A rain garden is a shallow bed that catches roof and driveway runoff, so its plants must handle standing water after storms and dry spells in between — Joe Pye weed, turtlehead, cardinal flower, Siberian iris and swamp mallow do both.
- Joe Pye Weed — Tall native for the center of the basin.
- Turtlehead — Late-summer flowers in wet shade or sun.
- Cardinal Flower — Red spikes for hummingbirds at the low spot.
- Iris — Siberian and blue flag iris handle wet feet.
- Swamp Mallow — Dinner-plate flowers in August.
- Ironweed — Purple flowers, loved by butterflies.
- Aster — Fall color for the rim.
- Black-Eyed Susan — Tough on the drier edges.
- Blazing Star — Spikes for the sides of the bed.
- Royal Fern — Bold fern for a shady rain garden.
American Royal Fern 'Regalis Spectabilis'
Osmunda 'Regalis Spectabilis'
from $16.99 · 1GAL
- Deer resistant
- Native
- Rabbit resistant
Bee Balm 'Balmy Lilac'
Monarda 'Balmy Lilac'
from $11.99 · 1GAL
- Deer resistant
- Fragrant
- Rabbit resistant
Bee Balm 'Balmy Pink'
Monarda 'Balmy Pink'
from $11.99 · 1GAL
- Deer resistant
- Fragrant
- Rabbit resistant
Bee Balm 'Balmy Purple'
Monarda 'Balmy Purple'
from $11.99 · 1GAL
- Deer resistant
- Fragrant
- Rabbit resistant
Bee Balm 'Beauty of Cobham'
Monarda 'Beauty of Cobham'
from $14.99 · 1GAL
- Deer resistant
- Fragrant
- Rabbit resistant
Bee Balm 'Bee-You Bee-Free'
Monarda 'Bee-You Bee-Free'
from $11.99 · 1GAL
- Deer resistant
- Fragrant
- Rabbit resistant
Bee Balm 'Bee-You Bee-Happy'
Monarda 'Bee-You Bee-Happy'
from $11.99 · 1GAL
- Deer resistant
- Fragrant
- Rabbit resistant
Bee Balm 'Bee-You Bee-Lieve'
Monarda 'Bee-You Bee-Lieve'
from $11.99 · 1GAL
- Deer resistant
- Fragrant
- Rabbit resistant
Bee Balm 'Bee-You Bee-Merry'
Monarda 'Bee-You Bee-Merry'
from $11.99 · 1GAL
- Deer resistant
- Fragrant
- Rabbit resistant
Bee Balm 'Bee-You Bee-Pretty'
Monarda 'Bee-You Bee-Pretty'
from $11.99 · 1GAL
- Deer resistant
- Fragrant
- Rabbit resistant
Bee Balm 'Bee-You Bee-True'
Monarda 'Bee-You Bee-True'
from $11.99 · 1GAL
- Deer resistant
- Fragrant
- Rabbit resistant
Bee Balm 'Beebop'
Monarda 'Beebop'
from $14.99 · 1GAL
- Deer resistant
- Fragrant
- Native
Tips
- Put the wettest-loving plants in the center and drought-tolerant ones around the rim.
- Site the garden at least 10 feet from the house and where water already flows.
- Water new plants through their first summer; after that, rain does the work.
- Native plants are a good fit — they’re used to New England’s wet springs and dry Augusts.
Frequently asked questions
How long can rain garden plants sit in water?
Most handle standing water for a day or two after a storm. A rain garden should drain within 48 hours.
Can I plant a rain garden in shade?
Yes — turtlehead, cardinal flower, royal fern and ostrich fern grow in part shade.
Do rain gardens breed mosquitoes?
No. Water drains in a day or two, well before mosquitoes can hatch.
How big should a rain garden be?
A common rule is about a fifth to a third of the roof area that drains into it, and 4 to 8 inches deep.
What’s the difference from a wet-soil bed?
A wet-soil bed stays damp all the time. A rain garden floods after storms and dries out between them, so its plants need both.