they don't get this much rain. The normal range of precipitation is more in the 20 to 40 inches range for coastal northern California, unless you are getting particular increased rainfall from mountain uplift rain effect as Kentfield or Ben Lomond do. There are quite a few Western Cape species that are well adapted to seasonally wet/saturated winter soils that later dry out in summer, so winter wet soils are not the problem. The majority of these plants will not take hard frost in combination with winter wet, as they are lower elevation or coastal in habitat. The higher elevation plants from the Drakensberg Mountains are dry in winter and wet in summer, so you will also have to be more careful of providing good winter drainage for anything from there, although most plants from this summer rainfall/high elevation mountains will be more winter cold adapted.
...See More
I want this plant in my rain garden
Q
Comments (1)
It looks like what we call Bulrush, a species of Typha. They're often used for controlling sediments in runoff water before it enters creeks and rivers. They spread by seed so if your neighbour has them they'll soon be in wet areas in your place. They are invasive in wet areas so you need to make sure they're not going to become a problem later on. Once established they are difficult to get rid of.
...See More
Rain garden plants
Q
Comments (0)
My design is finalized so I'm thinking about the plants. I will have a tiered berm. I was thinking of Hibiscus and Russian Sage on the top. The middle area would have Shasta daisy, and two different colors of Cone Flowers. The lower level by the water/ garden would have Peruvian Lilly. If there are open spots, I would add a few Coral Bell.
...See More
Iris GW
15 years ago
Well, try some different things. Cardinal flower should have been fine, but perhaps it died for another reason.
wisconsitom
15 years ago
Hi Paulsia. That is indeed the challenge for these types of plantings.....the need for the selected species to be able to withstand a lot of "bounce" in water levels, from inundation to hot and dry. There are really a lot of plants that have been recommended for this usage. Just a couple more for you to consider/try: Sweet flag-Acorus calamus, Iris virginica, Marsh marigold-Caltha palustris, Carex (sedge) species of many types, Polygonum amphibium-water smartweed............oh, was that more than a couple?

+oM
ontnative
15 years ago
Most plants will not stand a deluge of water until their roots get firmly established. Try to start with mature good sized plants. wisconsitom's suggestions are good ones. Try doing a google search for native bog plants for more ideas.
cmgvw9
12 years ago
Sounds like you want some hardy, drought tolerant rain garden plants. Check out MyRunoff.org's free Rain Garden Bot. It can help you find drought tolerant plants that can also withstand occasional standing water.

Here is a link that might be useful: MyRunoff.org's Rain Garden Bot

Related Stories

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 5 Steps to Selecting the Right Plants for a Rain Garden

By Falon Mihalic

A simplified look at selecting plants for a rain garden

Full Story

LANDSCAPE DESIGN How to Design a Rain Garden That Loves Stormy Weather

By Falon Mihalic

Rain gardens have a special type of planting bed that drains rainwater. These tips can keep yours looking great

Full Story

INSPIRING GARDENS Native Plants Bring 10 Southern California Front-Yard Gardens to Life

By Annie Thornton

Rare plants, rain gardens and wildlife habitats are just a few of the features showcased on the 2016 Theodore Payne Native Plant Garden Tour

Full Story

LANDSCAPE DESIGN How to Shape a Rain Garden and Create the Right Soil for It

By Falon Mihalic

Learn how to grade, lay out and amend the soil in your rain garden to support your plants

Full Story

TREES Great Design Plant: Nyssa Sylvatica

By Curtis Adams

The black gum tree tolerates moist soil and provides many years of beautiful foliage, from summer to fall

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Gaura Lindheimeri

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Delicate, butterfly-shaped flowers ‘float’ above the foliage of this lovely, drought-tolerant perennial

Full Story

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Great Design Plant: Saucer Magnolia

By Annie Thornton

Witness its glorious spectacle in early spring, but this specimen tree brings other delightful visuals to a garden too

Full Story

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Great Design Plant: Retreat to the Shade of Hardy Catalpa

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Big foliage and a towering height provide a shady respite in summer, but that's not all hardy catalpa offers dedicated gardeners

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Winterberry Rouses Frosty Gardens

By Paintbox Garden

Energize dormant winter landscapes with this shrub's brilliant berries — and do right by hungry birds too

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Mertensia Virginica

By Curtis Adams

Virginia bluebells provides relief from winter with a big display of color

Full Story

Rain garden plant selection

Comments (6)

Iris GW

paulsiu
Original Author

Related Discussions

Iris GW

wisconsitom

ontnative

cmgvw9

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Rain garden plant selection

Comments (6)

Iris GW

paulsiuOriginal Author

Related Discussions

Iris GW

wisconsitom

ontnative

cmgvw9

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

paulsiu
Original Author