10 Best Plants for a Rain Garden — The Family Handyman

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Tall Joe-Pye Weed

Tall Joe-Pye weed (Eupatorium fistulosum or Eutrochium fistulosum) grows 8 feet tall or more, adding architectural interest and structure to a rain garden. At that height, it’s not apt to be overlooked. That also goes for butterflies and honeybees, which flock to the domed lavender-pink flower clusters for late-season sustenance. Native to wet meadows, it grows best in rich, moist soil but also survives on drier sites. It takes full sun to part shade and is hardy in Zones 4–8.

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Cardinal Flower

Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) provides another late-summer snack for pollinators—including hummingbirds—when the large, tubular cardinal-red flowers appear. The vivid blooms are hard to miss in any setting. This rain garden plant prefers constantly moist soil and full sun, although some afternoon shade won’t hurt in the hottest climates. Cardinal flower grows 2 to 4 feet tall and is hardy in Zones 3–9.