Rain Garden Plant List: Trees and Shrubs

Com

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e

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Vine mapleAcer circinatum

Y X X X Xmoderate,

dryshade/

part15–20' 15–20'

Small, multi-stemmed tree, red-orange fall color, excellent soil binder

Sitka alder Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata

Y X X Xwet,

moderatefull/

shade3–15' 10–15' Fixes nitrogen in soil

Red osier dogwoodCornus sericea

Y X X X Xwet,

moderate, dry

full/part 4–8' 4–8'Red twigs provide winter interest, white flowers in summer

Dwarf redtwig dogwoodCornus sericea Kelseyi

Y X X X Xwet,

moderate, dry

shade/full

2' 2'Red twigs provide winter interest, white flowers in summer

Dwarf escallonia EscalloniaNewport Dwarf

N X X Xmoderate,

drypart 3' 4'

Evergreen, flowers in late summer, fragrant

SilktasselGarrya elliptica

Y X X dry full 6–12' 6–12'Evergreen, flowers in spring, berries attract wildlife

Black huckleberryGaylussacia baccata

N X Xwet,

moderate,dry

shade/full

1–3' 3'Flowers in summer, edible berries, likes acidic soil

36

TREES AND SHRUBS

Jim P

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See page 20 for tips on choosing rain garden plants. Note that plant size will vary by location. Consult your nursery or OSU Extension Service office for locally accurate size information.

Com

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Nam

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Nat

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Will

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Ocean sprayHolodiscus discolor

Y X X X Xmoderate,

dryfull/part 4–8' 3–6'

Flowers in summer, attractive to wildlife, good soil binder

Spanish lavendar Lavandula stoechas

N X X Xmoderate,

dryfull 1' 1–2'

Evergreen, pleasant fragrance, attractive summer flowers

Black twinberry Lonicera involucrata

Y X X X Xwet,

moderatepart 7' 10'

Yellow flowers in summer, black berries with bright red bracts, attractive to hummingbirds

Tall Oregon grape Mahonia aquifolium

Y X X X Xmoderate,

dryfull/part 4' 4'

Evergreen, yellow flowers in spring, bronze fall color

Dull Oregon grape Mahonia nervosa

Y X X X Xmoderate,

dryshade/

part2' 2'

Evergreen, yellow flowers in spring, berries attract wildlife

Pacific crabapple Malus fusca

Y X X Xwet,

moderatefull/part

10–30'

10–30'

Flowers in spring, attractive to wildlife

Indian plumOemleria cerasiformis

Y X X Xwet,

moderate,dry

part 10' 5'Flowers very early spring, fragrant leaves, suckering habit

Mock orange Philadelphus lewisii

Y X X X Xmoderate,

drypart 5' 3'

Fragrant flowers attract birds, butterflies, and bees, prune to shape

37

Trees and ShrubsM

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Com

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Will

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Pacific Ninebark Physocarpus capitatus

Y X X X Xwet,

moderatefull/part 6–13' 6–13'

Unique shredding bark, drought tolerant

Cascara Rhamnus purshiana

Y X X X moderateshade/

fullto 20' to 15'

Shrub or small tree, yellow fall color

Gro–low sumac Rhus aromatica Gro Low

N X Xmoderate,

dryfull/part 2' 6–8'

Fragrant, orange-red fall color

Smooth sumac Rhus glabra

Y X X X X dryshade/

full6–12' 10'

Orange-red fall color, suckering habit

Golden currant Ribes aureum

Y X Xwet,

moderatefull 6–8' 6–8'

Frangrant spring flowers, edible fruits

Flowering currant Ribes sanguineum

Y X X Xwet,

moderate,dry

full/part 10' 7'Showy, pink flower clusters in spring, attractive to birds

Baldhip rose Rosa gymnocarpa

Y X X X Xwet,

moderate,dry

full/part 2–3' 3' Flowers in summer

Nootka rose Rosa nutkana

Y X X X Xwet,

moderate,dry

shade/full

5' 5'Large, fragrant, showy flowers in late spring, beware of thorns

Trees and Shrubs

38

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Rosemary Rosmarinus officianlis

Y X X X dry full 3' 3'Evergreen, flowering begins in winter, fresh or dried leaves used in cooking

Pacific willow Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra

Y X X X Xwet,

moderatefull 13' 10'

Male and female catkins are borne on separate plants

Douglas spirea/ hardhackSpirea douglasii

Y X X X Xwet,

moderate, dry

full/part 5' 5'Pinkish flower clusters in summer

Snowberry Symphoricarpus alba

Y X X X Xmoderate,

dryshade/

full6' 4'

Flowers in spring, white berries provide winter interest, excellent soil binder

Common lilac Syringa vulgaris

N X X Xmoderate,

dryfull/part 15' 6–12'

Showy, fragrant lavender flowers in late spring

Evergreen huckleberry Vaccinium ovatum

Y X X Xmoderate,

drypart to 9' to 8'

Evergreen, edible berries in late summer, new growth emerges bronze in color, requires acidic soil, prune to shape

Blue ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum

N X Xmoderate,

dryshade/

full2–3' 2–3' Edible berries

Trees and Shrubs

39

NOTES:

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Com

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Nam

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Will

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Yarrow Achillea millefolium

Y X X X Xmoderate,

dryfull 2' 2'

Summer flowers, spreads by rhizomes

Wild ginger Asarum caudatum

Y X X X X moderateshade/

part10" spreading

Evergreen, pleasant fragrance

Pacific bleeding heart Dicentra formosa

Y X X X Xmoderate,

dryshade/

part2' 2'

Delicate foliage with attractive spring flowers

Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea

N X X X Xmoderate,

dryfull 3' 2'

Summer flowers, attractive to wildlife

Oregon iris Iris tenax

Y X X Xwet,

moderate, dry

full 1' spreadingEvergreen, grassy foliage, showy spring flowers

Large-leaved lupine Lupinus polyphyllus

Y X X X Xmoderate,

dryfull/part 3' 2'

Showy spring flowers, fixes nitrogen

Sword fern Polystichum munitum

Y X X X moderateshade/

full3' 3'

Shiny, leathery, evergreen leaves

Rain Garden Plant List: Perennials

PERENNIALS

40

Jord

an M

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rO

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Jon

Sulli

van

Pete

Vei

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Fran

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Com

mon

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ient

ific

Nam

e

Ore

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Nat

ive

Will

amet

te V

alle

y

Coas

t

Cent

ral/E

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Sout

hwes

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Moi

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Sun

Requ

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t Ch

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tics

Canada Goldenrod Solidago canadensis

Y X X X Xmoderate,

dryfull 3' 2'

Pyramidal flower clusters in late summer

Santa Barbara sedgeCarex barbarae

Y Xwet,

moderatefull/part 1–3' spreading

Evergreen, flowers in summer

Dense sedge Carex densa

Y X X Xwet,

moderateshade/

full2' spreading

Evergreen, good for erosion control, trapping sediment and slowing the flow of water

Slough sedge Carex obnupta

Y X X X X wet full/part 2–5' spreading Excellent soil binder

Curly sedge Carex rupestris

N X X X wetshade/

full14" spreading Evergreen

Orange New Zealand sedge Carex testacea

N X X Xwet,

moderatefull 2–5' 1'

Light green leaves develop red/orange highlights

Tufted hair grass Deschampsia caespitosa

Y X X X Xwet,

moderatefull/part 2' 3'

Attractive throughout winter

Perennials

RUSHES, SEDGES, AND GR ASSES

41

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Rushes, Sedges, and Grasses

Com

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Nat

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Will

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tics

Western fescue Festuca occidentalis

Y X X X Xmoderate,

drypart 1–3' 1–3'

Inconspicuous yellow flowers and brown seeds. Short-lived (20 years)

Taper-tipped rush Juncus acuminatus

Y X X X X wet full/part 3' spreading Drought tolerant

Common rush Juncus effusus var. pacificus

Y X X X Xwet,

moderatefull/part 3–5' spreading

Tolerant of polluted conditions. Note that European soft rush ( J. effusus var. effusus) can be invasive. Please use the native Pacific variety.

Dagger-leaf rush Juncus ensifolius

Y X X X X wet full/part 2' spreadingFlattened stems much like an iris

Spreading rush Juncus patens

Y X X X X wet full/part 2' spreading Bluish-green foliage

Small-fruited bulrush Scirpus microcarpus

Y X X X X wet full/part 4' spreading Good soil binder

42

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NOTES: