Ohio Plants for Rain Gardens

Function

• With heavy deposits of clay running through the soil of Ohio, rain gardens are one of many tools Ohio State University's Cooperative Extension Office suggests using to help capture and filter water. Proper soil amendment to help break up clay is still vital to the health of the garden space.

Ohio Native Perennials

• Plants native to Ohio's USDA hardiness zones 5 and 6 are the best choices of plants to use in rain gardens. Native plants are already acclimated to the native soil and climate conditions and generally require less water and fertilizers to thrive. Popular choices include black-eyed susan, purple coneflower, daylily, cardinal flower, bleeding heart, shasta daisy, garden phlox, delphinium, goldenrod, aster and sundrops.

Wildlife

• Give your rain garden double duty by choosing plants that provide shelter, food and protection to wildlife such as butterflies, insects and hummingbirds. Simply adding bird feeders and a birdbath nearby adds charm and invites a wide array of birds to your garden as well.