Because of their constant wet and dry conditions, rain gardens can present challenging growing conditions for plants. Each rain garden design is unique and therefore blanket recommendations on plant selection cannot be made. The following plants, however, are a good place to begin. Start the process by taking note of drainage patterns in the yard and how long water stands in the area after a rain. With some observation and experimentation on your own you can create your own unique rain garden.
Trees
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
River Birch (Betula nigra)
Bald Cypress (Taxodium sp.)
Shrubs
Sweetspire (Itea spp.)
Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
Inkberry (Ilex glabra)
Wax Myrtle (Myrica spp.)
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia)
Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria)
Leucothoe (Leucothoe fontanesiana)
Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)
Herbaceous Plants
Blue Flag Iris (Iris vericolor)
Southern Blue Flag Iris (Iris virginica)
Water Iris (Iris laevigata)
Pitcher plant (Sarracenia spp.)
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Pickerel Weed (Pontederia cordata)
Arrowhead (Sagittaria spp.)
Craven Hudson & Mitch Woodward
