Maryland Using Native Plants For Rain Gardens and Wet Meadows
Maryland Using Native Plants For Rain Gardens and Wet Meadows
dubium Eupatorium perfoliatum Iris versicolor Lobelia cardinalis Mimulus ringens Onoclea sensibilis Osmunda cinnamomea Osmunda regalis Panicum virgatum Scirpus cyperinus Scirpus fluviatilis Scirpus tabernaemontani Verbena hastata Vernonia noveboracensis Shrubs Aronia melanocarpa Cephalanthus occidentalis Clethra alnifolia Ilex verticillata Lindera benzoin Magnolia virginiana Morella cerifera Sambucus canadensis Viburnum dentatum Trees Betula nigra Taxodium distichum
Native Plant Attractions Key B= Beneficial insects P= Pollinators
Common Name
Shade Tolerance
Height
Water Tolerance
Attracts
Color
sweet flag swamp milkweed New York aster tussock sedge turtlehead joe-pye weed boneset blue flag cardinal flower monkey flower sensitive fern cinnamon fern royal fern switch grass woolgrass river bulrush soft stem bulrush blue vervain New York ironweed black chokeberry buttonbush sweet pepperbush winterberry spicebush sweet bay magnolia wax myrtle elderberry arrowwood river birch bald cypress
H= Hummingbirds M= Mammals S= Songbirds W= Waterfowl
2'-3' up to 6' 1'-3' 2'-4' 1'-3' 2'-5' 2'-5' 1'-3' up to 5' 1.5'-4' up to 3.5' up to 5' up to 6' 2'-4' 4'-5' 2'-7' 6'-10' up to 5' 3'-7' 6'-12' 6'-12' 6'-12' 6'-12' 6'-12' 12'-20' 6'-15' 6'-12' 6'-12' 50'-75' 75'-100'
Shade Tolerance Key = Full Sun = Partial Shade = Full Shade
RI (0"-6") SI II, U RI SI, U SI, U II, U RI (0"-6") II, U SI, RI RI, PI SI, RI II, PI II, U SI RI (0"-6") PI (0"-12") II SI II, SI PI (0"-12") SI, RI SI SI SI, RI (0"-3") II SI SI SI RI, PI P S,M P,B,M,W P,B,M,W,S S,W,M S,M,P B,S,M S S,M S,M S W
Water Tolerance Key SI= Season Inundation RI Regular Inundation
green spathe pink violet reddish purple whitish pink purple white blue red pink, blue yellow reddish green green green green violet
P,B P,B S P S,P,B S,P,B S,M,W P,B,H S,M S,M S,M S,M,W M,W
June - Aug. July - Oct. May - Aug. July - Sept. July - Sept. July - Oct. May - June July - Oct. June - Oct. June - Oct. Apr. - May Apr. - June July - Oct. June - Sept. June - Sept. June - Oct.
Aug. - Sept. purple Apr. - May July - Aug. July - Aug. June - July Mar. - May May - July Mar.- June June - July May - June Apr. - May Mar. - Apr. white, pink white white, pink greenish white yellow white yellowish green white white dark brown deep purple
U= Upland
What is a rain garden and how does it work? A rain garden is designed to catch and retain stormwater run-off from impervious surfaces such as roofs, parking areas, or roadways. Plants that are tolerant of both dry and periodically saturated conditions are best suited for a rain garden. Why use native plants? Native plants provide further benefits because they are adapted to local soil and climate conditions, create habitat for a variety of wildlife, and are the beautiful, authentic landscape of the Chesapeake Bay region. How to construct a rain garden or wet meadow: Place your rain garden in an area that collects water from a downspout, driveway, or other impervious surface. Make sure it is at least 15-20 ft. away from the foundation of a building. Size, shape, soil: The rain garden should be 20%-30% the size of the impervious areas draining into it. Create a shallow depression approximately 6 inches deep in an irregular or kidney shape. Till the soil 1 foot deep (2 feet if clay soil). To improve water retention and drainage for clay soils, mix 50% sand, 20-30% organic matter, and 20-30% top soil into the top foot of the garden.
Environmental Concern Inc. Native Wetland Plant Nursery P.O. Box P St. Michaels, MD 21663 P: (410) 745-9620 F: (410) 745-4066 www.wetland.org nursery-sales@wetland.org For information on current availability or to place an order, please contact Nursery Sales.