Rain gardens are a beautiful way to bring nature into your yard while helping manage stormwater runoff and supporting local wildlife. By selecting the right plants, you can create a garden that is not only functional but also full of life and color. In this guide, we’ll explore the best plants for rain gardens—plants that can handle wet soils, dry spells, and everything in between. Whether you’re planting a rain garden to help with water management or simply want a gorgeous landscape that’s low-maintenance, you’ve come to the right place.
Best Plants for Rain Gardens
1. Chokeberry
Chokeberry is a fantastic deciduous shrub for rain gardens, growing to around 6-8 feet tall. This native plant features reddish purple leaves in the fall, fragrant white flowers in the spring, and edible fruit that attracts birds. It thrives in wet soil and can handle periodic flooding, making it perfect for areas that retain moisture. Chokeberry is also quite durable, able to tolerate some shade and dry spells between rainfalls.
Placement Tip: Plant Chokeberry around the outer edges of your rain garden, where the soil dries out more quickly but still gets occasional moisture. It adds height and structure to the garden, making it a standout shrub.
2. Phlox
If you want vibrant color in your rain garden, look no further than Phlox. This herbaceous perennial thrives in wet soils and provides clusters of bright flowers in early summer. Phlox attracts local pollinators like bees and butterflies, making it an excellent addition to a rain garden. It prefers partial sun to full sun and adds a cheerful touch to your garden.
Maintenance Tip: To keep Phlox blooming throughout the summer, make sure to deadhead spent flowers. It’s also low-maintenance, needing only moderate watering and an occasional pruning.
3. Canna Lily
For a tropical touch, Canna Lily is a great option. This rain garden plant grows best in wet areas and provides stunning showy flowers in bright colors like red, orange, and yellow. Cannas can grow up to 6 feet tall, making them perfect for adding height and texture to your rain garden. They thrive in full sun and love damp or even boggy soils.
Planting Tip: Plant Cannas in the center or lower zones of your garden, where water tends to pool after rain. They can handle wet feet and bring vibrant color to the garden.
4. Switchgrass
Switchgrass is a hardy, native plant that thrives in a variety of soil conditions. It’s a tall, ornamental grass that grows well in wet soils and can withstand occasional flooding. Switchgrass also plays a key role in preventing erosion, as its deep root system helps stabilize the soil.
Benefit: Switchgrass is not only functional, but it also adds a lovely tawny brown color in the fall, giving your rain garden a dynamic look year-round. Plus, it provides habitat for birds and other insects.
5. Papyrus
Papyrus is another plant that loves moisture, making it perfect for the wetter areas of your rain garden. Known for its elegant appearance, it grows tall and provides a striking, exotic look. Papyrus does well in full sun and can handle standing water for extended periods, making it ideal for rain gardens that experience frequent rain.
Planting Tip: Papyrus works well in the wettest part of the garden, often near a water feature if you have one.
6. Buttonbush
Buttonbush is a native shrub with white flowers that bloom in late spring to early summer. These showy bottlebrush flowers attract bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds, making it a great choice for pollinator gardens. Buttonbush grows best in wet areas and can tolerate occasional flooding, making it perfect for the lower, water-retaining parts of the garden.
Maintenance Tip: Buttonbush requires minimal maintenance. Once established, it needs little care besides occasional pruning to maintain its shape.
7. Elephant’s Ear
For bold, tropical foliage, Elephant’s Ear is a great addition to gardens. With its large, heart-shaped leaves, it creates a dramatic effect in the garden. It thrives in humid soil and partial shade, making it perfect for gardens that don’t get full sunlight all day.
Tip: This plant loves high humidity and moist soil, so plant it in areas of the garden that receive frequent water and hold moisture longer.
8. Fiber Optic Grass
Fiber Optic Grass is a unique plant that adds a fun, whimsical look to gardens. Its fine, hair-like strands create a soft, feathery appearance, making it a great ground cover for wetter areas. It thrives in damp soil and prefers partial shade to full sun.
Benefit: It is low-maintenance and provides a beautiful, soft texture that contrasts well with bolder plants like Elephant’s Ear or Switchgrass.
9. Bee Balm
Bee Balm is a favorite for rain gardens due to its colorful, fragrant flowers and ability to attract pollinators. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and grows well in wet soils, making it perfect for adding a splash of color. Bee Balm’s bushy habit creates a natural, wild look that fits perfectly in gardens.
Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during the blooming season in summer. If the rain garden doesn’t get enough water, you may need to water deeply once a week to maintain soil moisture.
Tip: Bee Balm benefits from regular deadheading to keep its blooms coming throughout the summer. It also helps control moisture, preventing soil from drying out too quickly.
10. Rose Mallow
Rose Mallow is another plant that loves water, producing large, hibiscus-like flowers that bloom from late summer through early fall. It thrives in full sun and prefers humid soil, making it an ideal choice for the wetter sections of your garden.
Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of the plant to help retain moisture in the soil. Mulching also helps regulate soil temperature and prevents weeds, which can compete for water and nutrients.
Placement Tip: Plant Rose Mallow in the center of your garden, where water collects the most, and watch it add vibrant color to your outer space.
Conclusion
Rain gardens are a beautiful and functional addition to any landscape, helping to manage water runoff, create a habitat, and add aesthetic appeal with stunning rain garden plants. From the bold Elephant’s Ear to the delicate Bee Balm, the best plants for gardens offer a mix of durability, low maintenance, and vibrant beauty. By selecting the right plants for your garden’s zones and soil conditions, you’ll create a garden that thrives through all seasons while supporting local ecosystems and improving your yard’s water management. So, get ready to plant your rain garden and enjoy the many benefits it brings to your home and the environment.
