Rain Garden - Biodiversity

A well-planned rain garden provides fruits, seeds, and nectar and is a valued food source year-round. Migrating birds will find refuge, food, and shelter, completing this unique habitat.

What we plant in our yards plays an important role in determining the future diversity of wildlife in Pennsylvania. The need to create ecological landscapes has never been greater due to the increase in development and shrinking natural areas. Rain gardens are an impressive example of how easy it is to make your garden more environmentally friendly. They mimic the natural absorption and filtering abilities of a forest, meadow, or prairie while creating habitat for a variety of plants and animals.

Wet Zone: Holds Water Longest

Trees and Shrubs

Betula nigra (River Birch)
Cephalanthus occidentalis (Buttonbush)
Nyssa sylvatica (Black Gum)
Sambucus canadensis (Elderberry)
Viburnum dentatum (Arrowood Viburnum)
Viburnum nudum (Possumhaw Viburnum)

Perennials

Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed)
Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold)
Eupatorium perfoliatum (Common Boneset)
Iris versicolor (Blue Flag Iris)
Juncus effusus (Soft Rush)
Lobelia siphilitica (Great Blue Lobelia)
Onoclea sensibilis (Sensitive Fern)
Osmunda cinnamomea (Cinnamon Fern)
Packera aurea (Golden Ragwort)
Scirpus atrovirens (Green Bulrush)

Middle Zone: Drains More Quickly

Trees and Shrubs

Asimina triloba (Paw Paw)
Clethra alnifolia (Summersweet)
Cornus sericea (Redosier Dogwood)
Ilex glabra (Inkberry Holly)
Itea virginica (Virginia Sweetspire)

Perennials

Amsonia tabernaemontana (Blue Star)
Baptisia australis (Blue False Indigo)
Chelone glabra (White Turtlehead)
Eupatorium fistulosum (Hollow-stemmed Joe Pye Weed)
Hystrix patula (Bottlebrush Grass)
Monarda didyma (Oswego Tea)
Panicum virgatum (Switch Grass)
Physostegia virginiana (Obedient Plant)
Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver's Root)
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England Aster)

Transition Zone: Dries out First

Trees and Shrubs

Aesculus pavia (Red Buckeye)
Hamamelis virginiana (Witch Hazel)
Hypericum prolificum (Shrubby St. John's Wort)
Rhus aromatica (Fragrant Sumac)
Viburnum trilobum (American Cranberrybush Viburnum)

Perennials

Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern Columbine)
Chrysogonum virginianum (Green and Gold)
Coreopsis verticillata (Threadleaf Coreopsis)
Eupatorium coelestinum (Mistflower)
Oenothera fruticosa (Sundrops)
Ruellia humilis (Wild Petunia)
Silene caroliniana (Wild Pink)
Solidago sphacelata ('Golden Fleece' False Goldenrod)
Vernonia glauca (Upland Ironweed)

Natives Attract Natives!

Landscaping for wildlife restores critically needed habitat. The rain
gardens attract a different variety of wildlife than the Entrance, Meadow
and Edge gardens. The native plants that make up the unique rain gardens
attract butterflies, frogs, turtles, toads, and birds that depend on them for
food, shelter, and water.

Rain Gardens are being used to improve sites such as…

• Residential yards
• Common areas in residential developments
• Areas around business buildings and manufacturing facilities
• Public parks and gardens

A Swallowtail Butterfly stops to refuel on Cephalanthus occidentalis, Buttonbush. Temporary pooling of rainwater will draw an influx of birds, mammals, and insects-- especially dragonflies. The mud and moisture is a necessity for the male butterflies shown puddling above, while it provides a cooling area for cold-blooded amphibians and reptiles during the hottest parts of the year.

Will mosquitoes like rain gardens too?

No. Mosquitoes require at least seven days of standing water to complete their life cycle. A properly constructed rain garden should drain within twenty-four hours after a rain event.

Plant Communities

Rain garden plants include a variety of trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials, ferns, and grasses. Plant selection should be carefully based on the three zone conditions. Combine short, medium, and tall plants to create layers of vegetation that will provide the structure and variety needed to attract a diversity of wildlife.

by Melinda Russell Design, mr@mrdcreative.com