How to Choose the Best Plants for Rain Gardens

If you’re looking for a way to reduce the amount of rainwater runoff from your property and prevent pollution and erosion, you may want to consider planting a rain garden. In this article, you’ll learn what you need to know about rain garden plants to get your rain garden thriving! You’ll discover the best native plants to use in your rain garden design, looking at plants that can tolerate both wet and dry conditions.

Ready to Learn About the Best Plants for Rain Gardens?

Native plants are a great choice for rain gardens, as they are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions. They also provide habitat for local wildlife and can help support biodiversity.

Rainwater gardens are not only designed to capture and absorb rainwater, they are also eco-friendly and a great way to build your self-sufficiency skills and keep your plants hydrated.

To succeed, it’s vital you choose the best plants available so you can successfully construct your rain garden.

Ready to discover the best plants for rain gardens? Let’s go!

Key Takeaways

• Rain gardens can help reduce runoff and prevent water pollution and erosion.
• Choosing the right plants is essential for the success of your rain garden.
• Native plants are a great choice for rain gardens, as they are adapted to local conditions.

Table of Contents

What is a Rain Garden?

Before we get into the best plants for rain gardens, let’s take a closer look at what rain gardens actually are.

1. Purpose of Rain Gardens

Rain gardens are shallow depressions in the ground that are specifically designed to capture and absorb rainwater runoff to prevent it from entering storm drains and potentially overwhelming local sewer systems.

They are ideal for urban areas where impervious surfaces are everywhere. In a nutshell, they mitigate the impact of urban development on natural hydrology.

2. Benefits of Rain Gardens

Here’s a snapshot of a few more of the benefits of rain gardens:

• Superior water absorption: rain gardens can absorb up to 30% more water compared to traditional grass areas.
• Erosion reduction: rain gardens slow down heavy rainfall, reducing erosion.
• Enhanced biodiversity: increased planting attracts a variety of birds and insects, promoting biodiversity.
• Water quality improvements: urban rain gardens can improve the water quality by filtering out pollutants.
• Air quality improvements: if you plant the right plants in your garden, you can also filter out airbourne pollutants.

Best Plants for Rain Gardens: Choosing Plants

When it comes to choosing plants for your rain garden you don’t want to dive right in, buying up plants left right and centre.

After all, there are a good few factors to consider when deciding which plants are best suited for your rain garden.

To start, we’ll discuss soil and water requirements, as well as native plants.

1. Soil and Water Requirements

Rain gardens are designed to hold water for a short period of time, so it’s important to choose plants that can tolerate both wet and dry conditions.

You’ll also need to carefully consider your local weather conditions. For example, in the UK we have a fairly temperate climate, but have recently been subject to some extreme heatwaves.

Here are some plants that are typically well-suited for rain gardens:

• Bulrushes: These perennial, grass-like plants are from the genus Scirpus in the sedge family. They have long, slender leaves and produce tall, cylindrical flower spikes. They are well-suited for wet soil and can help filter pollutants from runoff water.
• Coneflowers: These colourful flowers tolerate droughts well and do well in rich soil. However, they can thrive in a range of soil types which makes them well-suited for rain gardens.
• Daylilies: Daylilies are an excellent choice for a rain garden as they keep the garden in bloom for a long period of time. They are also extremely colourful with trumpet-shaped flowers.
• Switchgrass: This grass is an obvious choice for a rain garden, producing tall, airy flower spikes and is well-suited for a range of soil types.

2. Native Plants

When choosing plants for your rain garden, you should also consider native plant species because they are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, and are often more resilient than non-native species.

Let’s have a look at some native plants from the UK that are suitable for rain gardens:

1. Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria): This plant has purple-pink flowers and thrives in wet conditions.
2. Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris): With vibrant yellow flowers, marsh marigold is an excellent choice for wetter areas of your rain garden and best planted at the margins.
3. Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria): Meadowsweet grows well in damp soil and produces clusters of creamy-white flowers.
4. Water avens (Geum rivale): Water avens has nodding reddish-purple flowers and thrives in moist to wet soils. It’s also good for attracting beas!
5. Devil’s-bit scabious (Succisa pratensis): This plant produces rounded clusters of blue flowers and is well-adapted to damp meadows.
6. Yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus): Yellow iris is a native water-loving plant with vibrant yellow flowers.
7. Woodland forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica): And last, but definitely not least, this smaller plant has delicate blue flowers and is well-suited to the edges of rain gardens.

Plant Selection by Rain Garden Zones

Before you get planting, you’ll want to do some planning because rain gardens are commonly structured with three distinct zones in mind:

• Zone 3: Experiencing the least amount of water saturation.
• Zone 2: Encountering occasional standing water events.
• Zone 1: Subject to normal to frequent water saturation.

Selecting suitable plants for each zone plays a crucial role in ensuring optimal water uptake for the plants and reducing the risk of flooding.

Let’s take a look at each zone and where UK native plants can fit in these zones:

Zone 3 (Least Saturation):

• Woodland forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica)

Zone 2 (Occasional Standing Water):

• Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
• Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris)
• Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)

Zone 1 (Frequent Saturation):

• Water avens (Geum rivale)
• Devil’s-bit scabious (Succisa pratensis)
• Yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus)

By selecting plants that are well-suited for each zone of your rain garden, you can set yourself up for success with your rain garden.

Best Plants for Rain Gardens: Designing Your Rain Garden

Now you’ve selected your plants, we can go into more detail on how to design your rain garden.

There are two main aspects to consider:

• Your garden layout and/or where your rain garden is situated. For example, you may want to consider a rooftop rain garden or one in your backyard.
• The plant arrangement that works best for you.

1. Garden Layout

The layout of your rain garden will depend on the size and shape of your outside area, as well as the amount of rainfall in your area.

Ideally, your rain garden should be located in a low-lying area where water collects naturally.

To ensure that your rain garden is effective, it should be at least six inches deep and have a slope of no more than 10%.

2. Plant Arrangement

You’ll need to also consider the height and spread of each plant, as well as its bloom time and colour.

By selecting a variety of plants with different heights and bloom times, you can create a visually appealing rain garden to brighten up your outdoor space.

Best Plants for Rain Gardens: Maintenance and Care

Ok, now your rain garden is ready, you’ll need to maintain it. Let’s have a look at what this requires…

1. To Water or Not to Water?

You may be wondering how much is too much water for a rain garden?

Well, when it comes to watering your rain garden, it’s essential to strike a balance. At the start, regular watering is crucial to help your plants establish their roots.

But, once the plants are established, they should be able to withstand normal rainfall. During dry spells, you may need to provide supplemental watering, particularly for the first year.

Be careful to avoid overwatering, as this can lead to waterlogging and negatively impact the plants’ health.

2. Seasonal Changes

Here are some seasonal changes to bear in mind:

Autumn: During the autumn, it’s important to clear any fallen leaves and debris from your rain garden to prevent blockages and maintain proper water flow.

Also, consider cutting back any dead foliage to keep the garden tidy and prepare it for the winter months.

Spring: Inspect the garden for any signs of erosion or damage, and replenish mulch as needed to help retain moisture and suppress weed growth.

Summer: During the hottest summer months, make sure you pay extra attention to watering your plants.

After all, your plants need to thrive in both a rain garden and a potential 40 degree heatwave! This is why it’s important to choose your plants really carefully when you think about designing your rain garden.

Reflections on Best Plants for Rain Gardens

Creating a rain garden is an aesthetically pleasing way to manage rainwater flow in your garden and your personal contribution to helping the environment, especially in urban areas.

By exploring the best plants for rain gardens, you’re taking a step towards not only preventing water pollution and erosion but also setting your rain garden up for success!

The personal touch of selecting plants that resonate with your local environment, such as woodland forget-me-nots or purple loosestrife, adds a unique charm to your rain garden.

These choices not only contribute to water management but also create a haven for different types of species.

As you think about rain garden design, picture a space that harmonises with both nature and your urban lifestyle. Ultimately, everyone will have a different vision, but if you persevere towards yours, you can’t go wrong…

It may be time consuming, but taking the time and space to understand how rain gardens best function is well worth the effort!