NATIVE PLANTS FOR NEW YORK CITY RAIN GARDENS

photo: Rain Dog Designs, Gig Harbor, WA

Rain gardens are shallow depressions designed to soak up water and support trees, shrubs, and flowers that tolerate both wet and dry conditions. Native plants are highly recommended for rain gardens because they are more pest resistant than nonnatives, require no fertilizer, and provide habitat for birds, butterflies, and other pollinators. Once established, the deep roots of native plants increase the water-holding capacity of the soil, hold it together, and prevent erosion. 

Rain gardens usually have two to three moisture zones, ranging from wet (lower areas with periodically saturated soils and short periods of standing water) to upland (sloping edges with fast-draining or dry soils). Here are some North American native plants listed according to the conditions in a rain garden in which they thrive: wet, upland, sunny, or shady.

Herbaceous Plants for Sunny Wet Zone Sites. 

(These choices are best beneath newly planted trees.)

FLOWERS: Sweet flag (Acorus calamus)   Canada anemone (Anemone canadensis)   Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)   Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris)   Turtlehead (Chelone glabra)   Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)   Joe-pye weed (Eupatorium maculatum)   Bedstraw (Galium boreale)   Bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii)   Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)   Giant sunflower (Helianthus giganteus)   Oxeye sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides)   Blue flag (Iris versicolor)   Spike gayfeather (Liatris spicata)   Great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)   Prairie phlox (Phlox pilosa)   Virginia mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginiana)   Meadowsweet (Spiraea alba)   New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)  Tall meadow rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)   Blue vervain (Verbena hastata)   Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum)   Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea)

GRASSES AND SEDGES: Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)   Blue joint grass (Calamagrostis canadensis)  Sedges (Carex, Scirpus, and other species )  Canada wild-rye (Elymus canadensis)  Rushes (Juncus species and others)   Rice cutgrass (Leersia oryzoides)   Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans)   Cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) 

Herbaceous Plants for Shady Wet Zone Sites

FLOWERS: Wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis)   Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris)   Turtlehead (Cheloneglabra)   Joe-pye weed (Eupatorium purpureum)   Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum)   Spotted touch-me-not (Impatiens capensis)   Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)   Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)   Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica)   Woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata)   False dragonhead (Physostegia virginiana)   Tall meadow rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)   Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)

FERNS: Ostrich fern (Matteuccia pennsylvanica)   Sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis)  Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea)   Interrupted fern (Osmunda claytoniana)  Royal fern (Osmunda regalis)   Marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris)   Herbaceous Plants for Sunny Upland Zone Sites

FLOWERS: Giant Hyssop  (Agastache foeniculum)   Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)   Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)   Oxeye sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides)   Blazing star ‘Kobold’ (Liatris spicata ‘Kobold’)   Beebalm (Monarda didyma)   Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)   Tickseed ‘Moonbeam’ (Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’)  Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)   Oxeye sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides)  Blazing star ‘Kobold’ (Liatris spicata ‘Kobold’)   Beebalm (Monarda didyma)   Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)   New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)  Showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa)

GRASSES: Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)   Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

Shrubs for Wet Zone Sites 

(Most of these species do well in sun or shade)

Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)   Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)   Silky dogwood (Cornus amomum)   Gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa)   Red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea)   Red-osier dogwood ‘Isanti’ (Cornus sericea ‘Isanti’)   Hazelnut (Corylus americana)   Dwarf bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera)   Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)   Fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica)    Meadowsweet (Spirea alba) (needs sun)   Snowberry (Symphorocarpos alba)   New York aster (Symphyotrichum novi-belgii)   Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)   American cranberry (Viburnum trilobum)  American cranberry ‘Compacta’(Viburnum trilobum ‘Compacta’)

Herbaceous Plants for Shady Upland Zone Sites

Green-and-gold (Chrysogonum virginianum)  Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)   Coral bells (Heuchera americana)   Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica)   Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)   Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens)   Blue wood aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium)

Shrubs for Shady Upland Zone Sites

Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis)

FERNS: Interrupted fern (Osmunda claytonia)   Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) 

* Adapted from Brooklyn Botanical Gardens

Additional resources:

http://www.indy.gov/eGov/City/DPW/SustainIndy/GreenInfra/Pages/BuildYourOwnRainGarden.aspx

http://www.uri.edu/ce/healthylandscapes/raingarden.htm#plants

http://www.sustainability.uconn.edu/pdf/raingardenbroch.pdf

http://extension.psu.edu/plants/gardening/eco-friendly/rain-gardens/plants-rain-gardens

SMART LANDSCAPING WITH ALLERGY FREE PLANTS

Here are examples of allergenic plants from the least (1) to the most allergenic (10).  The information was obtained from Thomas Leo Ogren's book, The Allergy Fighting Garden.  I highly recommend purchasing a copy if you are interested in a more comprehensive listing. 

1. Acer rubrum 'Autumn Glory' (Red Maple), Cercidiphyllum japonica (Katsura tree)

2. Cedrus atlantica (Atlas cedar), Chaenomeles (Flowering Quince), Yucca

3. Amelanchier (Serviceberry, Shadbush), Liriodendron (Tulip poplar), Carnations, Dianthus, Pieris (Lily-of-the-Vally bush), Picea (Spruce), Tsuga (Hemlock)

4. Redbud, Night-blooming jasmine, Koelreuteria (Golden rain Tree), Magnolia, Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Dawn Redwood)

5. St. John's wort, Daphne odorata (Winter Daphne), Lagerstroemia (Crape Myrtle), Styringa (lilac)

6. Aucuba (male Gold Dust plant), Catalpa, Female Chinese Tallow tree, Liquidambar (Sweetgum), Tilia (Linden)

7. Boxwood, Carpinus (Hornbeam), Ilex (only male Hollies)

8. Chamaecyparis, Leyland Cypress, Eucalyptus, Gymnocladus (only male Kentucky Coffee tree), Populus (only male Aspen, Cottonwood, Poplar), Quercus (Deciduous Oaks), Thuja (Arborvitae)

9. Betula (Birch), Eleagnus (Russian Olive) Juniper

10. Cryptomeria japonica, Brazilian Pepper Tree, Taxus (only male Yew), Salix babylonica (only male Weeping Willow), Morus alba (only males white Mulberry)

THE RIGHT WAY TO PLANT. A 50¢ PLANT FOR A $5 HOLE.

For over forty years Ralph Snodsmith of the Garden Hotline radio show uttered the phrase "a 50¢ plant for a $5 Hole".  As a longtime horticultural extension agent this was his philosophy for planting trees and shrubs and just about every other plant in the garden.  I had the distinct pleasure of studying with him in New York City at the Botanical Gardens.

Here are his 9 factors to consider when planting..

What is the function of the plant? To provide shade? If so, what kind of shade? dense or filtered, summer or year-round? If used for screening, is it for summer screening?, If so, a deciduous screen - one that drops foliage during winter -may do.  If the plant is for year round screening in a NYC landscape design, choose an evergreen.

Is the plant hardy in your area?  Review the USDA hardiness Zone map.  It is important to identify your location, compare your zone to that of the species and variety you want to plant. (As an addendum to Ralph's words, consider that these maps have changed 3x in the last 15 years.. consider global warming.)

How long does the plant live? Longevity is relative.

How fast does it grow? How long will it take to produce the desired effect?  A 10ft tall Willow tree in ten years can reach 50 feet tall with a 50ft. spread, while an Oak tree may struggle to reach 20 ft tall in the same amount of time.

Is the plant relatively pest free? Spend time researching the benefits and challenges about a plant. Lilac shrubs come down with powdery mildew, scale and borers.  Roses are confronted with aphids, japanese beetles, blackspot and mildew.  The only plant claimed to be pest-free is the Gingko. 

What are the maintenance requirements of the plant? Does the plant need constant pruning?  What are its irrigation needs. Fertilization needs?

What is the preferred culture of the plant? What are the light needs of the plant?  Where does it typically grow in the wild?  If grasses typically grow in full sun they can do fine on a roof garden if irrigated properly. In vertical landscape design a plant will have to deal with high winds, dessication and full sun. This is somewhat similar to plants that grow near a beach such as Myrica pennsylvanica.

Japanese maples, Flowering dogwoods, Magnolias are all trees that grow well  in shady front gardens of Brooklyn Brownstone gardens.  Brooklyn garden design typically require part shade trees, or trees that are understory trees. Remember to consider the other plants around it in your landscape design.

Are there mitigating factors? Is it in a high traffic area? Are there four legged creatures around? Dogs, cats, squirrels, voles, deer, etc. can have a major effect on the success of the plant your choose.

But most importantly, consider what type of soil the plant in question performs best in.  Want blueberries? Azaleas? These are ericaceous plants.. they want acidic soil.  Cornus sericea will grow best in moist soil.  

**adapted from Ralph Snodsmith's "New York Gardener's Guide"