G1759

Stormwater Management
Plant Selection for Rain Gardens in Nebraska

This is one of a series of three NebGuides on designing and installing rain gardens to provide a functional and aesthetic means for reducing stormwater runoff in urban areas.

• Plant Selection and Placement for Rain Gardens
• Plants Suited for Rain Gardens
• References and Additional Resources
• Acknowledgment

Homeowners can reduce runoff from their yards by creating functional and aesthetic rain gardens. A rain garden is a small area in a residential yard or neighborhood planted with native and adapted vegetation. It is designed to temporarily hold rain water from a roof, driveway or other open area to allow it to soak in rather than run off. Water collected in the rain garden slowly infiltrates the soil within 48 hours and can reduce pollutants in runoff water.

This NebGuide provides tips on plant selection and layout and lists plants appropriate for rain gardens in Nebraska.

Plant Selection and Placement for Rain Gardens

A rain garden planted with a variety of plants adaptable to rain garden conditions will provide years of enjoyment to homeowners. Consider the following factors to create a well-planned and aesthetically pleasing rain garden.

Variety

Based on the size of the garden, select a variety of species that includes plants of different sizes, forms, textures and colors. This will add interest and visual depth and dimension. Use caution when selecting tall plants (over 3 feet) because tall species may tend to flop when mature, creating an unkempt look. They also may take up a significant amount of space in gardens sized for residential sites.

Season of Bloom or Interest

Select plants that bloom at different times to provide season-long flower and fragrance interest. Consider interesting seed heads, fruit, foliage colors and winter character when selecting rain garden plants. Habitat value for insects, butterflies, birds and small amphibians and reptiles also should be a primary selection factor.

Species Selection

Select plants that can tolerate “wet feet” for short periods. Some plants do well in soils that are always wet, while others do well in soils that are dry. Rain gardens are designed to hold water as it slowly drains into the surrounding soil, so plants must be adapted to standing water (which occurs before the soil fully drains) or dry conditions (between rain events). Including different species of sedges, rushes and grasses with flowering plants will add a variety of root sizes and structures. Such root competition tends to encourage healthy growth for all plants while minimizing the potential for one species to take over the garden.

Plants Suited for Rain Gardens

The following lists of plants suitable for Nebraska rain gardens have been developed from several sources (refer to reference list) to provide a wide selection of possible plant choices for homeowners. Table I provides an overview of plants adaptable to wet rain garden conditions throughout Nebraska (garden bottoms and areas with consistently higher moisture levels). Table II lists plants that are well-adapted to drier garden conditions, such as the tops and sides of rain garden berms. Regionally native plants are typically best suited to the variable conditions found in rain gardens. In addition, their rooting depth, habit and growth cycle are conducive to enhancing soil drainage and water percolation and storage as the garden matures. Non-native plants, including many common landscape plants, also may be adaptable to rain garden conditions, but may not provide the root regeneration and soil aeration benefits associated with regionally native plants.

Some of the plants listed in the tables may be difficult to find from local commercial sources. Cultivars of listed species, as well as closely related species of listed plants, may provide viable substitutions. For example, Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) is native throughout Nebraska but may not be commonly available in the trade. Several goldenrods are available in the trade that are either cultivars of S.canadensis (Golden Baby); another species native to Nebraska (S.rigida); or a species cultivar from a goldenrod native to Missouri (Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’, Fireworks goldenrod). Homeowners should contact local nurseries or local county extension offices for additional plant suggestions.

In all cases, plants should be selected to best match the specific location, soil conditions and aesthetic requirements for the rain garden site.

When selecting plants be aware that moving west in Nebraska may mean changes in climate and hardiness impacts, including earlier frost dates, increased periods of dryness, and a higher soil pH. Refer to the native range information for each plant in the table to help select appropriate plants. Finally, tree planting is not recommended for residential rain gardens. Trees compete for needed water, root space and sunlight, and will reduce the vigor of other rain garden plantings.

References and Additional Resources

University of Wisconsin–Extension
UWEX Publication GWQ037
1-06-03-5M-100-S

Or

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
DNR Publication PUB-WT-776 2003

Plants native to Nebraska verified in:

Kaul, R. Sutherland, D. and S. Rolfsmeier. 2007. The Flora of Nebraska. School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Plants native to region verified in:

USDA Plant Database: http://plants.usda.gov/

Additional information on Nebraska native/adapted plants: Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, http://arboretum.unl.edu/plantinfo.html

Acknowledgment

The authors also would like to acknowledge the following individuals for providing additional information incorporated into the plant lists:

Wayne Petersen, Urban Conservationist
Iowa Natural Resources and Conservation Service

Inger Lamb, Director
Iowa Native Lands

Dr. David Sutherland, Professor Emeritus
Dept. Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha

 

Visit the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension Publications Web site for more publications.
Index: Water Management
Water Quality
Issued August 2007