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Rain Garden Plants

Deep-rooted plants and the sunken profile of rain gardens help infiltrate stormwater runoff and reduce erosion. And rain gardens can be as beautiful as they are functional. In fact, many of our most beautiful regional plants need the type of regular moisture found in a rain garden to thrive.

Keep in mind that your rain garden, unlike a water garden, will be dry most of the time. Plants should be able to tolerate short periods of inundation, but not require constant standing water. Select plants with moderate moisture requirements for areas that will have moist, well-drained soil. For drier sites like the edge of your rain garden, use plant that have low or moderate moisture requirements. Perennial plants should be hardy in your growing zone. if you are not sure about your zone, see the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

Save plants for your project by clicking the 'My Plant List' button on the plant's page. For help in making your selections, use our Find the Right Plant feature.

View All Types Annuals Only Butterfly Attracting Only Drought-Defiant Only Midwest Native Only Ornamental Grass Only Rain Gardens and Bioswales Only Salt-Tolerant Only Shade-tolerant Only Summer Color for Sunny Sites Only Trees & Shrubs Only Vines and Groundcovers Only Wetlands and Streambank Stabilization Only

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Taxodium ascendens Common Name: Pond Cypress Pond Cypress is a deciduous conifer tree that grows narrowly conical or columnar with spreading branches and erect branchlets. Its fine feathery foliage is bright green changing to rich brown in fall.... [ More Info ]

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Taxodium distichum ''Cascade Falls' or 'Shawnee Brave'' Common Name: Cascade Falls or Shawnee Brave Bald Cypress Pyramidal tree with very delicate, feathery foliage. This rare hybrid variety has denser foliage and a narrower habit then the regular species, also the seed capsules are a dark purple and hang like ornaments in the fall. Prefers moist soil, but will... [ More Info ]

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Taxodium distichum Common Name: Bald Cypress A deciduous conifer, with medium-fine, needle-like leave that are soft green in summer but turn rusty brown in winter before they drop. The bark of this conifer is brown and fibrous. Great choice for compacted, urban sites as are other bottomland spe... [ More Info ]

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Tiarella cordifolia Common Name: Foam Flower Clump-forming plant that spreads by runners. Tiny, white flowers with very long stamens appear in airy racemes in spring for about six weeks on numerous wiry stems.... [ More Info ]

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Tilia americana Common Name: American Basswood Tall stately tree has dark green leaves. In late spring, fragrant yellow flowers with fine, high-quality nectar attract bees and other pollinators. In the fall, color may be a deep yellow.... [ More Info ]

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Tilia cordata ''Greenspire' or 'Sterling'' Common Name: Greenspire or Sterling Linden Selections of Little Leaf Linden with a strong central trunk, which gives the tree a broad pyramidal form. Offers excellent shade with its dense foliage.... [ More Info ]

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Tradescantia ernestiana Common Name: Woodland Spiderwort This tough spiderwort sports long and narrow green leaves with no whitish coating like other spiderworts. From late spring into early summer, bright clusters of flowers are produced prolifically above slender stems. Color varies from purple-blue to r... [ More Info ]

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Tradescantia ohiensis Common Name: Ohio Spiderwort Grass-like, dark blue-green leaves grow in clumps and can be invasive in ideal growing conditions as it self seeds. From late May to early July, clusters of blue, one-inch flowers appear on graceful stems. A lovely addition to the woodland or rain g... [ More Info ]