Native plant species are recommended for rain gardens
A mixture of plants in a rain garden provides habitat diversity.
A monoculture border (all one species) will give the rain garden a defining edge and a well kept appearance. Typically the border will be a low growing grass, such as blue or hairy grama or sideoats grama if using natives (or turfgrass if a blend of natives and non-natives are used).
On the floor of the rain garden plant a variety of species that bloom throughout the growing season.
Plant clumps of each species, with spacing of 1 to 1.5 feet apart. Select lower growing native plants that don’t grow more than 3- 4 feet high.
Typically, you’ll want to install live plants that establish readily during the first year. Select plants that meet your aesthetic values, but consider the amount of input needed to keep any nonnatives alive (water during drought, fertilizer), and the effects of those inputs on nearby native species.
