Maryland; Rainscapes Plants for Schools Projects - Montgomery County
Content
Rainscapes Plants for Schools
www.rainscapes.org
recom./ Botanical Name easy
Common Name
Bloom
Color
Sun Type
Soils
Height Spacing Comments
RAIN GARDENS & CONSERVATION LANDSCAPES
tall and/or 'floppy'/ may need supports Sand, Loam, Clay, moistdry 2'
Aquiligea canadensis
Wild columbine
red and June-Aug yellow
Sun-Shade
1'
deer resistant 3' tall, fine texture, blue summer flowers, yellow fall color, needs part sun
Amsonia hubrechtii
Blue-Star Flower
blue flowers, yellow fall May-June color
Sun-Pt Shade Sand, Loam, Clay, Drywet
2'
18"
Asclepias incarnata Asclepias syriaca
Swamp Milkweed
June-Aug pink
Sun-Shade
Common Milkweed May-Aug pale purple Sun
Asclepias tuberosa
Butterfly weed
may-june orange
Aster novae angliae Aster divaricatus Baptisia australis
New England Aster Aug-Oct White Wood Aster False Blue Indigo Jul-Oct
purple white
Moist Sand, Loam, Clay, DrySun med 1-3' Sand, Loam, Clay, MedSun-Shade wet 2'-6' dry-med pt Shade-sh wet 0.5-3' sand, loam 3-5'
2'-4' 3.56.5'
2' 2'
deer resistant deer resistant
1-2'
deer resistant deer resistant. Not near doors and windows spreads freely
2'-3' 1-2' 1-2'
may-june blue, purple Sun-Shade
Chelone glabra/obliqua Chrysogonum virginianum Coreopsis verticillata Echinacea purpurea 'Kim's Knee-Hi'
Turtlehead green and gold Threadleaf Coreopsis Dwarf Purple Coneflower
aug-oct mar-jun jun-oct
white/pink yellow yellow
Sand, Loam, Clay, DrySun-Shade med dry-med Sun- Shade wet; loam dry-med Sun, PS wet, loam
1-4'
deer resistant host plant to Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly, MD 12-18" state bug
0.5-1' 1' 1-3.5' 1-2' butterfly attractor, deer resistant butterfly attractor, deer resistant
May-Aug pink
Sun
dry
15"
12"
Echinacea Magnus Purple purpurea ' Magnus' Coneflower
May-Aug dark pink
Sun
dry-moist
24"
15"
Page 1 of 11
recom./ Botanical Name easy
Common Name
Bloom
Color
Sun Type
Soils
Height Spacing Comments
Echinacea purpurea 'Razzmatazz' Eupatorium coelestinum Eupatorium dubium Eupatorium fistolosum
Razzmatazz Purple dark Pink Coneflower June-Aug Double Mistflower Coastal Joe-pye Weed ('Little Joe' ) Common Joe-pye weed Jul-Oct
dry dry to wet; blue-purple pt Shade-sh clay, loam pink, dk pink Sun, PS moist
Sun
24"
15"
butterfly attractor, deer resistant
1-3.5' 1-2' 3-4' 2' not near doors/ open windows not near doors/ open windows
jul-sep
pink
Sun
Eupatorium perfoliatum
Boneset
Jul-Oct
white
Sun-pt Shade
moist-dry 1.5-6' 2' Sand, Loam, Clay, medwet 3-4' 1-2' Sand, Loam, Clay, moist 5-6' dry-med, loam 1-2' med. wet, clay, loam, sand 1.5-6' 1.5moist 5.5' Wet-dry 5-8'
not near doors/ open windows
Eupatorium purpureum Geranium maculatum Helenium autumnale Helianthus angustifolius Hibiscus coccineus Hibiscus moscheutos Iris cristata
Sweet Joe-pye weed Wild Geranium
pink-dk July-Sept pink Apr-Jul pink
Sun-pt Shade Sun-pt shade sun-pt shade Sun Sun
1-2' 1-2'
not near doors/ open windows deer resistant
Sneezeweed Swamp Sunflower Texas Star
Jul-Nov Aug-Oct July-Aug
yellow yellow Red
1-2' 2-3' 2'
deer resistant deer resistant red very not flower interesting during most of the school year Edger the One of Louisiana Iris parents
Marsh Mallow Dwarf Crested Iris Copper Iris Blue Flag Iris blazingstar May June june Jul-Aug
Iris fulva Iris virginiana
pink purple light early spring flowers Copper colored flowers blue flowers, yellow fall purple
Sun Partial Sun Sun Sun Sun-pt shade
wet-dry gravelly well drained
3'
2'
Liatris spicata
Dry-wet wet-mod. Dry clay, loam, sand 1-6.5' 1-2'
8-10" 8" 1824" 8" 2436" 18"
Lilium superbum
Turk's Cap Lily
July-Aug
Orange
Sun-pt shade
dry-moist
6'
12"
deer resistant deer resistant, best for conservation planting areas deer resistant, not near doors/ open windows but flowers in summer deer resistant; flowers in summer; do not place by doors/ windows deer resistant cultivars are shorter
Monarda didyma
Bee Balm
June-sept pink
full Sun-pt Shade
Sand, Loam, Clay, Med- 12wet 18"
1'
Monarda fistulosa Wild Bergamot Phlox stolonifera Creeping Phlox Summer phlox Moss Phlox Obedient Plant
Jul-Aug Apr-Jun Jul-Oct Apr-Jun aug-sep
Sun-pt pink, purple Shade varied deep pink to white varied pink, purple yelloworange yellow PS-Shade sun-pt shade Sun Sun Sun-pt Shade Sun, PS
Moist-Dry moist-dry moist Dry* moist-dry med wet Dry-Moist
1.5-5' 1-2' .5-1.5' 1' 1.5'6.5' 1' .5' .5' 3' 1.5' 2-3’ 2' 1-2' 2'
Phlox paniculata Phlox subulata Physostegia virginiana
deer resistant
Rudbeckia fulgida Orange Coneflower jul-oct Black-eyed Susan Jun-Oct Rudbeckia hirta
Page 2 of 11
recom./ Botanical Name easy
Common Name
Bloom
Color
Sun Type
Soils
Height Spacing Comments
Rudbeckia laciniata
Green-headed Coneflower
jul-sep
yellow
Sun-pt Shade
moist
Scenecio aureus Sisyrinchium graminoides Solidago nemoralis
Sneezeweed Blue-eyed Grass Gray Goldenrod
May-June Yellow Apr-Jun Jul-Nov blue yellow
Sun-Shade Sun-pt Shade Sun-pt Shade
moist-dry moist-dry Med-Dry
1.5-9' 2' 15" flower s, 8" tall plant 0.51.5' .5-1' 0.5-3' 1-2'
Evergreen heart shaped groundcover with
Solidago rugosa
Wrinkle-leaf Goldenrod
Aug-Nov
yellow
Sun-pt shade
med-wet, loam, sand 1-6.5' 1-2'
deer resistant deer resistant -fall flowers; keep away from doors/ windows Golden Fleece' - fall flowers; keep away from doors/ windows Wildlife plant -- fall flowers; keep away from doors/ windows Groundcover for conservation areas
Solidago sphacelata
AugustSept
yellow
Sun-pt shade
18"
Solidago ulmifolia Elm leaf Goldenrod Aug-Sept yellow
Sunpt.shade
med-dry
Tiarella cordifolia
Foamflower
May
White
pt shadeshade
med-dry
18" 18" 12" flower , 6" plant 8"
Tradescantia virginiana Veronicastrum virginicum
Spiderwort
June, reblooms if cut back after first flowering blue summer flowers
Sun-pt shade
Culver's Root
Viola labridorica FERNS Dennstaedtia punctilobula Onoclea sensibilis Osmunda cinnamonea Osmunda regalis Polystichum acrostichoides Pteridium aquilinum Thelypteris noveboracensis Grasses Andropogon gerardi Andropogon virginicus
Labrador Violet
June
white Sun purplish foliage and violet Sun-pt flowers shade
med-wet, clay, loam, sand 1-5.5' 1-2' Sand, Loam, meddry 4-6' 2-3'
Long blooming perennial , many cultivars
Sandy, med-dry
4"
6"
groundcover
Hay-scented Fern Sensitive Fern Cinnamon Fern Royal Fern Christmas Fern Bracken Fern New York Fern deciduous
Sun-PS Shade Sun-Shade Sun-Shade PS-Shade Sun-PS Sun-PS
Dry-moist wet-moist wet-moist wet-moist moist dry to wet dry-wet
1-3' 1-3.5' 2.5' 2-6' .5-2' 1.5-6' 2436"
spreads readily
deer resistant deer resistant evergreen
spreading
Big Bluestem Broomsedge
aug-oct aug-nov
Sun, PS Sun, PS Page 3 of 11
Dry-Moist-Wet 3-8' Dry 1-3'
deer resistant
recom./ Botanical Name easy
Common Name
Bloom
Color
Sun Type
Soils
Height Spacing Comments
Carex stricata Chasmanthium latifolium
Tussock Sedge
may-aug
Sun, PS
River Oats
jul-sep
Sun-Shade
Moist-Wet 1-3' dry-med, clay, loam, sand 2-5'
Panicum virgatum Switchgrass Schizachyrium Little Bluestem scoparium
jul-aug Aug-Oct
Sun-Shade Sun-pt Shade
Sand, Loam, Clay, Medwet 2'-3' dry 4'
1'
deer resistant, spreads freely deer resistant, cultivars shorter (e.g. 'Shenandoah') 'Heavy Metal', 'Prairie Skies' are both v. reliable deer resistant
Page 4 of 11
recom./ Botanical Name easy
Common Name
Bloom
Color
Sun Type
Soils
Height Spacing Comments
Shrubs Aronia arbutifolia (Photinia pyrifolia) Red chokeberry Maroon flowers yellow fall color Calycanthus floridus Cephalanthus occidentalis dry to wet 3-8' 3' (unless 'Athens' cultivar yellow), fragrant flowers when in full sun great wildlife Pink Flowers, upright, dwarf, yellow fall color PS dry-moist red fall color, understory shrub red branches in winter Cornus amomum Cornus racemosa Cornus sericea Gaylussacia baccata Ilex verticillata white Redosier Dogwood flowers Black Huckleberry white sun-pt shade full sun-pt shade dry- moist dry-wet 2-3' 6-12' females w/red berries in winter; deciduous females w/black berries Spicebush Butterfly plant, deer resistant Fine-medium texture, evergreen, shears well Fine texture, evergreen, shears well, wildlife plant purple fruitwildlife - not near parking Mauvey fall color, maple shaped leaves, dk purple fruitwildlife purple fruitwildlife Silky dogwood gray dogwood Mar-May white sun-ps dry to wet 1.5'-13'3' red berries
Sweetshrub Buttonbush
June July-Aug
white pink
sun-PS
moist-wet
3-10'
4'
Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice'
Ruby Spice Summersweet, Pink dwarf Sweet Pepperbush Spring
white Alternate-leaf Cornus alternifolia Dogwood white May-Jun
white
sun-PS
moist-wet
6-12'
May-Jun
white
Sun-shade
dry-moist
6-12'
red branches in winter Red winter twig
white May-June May-July white
Ilex glabra
Winterberry May-Jun Inkberry yellow late Spring shade-pt shade Sun-shade Myrica cerifera ' Nana' moist-dry 6-10' white sun-shade dry-moist 6-10'
Lindera benzoin
Spicebush
moist-dry well drained moist-dry well drained dry to wet dry
3'
Dwarf Wax Myrtle Sun-shade 6'
3'
Myrica pensylvanica Sambucus canadensis Viburnum acerifolium Viburnum dentatum Viburnum prunifolium
Northern Bayberry Jun-July Common elderberry white Mapleleaf viburnum May April-May white Arrowood Apr-May white Blackhaw pt shade white sun-shade 6-12'
4'
Sun-pt shadedry to moist 3-6.5' sun-pt shade dry to moist 20'
Trees Amelanchier canadensis
Serviceberry; shadbush
May-July white
PS to shade moist-wet
15-25'
Page 5 of 11
recom./ Botanical Name easy
Common Name
Bloom
Color
Sun Type
Soils
Height Spacing Comments
Betula nigra 'Little Little King River King' Birch Redbud Cercis canadensis
Dwarf River birch; also called 'Fox Valley' April-May pink White sun-PS dry 20-35' yellow fall color, gray winter bark; females make olive like drupes yellow fall leaf color females w/red berries in winter
Chionanthus virginicus Hamamelis virginiana
Fringetree Witch hazel
May Sep-Dec
American Holly Ilex opaca
small yellow fragrant white
full sun-PS
dry to moist 15-30'
sun-PS
dry-moist
65'
Page 6 of 11
recom./ Botanical Name easy
Common Name
Bloom
Color
Sun Type
Soils
Height Spacing Comments
Example Plant schedules for low maintenance rain gardens
Rain Garden # 1 Quanti ty Botanic Name
340 sf
Common Name
Size
Spacing
Comments
3 Acer rubrum Calycanthus 10 florida Cephalanthus 3 occidentalis Chionanthus 5 virginicus
Red Maple Sweetshrub Buttonbush Fringetree
1 1/2" cal., 1012 ft., trunk free of branches 5-6 ft. 20' o.c. #3 #3 #5 #3 5 ' o.c. 8' o.c. 10' o.c. 6' o.c.
plant on edges of rain garden
12 Ilex glabra 'Densa' Inkberry
Itea virginiana 13 'Henry's Garnet' Chasmanthium 21 latifolium
Virginia sweetspire Upland Sea Oats
#3 #1
5' o.c. 2' o.c.
white flowers, nice fall color, red twigs in winter
Rain Garden # 2 Quanti ty Botanic Name
440 sf
Common Name
Size
Spacing
Comments
1 Acer rubrum 9 Aronia arbutifolia Calycanthus 15 florida 9 Itea virginiana Magnolia 6 virginiana
Red Maple Red Chokeberry Sweetshrub Virginia sweetspire Sweetbay
1 1/2" cal., 1012 ft., trunk free of branches 5-6 ft. N/A #3 7' o.c. #3 #3 #5 5' o.c. 6' o.c. 10' o.c.
plant on edges of rain garden Multi-stem white flowers, nice fall color,
Page 7 of 11
recom./ Botanical Name easy
Common Name
Bloom
Color
Sun Type
Soils
Height Spacing Comments
Rain Garden # 3 Quanti ty Botanic Name
800 sf
Common Name
Size
Spacing
Comments
Amelanchier 10 canadensis
Shadblow
#3
10'o.c.
Amelanchier 3 laevis Serviceberry Betula nigra 'Dura9 Heat' River Birch Calycanthus 7 florida Sweetshrub
#5
10' o.c.
1 1/2" cal. 20' o.c. #3 5 ' o.c.
Blooms when the Shad run in the creeks in the spring Red fall color, white spring bloom Multi-stem OK plant on edges of rain garden 6 'Winter Red' (female) and 1 'Southern Gentleman' (male)
9 Ilex verticillata Itea virginiana 5 'Henry's Garnet'
Winterberry Virginia sweetspire
#5 #3
8' o.c 5' o.c.
5 Lindera benzoin
Spicebush
#3
8' o.c.
white flowers, nice fall color, red twigs in winter
Page 8 of 11
recom./ Botanical Name easy
Common Name
Bloom
Color
Sun Type
Soils
Height Spacing Comments
Rain Garden # 4 Quanti ty Botanic Name
268 sf
Common Name
Size
Spacing
Comments
Acer rubrum 1 'October Glory'
October Glory Red Maple
1 1/2" cal., 1012 ft., trunk free of branches 5-6 ft. 20' o.c.
Amelanchier 6 canadensis
Shadblow
#5
10' o.c.
Clethra alnifolia 7 'Ruby Spice'
Summersweet
#3
6' o.c.
Fothergilla major 6 'Mt. Airy' Hydrangea 4 quercifolia
Fothergilla
#3
5' o.c.
Oakleaf Hydrangea # 3
6' o.c.
5 Ilex verticillata Ilex vomitoria 11 ' Nana'
Winterberry
#5
8' o.c 2' o.c.
Dwarf yaupon Holly # 1
Magnolia 1 virginiana
Sweetbay magnolia #5
N/A
red fall color, silvery bark gray bark, blooms when the Shad run in streams in the spring Pink, blooms in summer; yellow fall color White flowers in spring, yelloworange fall color white flowers, red fall color Need 4 female ('Winter Red') and 1 male ('Southern Gentleman') Evergreen dwarf shrub Upright oval semievergreen form, white flowers
Page 9 of 11
recom./ Botanical Name easy
Common Name
Bloom
Color
Sun Type
Soils
Height Spacing Comments
Rain Garden # 5 Quanti ty Botanic Name
510 sf
Common Name
Size
Spacing
Comments
5 Lindera benzoin
Spicebush
#3
6' o.c.
Early spring, yellow flower; yellow fall color; host plant for spicebush butterfly, yellow fall color Red fall color, gray bark, white spring flower
Amelanchier 3 laevis Chasmanthium 21 latifolium 9 Cornus sericea
Serviceberry Upland Sea Oats Red-twig Dogwood
#5 #1 #3
10' o.c. 2' o.c. 8' o.c.
25 Iris fulva Rhododendron 3 viscosum
Copper iris Swamp Azalea
#1 #3
2' o.c. 5' o.c.
Red winter twigs copper spring flowers butterfly shrub
Rain Garden # 6 Quanti ty Botanic Name
270 sf
Common Name
Size
Spacing
Comments
5 Aronia arbutifolia Cephalanthus 5 occidentalis
Red Chokeberry
#3
8' o.c.
Buttonbush
#3
8' o.c.
if # 3 is not avail, then # 1 OK but increase quantity to 7 and space 5' o.c.; great yellow fall color; red flowers, hummingbir d attractor unusual wwhite flowers Need 5 female and 1 male 'Warren's red fall color,
6 Ilex decidua 7 Itea virginiana
Possumhaw
#3
10' o.c. 5' o.c.
Virginia Sweetspire # 3
Page 10 of 11
recom./ Botanical Name easy
Common Name
Bloom
Color
Sun Type
Soils
Height Spacing Comments
Rain Garden # 7 Quanti ty Botanic Name
585 sf
Common Name
Size
Spacing
Comments If # 3 is not avail, then # 2 OK but change
3 Aesculus pavia Calycanthus 6 florida 9 Cercis canadensis Chionanthus 5 virginicus Clethra alnifolia 6 'Ruby Spice' 12 Cornus sericea Hydrangea 3 arborescens Fothergilla major 15 'Mt. Airy'
Red Buckeye Sweetshrub Redbud Fringetree
#3 #3 #5 #5
6' o.c. 4' o.c. 10' o.c. 8' o.c. 6' o.c. 6' o.c. 5' o.c. 5' o.c.
Summersweet #3 Red-Twig Dogwood # 3 Sweet Hydrangea Fothergilla #3 #3
'Annabelle' cultivar OK
Taxodium 1 distichum
Bald Cypress
1 1/2" cal, 10-12 ft., trunk free of branches 3-5 ft. N/A
Page 11 of 11
www.rainscapes.org
recom./ Botanical Name easy
Common Name
Bloom
Color
Sun Type
Soils
Height Spacing Comments
RAIN GARDENS & CONSERVATION LANDSCAPES
tall and/or 'floppy'/ may need supports Sand, Loam, Clay, moistdry 2'
Aquiligea canadensis
Wild columbine
red and June-Aug yellow
Sun-Shade
1'
deer resistant 3' tall, fine texture, blue summer flowers, yellow fall color, needs part sun
Amsonia hubrechtii
Blue-Star Flower
blue flowers, yellow fall May-June color
Sun-Pt Shade Sand, Loam, Clay, Drywet
2'
18"
Asclepias incarnata Asclepias syriaca
Swamp Milkweed
June-Aug pink
Sun-Shade
Common Milkweed May-Aug pale purple Sun
Asclepias tuberosa
Butterfly weed
may-june orange
Aster novae angliae Aster divaricatus Baptisia australis
New England Aster Aug-Oct White Wood Aster False Blue Indigo Jul-Oct
purple white
Moist Sand, Loam, Clay, DrySun med 1-3' Sand, Loam, Clay, MedSun-Shade wet 2'-6' dry-med pt Shade-sh wet 0.5-3' sand, loam 3-5'
2'-4' 3.56.5'
2' 2'
deer resistant deer resistant
1-2'
deer resistant deer resistant. Not near doors and windows spreads freely
2'-3' 1-2' 1-2'
may-june blue, purple Sun-Shade
Chelone glabra/obliqua Chrysogonum virginianum Coreopsis verticillata Echinacea purpurea 'Kim's Knee-Hi'
Turtlehead green and gold Threadleaf Coreopsis Dwarf Purple Coneflower
aug-oct mar-jun jun-oct
white/pink yellow yellow
Sand, Loam, Clay, DrySun-Shade med dry-med Sun- Shade wet; loam dry-med Sun, PS wet, loam
1-4'
deer resistant host plant to Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly, MD 12-18" state bug
0.5-1' 1' 1-3.5' 1-2' butterfly attractor, deer resistant butterfly attractor, deer resistant
May-Aug pink
Sun
dry
15"
12"
Echinacea Magnus Purple purpurea ' Magnus' Coneflower
May-Aug dark pink
Sun
dry-moist
24"
15"
Page 1 of 11
recom./ Botanical Name easy
Common Name
Bloom
Color
Sun Type
Soils
Height Spacing Comments
Echinacea purpurea 'Razzmatazz' Eupatorium coelestinum Eupatorium dubium Eupatorium fistolosum
Razzmatazz Purple dark Pink Coneflower June-Aug Double Mistflower Coastal Joe-pye Weed ('Little Joe' ) Common Joe-pye weed Jul-Oct
dry dry to wet; blue-purple pt Shade-sh clay, loam pink, dk pink Sun, PS moist
Sun
24"
15"
butterfly attractor, deer resistant
1-3.5' 1-2' 3-4' 2' not near doors/ open windows not near doors/ open windows
jul-sep
pink
Sun
Eupatorium perfoliatum
Boneset
Jul-Oct
white
Sun-pt Shade
moist-dry 1.5-6' 2' Sand, Loam, Clay, medwet 3-4' 1-2' Sand, Loam, Clay, moist 5-6' dry-med, loam 1-2' med. wet, clay, loam, sand 1.5-6' 1.5moist 5.5' Wet-dry 5-8'
not near doors/ open windows
Eupatorium purpureum Geranium maculatum Helenium autumnale Helianthus angustifolius Hibiscus coccineus Hibiscus moscheutos Iris cristata
Sweet Joe-pye weed Wild Geranium
pink-dk July-Sept pink Apr-Jul pink
Sun-pt Shade Sun-pt shade sun-pt shade Sun Sun
1-2' 1-2'
not near doors/ open windows deer resistant
Sneezeweed Swamp Sunflower Texas Star
Jul-Nov Aug-Oct July-Aug
yellow yellow Red
1-2' 2-3' 2'
deer resistant deer resistant red very not flower interesting during most of the school year Edger the One of Louisiana Iris parents
Marsh Mallow Dwarf Crested Iris Copper Iris Blue Flag Iris blazingstar May June june Jul-Aug
Iris fulva Iris virginiana
pink purple light early spring flowers Copper colored flowers blue flowers, yellow fall purple
Sun Partial Sun Sun Sun Sun-pt shade
wet-dry gravelly well drained
3'
2'
Liatris spicata
Dry-wet wet-mod. Dry clay, loam, sand 1-6.5' 1-2'
8-10" 8" 1824" 8" 2436" 18"
Lilium superbum
Turk's Cap Lily
July-Aug
Orange
Sun-pt shade
dry-moist
6'
12"
deer resistant deer resistant, best for conservation planting areas deer resistant, not near doors/ open windows but flowers in summer deer resistant; flowers in summer; do not place by doors/ windows deer resistant cultivars are shorter
Monarda didyma
Bee Balm
June-sept pink
full Sun-pt Shade
Sand, Loam, Clay, Med- 12wet 18"
1'
Monarda fistulosa Wild Bergamot Phlox stolonifera Creeping Phlox Summer phlox Moss Phlox Obedient Plant
Jul-Aug Apr-Jun Jul-Oct Apr-Jun aug-sep
Sun-pt pink, purple Shade varied deep pink to white varied pink, purple yelloworange yellow PS-Shade sun-pt shade Sun Sun Sun-pt Shade Sun, PS
Moist-Dry moist-dry moist Dry* moist-dry med wet Dry-Moist
1.5-5' 1-2' .5-1.5' 1' 1.5'6.5' 1' .5' .5' 3' 1.5' 2-3’ 2' 1-2' 2'
Phlox paniculata Phlox subulata Physostegia virginiana
deer resistant
Rudbeckia fulgida Orange Coneflower jul-oct Black-eyed Susan Jun-Oct Rudbeckia hirta
Page 2 of 11
recom./ Botanical Name easy
Common Name
Bloom
Color
Sun Type
Soils
Height Spacing Comments
Rudbeckia laciniata
Green-headed Coneflower
jul-sep
yellow
Sun-pt Shade
moist
Scenecio aureus Sisyrinchium graminoides Solidago nemoralis
Sneezeweed Blue-eyed Grass Gray Goldenrod
May-June Yellow Apr-Jun Jul-Nov blue yellow
Sun-Shade Sun-pt Shade Sun-pt Shade
moist-dry moist-dry Med-Dry
1.5-9' 2' 15" flower s, 8" tall plant 0.51.5' .5-1' 0.5-3' 1-2'
Evergreen heart shaped groundcover with
Solidago rugosa
Wrinkle-leaf Goldenrod
Aug-Nov
yellow
Sun-pt shade
med-wet, loam, sand 1-6.5' 1-2'
deer resistant deer resistant -fall flowers; keep away from doors/ windows Golden Fleece' - fall flowers; keep away from doors/ windows Wildlife plant -- fall flowers; keep away from doors/ windows Groundcover for conservation areas
Solidago sphacelata
AugustSept
yellow
Sun-pt shade
18"
Solidago ulmifolia Elm leaf Goldenrod Aug-Sept yellow
Sunpt.shade
med-dry
Tiarella cordifolia
Foamflower
May
White
pt shadeshade
med-dry
18" 18" 12" flower , 6" plant 8"
Tradescantia virginiana Veronicastrum virginicum
Spiderwort
June, reblooms if cut back after first flowering blue summer flowers
Sun-pt shade
Culver's Root
Viola labridorica FERNS Dennstaedtia punctilobula Onoclea sensibilis Osmunda cinnamonea Osmunda regalis Polystichum acrostichoides Pteridium aquilinum Thelypteris noveboracensis Grasses Andropogon gerardi Andropogon virginicus
Labrador Violet
June
white Sun purplish foliage and violet Sun-pt flowers shade
med-wet, clay, loam, sand 1-5.5' 1-2' Sand, Loam, meddry 4-6' 2-3'
Long blooming perennial , many cultivars
Sandy, med-dry
4"
6"
groundcover
Hay-scented Fern Sensitive Fern Cinnamon Fern Royal Fern Christmas Fern Bracken Fern New York Fern deciduous
Sun-PS Shade Sun-Shade Sun-Shade PS-Shade Sun-PS Sun-PS
Dry-moist wet-moist wet-moist wet-moist moist dry to wet dry-wet
1-3' 1-3.5' 2.5' 2-6' .5-2' 1.5-6' 2436"
spreads readily
deer resistant deer resistant evergreen
spreading
Big Bluestem Broomsedge
aug-oct aug-nov
Sun, PS Sun, PS Page 3 of 11
Dry-Moist-Wet 3-8' Dry 1-3'
deer resistant
recom./ Botanical Name easy
Common Name
Bloom
Color
Sun Type
Soils
Height Spacing Comments
Carex stricata Chasmanthium latifolium
Tussock Sedge
may-aug
Sun, PS
River Oats
jul-sep
Sun-Shade
Moist-Wet 1-3' dry-med, clay, loam, sand 2-5'
Panicum virgatum Switchgrass Schizachyrium Little Bluestem scoparium
jul-aug Aug-Oct
Sun-Shade Sun-pt Shade
Sand, Loam, Clay, Medwet 2'-3' dry 4'
1'
deer resistant, spreads freely deer resistant, cultivars shorter (e.g. 'Shenandoah') 'Heavy Metal', 'Prairie Skies' are both v. reliable deer resistant
Page 4 of 11
recom./ Botanical Name easy
Common Name
Bloom
Color
Sun Type
Soils
Height Spacing Comments
Shrubs Aronia arbutifolia (Photinia pyrifolia) Red chokeberry Maroon flowers yellow fall color Calycanthus floridus Cephalanthus occidentalis dry to wet 3-8' 3' (unless 'Athens' cultivar yellow), fragrant flowers when in full sun great wildlife Pink Flowers, upright, dwarf, yellow fall color PS dry-moist red fall color, understory shrub red branches in winter Cornus amomum Cornus racemosa Cornus sericea Gaylussacia baccata Ilex verticillata white Redosier Dogwood flowers Black Huckleberry white sun-pt shade full sun-pt shade dry- moist dry-wet 2-3' 6-12' females w/red berries in winter; deciduous females w/black berries Spicebush Butterfly plant, deer resistant Fine-medium texture, evergreen, shears well Fine texture, evergreen, shears well, wildlife plant purple fruitwildlife - not near parking Mauvey fall color, maple shaped leaves, dk purple fruitwildlife purple fruitwildlife Silky dogwood gray dogwood Mar-May white sun-ps dry to wet 1.5'-13'3' red berries
Sweetshrub Buttonbush
June July-Aug
white pink
sun-PS
moist-wet
3-10'
4'
Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice'
Ruby Spice Summersweet, Pink dwarf Sweet Pepperbush Spring
white Alternate-leaf Cornus alternifolia Dogwood white May-Jun
white
sun-PS
moist-wet
6-12'
May-Jun
white
Sun-shade
dry-moist
6-12'
red branches in winter Red winter twig
white May-June May-July white
Ilex glabra
Winterberry May-Jun Inkberry yellow late Spring shade-pt shade Sun-shade Myrica cerifera ' Nana' moist-dry 6-10' white sun-shade dry-moist 6-10'
Lindera benzoin
Spicebush
moist-dry well drained moist-dry well drained dry to wet dry
3'
Dwarf Wax Myrtle Sun-shade 6'
3'
Myrica pensylvanica Sambucus canadensis Viburnum acerifolium Viburnum dentatum Viburnum prunifolium
Northern Bayberry Jun-July Common elderberry white Mapleleaf viburnum May April-May white Arrowood Apr-May white Blackhaw pt shade white sun-shade 6-12'
4'
Sun-pt shadedry to moist 3-6.5' sun-pt shade dry to moist 20'
Trees Amelanchier canadensis
Serviceberry; shadbush
May-July white
PS to shade moist-wet
15-25'
Page 5 of 11
recom./ Botanical Name easy
Common Name
Bloom
Color
Sun Type
Soils
Height Spacing Comments
Betula nigra 'Little Little King River King' Birch Redbud Cercis canadensis
Dwarf River birch; also called 'Fox Valley' April-May pink White sun-PS dry 20-35' yellow fall color, gray winter bark; females make olive like drupes yellow fall leaf color females w/red berries in winter
Chionanthus virginicus Hamamelis virginiana
Fringetree Witch hazel
May Sep-Dec
American Holly Ilex opaca
small yellow fragrant white
full sun-PS
dry to moist 15-30'
sun-PS
dry-moist
65'
Page 6 of 11
recom./ Botanical Name easy
Common Name
Bloom
Color
Sun Type
Soils
Height Spacing Comments
Example Plant schedules for low maintenance rain gardens
Rain Garden # 1 Quanti ty Botanic Name
340 sf
Common Name
Size
Spacing
Comments
3 Acer rubrum Calycanthus 10 florida Cephalanthus 3 occidentalis Chionanthus 5 virginicus
Red Maple Sweetshrub Buttonbush Fringetree
1 1/2" cal., 1012 ft., trunk free of branches 5-6 ft. 20' o.c. #3 #3 #5 #3 5 ' o.c. 8' o.c. 10' o.c. 6' o.c.
plant on edges of rain garden
12 Ilex glabra 'Densa' Inkberry
Itea virginiana 13 'Henry's Garnet' Chasmanthium 21 latifolium
Virginia sweetspire Upland Sea Oats
#3 #1
5' o.c. 2' o.c.
white flowers, nice fall color, red twigs in winter
Rain Garden # 2 Quanti ty Botanic Name
440 sf
Common Name
Size
Spacing
Comments
1 Acer rubrum 9 Aronia arbutifolia Calycanthus 15 florida 9 Itea virginiana Magnolia 6 virginiana
Red Maple Red Chokeberry Sweetshrub Virginia sweetspire Sweetbay
1 1/2" cal., 1012 ft., trunk free of branches 5-6 ft. N/A #3 7' o.c. #3 #3 #5 5' o.c. 6' o.c. 10' o.c.
plant on edges of rain garden Multi-stem white flowers, nice fall color,
Page 7 of 11
recom./ Botanical Name easy
Common Name
Bloom
Color
Sun Type
Soils
Height Spacing Comments
Rain Garden # 3 Quanti ty Botanic Name
800 sf
Common Name
Size
Spacing
Comments
Amelanchier 10 canadensis
Shadblow
#3
10'o.c.
Amelanchier 3 laevis Serviceberry Betula nigra 'Dura9 Heat' River Birch Calycanthus 7 florida Sweetshrub
#5
10' o.c.
1 1/2" cal. 20' o.c. #3 5 ' o.c.
Blooms when the Shad run in the creeks in the spring Red fall color, white spring bloom Multi-stem OK plant on edges of rain garden 6 'Winter Red' (female) and 1 'Southern Gentleman' (male)
9 Ilex verticillata Itea virginiana 5 'Henry's Garnet'
Winterberry Virginia sweetspire
#5 #3
8' o.c 5' o.c.
5 Lindera benzoin
Spicebush
#3
8' o.c.
white flowers, nice fall color, red twigs in winter
Page 8 of 11
recom./ Botanical Name easy
Common Name
Bloom
Color
Sun Type
Soils
Height Spacing Comments
Rain Garden # 4 Quanti ty Botanic Name
268 sf
Common Name
Size
Spacing
Comments
Acer rubrum 1 'October Glory'
October Glory Red Maple
1 1/2" cal., 1012 ft., trunk free of branches 5-6 ft. 20' o.c.
Amelanchier 6 canadensis
Shadblow
#5
10' o.c.
Clethra alnifolia 7 'Ruby Spice'
Summersweet
#3
6' o.c.
Fothergilla major 6 'Mt. Airy' Hydrangea 4 quercifolia
Fothergilla
#3
5' o.c.
Oakleaf Hydrangea # 3
6' o.c.
5 Ilex verticillata Ilex vomitoria 11 ' Nana'
Winterberry
#5
8' o.c 2' o.c.
Dwarf yaupon Holly # 1
Magnolia 1 virginiana
Sweetbay magnolia #5
N/A
red fall color, silvery bark gray bark, blooms when the Shad run in streams in the spring Pink, blooms in summer; yellow fall color White flowers in spring, yelloworange fall color white flowers, red fall color Need 4 female ('Winter Red') and 1 male ('Southern Gentleman') Evergreen dwarf shrub Upright oval semievergreen form, white flowers
Page 9 of 11
recom./ Botanical Name easy
Common Name
Bloom
Color
Sun Type
Soils
Height Spacing Comments
Rain Garden # 5 Quanti ty Botanic Name
510 sf
Common Name
Size
Spacing
Comments
5 Lindera benzoin
Spicebush
#3
6' o.c.
Early spring, yellow flower; yellow fall color; host plant for spicebush butterfly, yellow fall color Red fall color, gray bark, white spring flower
Amelanchier 3 laevis Chasmanthium 21 latifolium 9 Cornus sericea
Serviceberry Upland Sea Oats Red-twig Dogwood
#5 #1 #3
10' o.c. 2' o.c. 8' o.c.
25 Iris fulva Rhododendron 3 viscosum
Copper iris Swamp Azalea
#1 #3
2' o.c. 5' o.c.
Red winter twigs copper spring flowers butterfly shrub
Rain Garden # 6 Quanti ty Botanic Name
270 sf
Common Name
Size
Spacing
Comments
5 Aronia arbutifolia Cephalanthus 5 occidentalis
Red Chokeberry
#3
8' o.c.
Buttonbush
#3
8' o.c.
if # 3 is not avail, then # 1 OK but increase quantity to 7 and space 5' o.c.; great yellow fall color; red flowers, hummingbir d attractor unusual wwhite flowers Need 5 female and 1 male 'Warren's red fall color,
6 Ilex decidua 7 Itea virginiana
Possumhaw
#3
10' o.c. 5' o.c.
Virginia Sweetspire # 3
Page 10 of 11
recom./ Botanical Name easy
Common Name
Bloom
Color
Sun Type
Soils
Height Spacing Comments
Rain Garden # 7 Quanti ty Botanic Name
585 sf
Common Name
Size
Spacing
Comments If # 3 is not avail, then # 2 OK but change
3 Aesculus pavia Calycanthus 6 florida 9 Cercis canadensis Chionanthus 5 virginicus Clethra alnifolia 6 'Ruby Spice' 12 Cornus sericea Hydrangea 3 arborescens Fothergilla major 15 'Mt. Airy'
Red Buckeye Sweetshrub Redbud Fringetree
#3 #3 #5 #5
6' o.c. 4' o.c. 10' o.c. 8' o.c. 6' o.c. 6' o.c. 5' o.c. 5' o.c.
Summersweet #3 Red-Twig Dogwood # 3 Sweet Hydrangea Fothergilla #3 #3
'Annabelle' cultivar OK
Taxodium 1 distichum
Bald Cypress
1 1/2" cal, 10-12 ft., trunk free of branches 3-5 ft. N/A
Page 11 of 11
