Rain Gardens - The Best Plants to Grow in your Garden
Rain gardens are fantastic for utilizing rainwater run-off in your landscape, and they also contribute to reducing pollution in our waterways. Here are some of the best plants to consider for a rain garden:
- Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea): This shrub has striking red branches in winter and white flowers in spring. It loves wet soil and can tolerate periods of drought too.
- Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata): This plant loves moist conditions and will attract a range of pollinators, including the monarch butterfly, to your garden.
- Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor): Ideal for the wettest parts of the garden, this plant produces lovely blue-violet flowers in the spring.
- Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis): Known for its brilliant red flowers, this perennial plant thrives in wet conditions.
- Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum): A tall, native perennial, it’s ideal for the back of your rain garden and its pink-purple flowers will attract butterflies.
- River Birch (Betula nigra): If you have space for a tree, the River Birch is a great choice. It loves wet conditions and its peeling bark adds winter interest.
These plants are all great choices for a rain garden, and they also provide the additional benefit of attracting a variety of wildlife to your yard.