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- Native Plants for Rain Gardens
Choosing native plants for rain gardens
To plan a successful rain garden, you'll need to familiarize yourself with plants that tolerate both saturated and drought conditions. Rain gardens have three planting zones characterized by different soil conditions. Here are some plant examples well suited to rain gardens.
Native plants for rain gardens in the sun
| Common name | Scientific name |
|---|---|
| Coastal Strawberry | Frageria chiloensis |
| Common Camas | Camassia quamash |
| Dense Sedge | Carex densa |
| Douglas Aster | Aster subspicatus |
| Northwest Cinquefoil | Potentilla gracilis |
| Oregon Iris | Iris tenax |
| Slough Sedge | Carex obnupto |
| Tufted Hair-grass | Deschampsia cespitosa |
| Western Columbine | Aquilegia formosa |
| Yarrow | Achillea millefolium |
Native plants for rain gardens in the shade
| Common name | Scientific name |
|---|---|
| Coastal Strawberry | Frageria chiloensis |
| Creeping Oregon Grape | Mahonia nervosa |
| Dagger-leaved Rush | Juncus ensifolius |
| Deer Fern | Blechnum spicant |
| False Solomon's Seal | Smilacina racemosa |
| Fringecup | Tellima grandiflora |
| Large-leaved Avens | Geum macrophyllum |
| Piggyback Plant | Tolmiea menziesii |
| Salal | Gaultheria shallon |
| Stream Violet | Viola glabella |
| Sword Fern | Polystichum munitum |
| Wood Sorrel | Oxalis oregano |
| Western Bleeding Heart | Dicentra formosa |
Caring for your plants
Once a rain garden is built, new plants need to be watered regularly for the first two to three years until they are well established. Mulching annually conserves water and reduces weeds until the plants close in over the soil. You can also help the plants to establish by weeding in the spring, summer, and fall months. If you use native plants and mulch them with leaf litter or arborist wood ship mulch, there should be no need for fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides. Keep the inlet and outlet clear of debris and well protected from erosion with rocks. Appropriate care and regular maintenance can protect your investment for many years to come.
- Page 9 from Managing Rainwater: A Homeowners Improvement Guide for Low Impact Development (LID) in Bothell
Once a rain garden is built, new plants need to be watered regularly for the first two to three years until they are well established. Mulching annually conserves water and reduces weeds until the plants close in over the soil. You can also help the plants to establish by weeding in the spring, summer, and fall months. If you use native plants and mulch them with leaf litter or arborist wood ship mulch, there should be no need for fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides. Keep the inlet and outlet clear of debris and well protected from erosion with rocks. Appropriate care and regular maintenance can protect your investment for many years to come.
- Page 9 from Managing Rainwater: A Homeowners Improvement Guide for Low Impact Development (LID) in Bothell