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| Designing Raingardens | |
| For information on how to design your own Raingarden, please visit Rain Gardens of West Michigan | |
| Sample Designs (these samples were created for Maine, plant selection may need to change in other states.) | |
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| Raingarden designed by Kirsten, in place at the Cooperative Extension office at the University of Maine at Orono. Installed in 2005. Photo taken June of 2006. | |
Sunny Rain Garden Design |
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| This Sunny Raingarden was designed for an Extension Bulletin for the University of Maine. Plants in this design are all native to Maine. | |
Plant List |
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| For the wetter center of the garden: | For the dryer edges of the garden: |
| CA - Lobelia cardinalis , Cardinal Flower, Perennial, 2-4' x 1', bright red flowers July to September. | G - Geranium maculatum, Wild Geranium , Perennial, 1-2' x 2' or more, purple flowers in the late spring and sometimes again in the fall, pretty foliage |
| T - Asclepias tuberose, Orange Butterfly Weed, Perennial, 2-3' by same, can handle dry areas, orange blooms from June to September | P - Potentilla arguta, Tall Cinquefoil, Woody Shrub, 1-3' by same, Thick leaves and many white flowers all summer |
| I - Iris versicolor, Blue Flag Iris, Perennial, 2-4' x same, Blue flowers in spring | A - Anenome canadensis, Windflower, Perennial, 2' x 10", Pure white blossoms in June. Pretty big leaves. |
| M - Caltha palustris, Marsh Marigold, Perennial, 8" x 1', Glossy heart shaped leaves with bright yellow flowers in the spring | LO - Lobelia spicata, Spiked Lobelia, Perennial, 3-5' x same, Blue flowers from June to August |
| SS - Clethra alnifolia, Summersweet, 5-6' x 4-6', Late to emerge foliage, fragrant large white flower stalks in summer | FA - Symphotrichum umbellatus, Flat Topped Aster, Perennial, 3-7' x same, White yellowish centered flowers in the fall |
| J - Eupatroium maculatum , Joe Pie Weed, Perennial, 3-5' x 1-2', Red stems, Purple red flower from July to September | AS - Symphotrichum novae angliae, New England Aster, Perennial, 3-7' x same, Purple flowers in the fall |
| SM - Asclepias incarnate, Swamp Milkweed, Perennial, 2-3' by same, will not tolerate drought, Showy flat reddish flower from July to October | H - Helenium autumnale , Perennial Sunflower, 3-5' x 2-3', many yellow flowers in the fall |
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Shady Rain Garden Design |
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| This Shady Raingarden was designed for an Extension Bulletin for the University of Maine. Plants in this design are all native to Maine. | |
Plant List |
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| Plants for the wetter, shadier center of the garden: | Plants for the dryer outer edge of the garden: |
| HV - Hamamelis vernalis , Vernal Witch Hazel, Woody Shrub, 6-10' by same, Showy golden yellow fall color, Long lasting scented yellow flowers in the late winter | G - Geranium maculatum, Wild Geranium , Perennial, 1-2' x 2' or more, purple flowers in the late spring and sometimes again in the fall, pretty foliage |
| RH - Rhododendron canadense, Rhodora, Woody Shrub, a native Rhododendron, 1-3' by same, Showy purple flowers in the spring. Tolerates wet, acidic soil | W - Comptonia peregrina , Sweetfern, Woody Shrub, 2-4' x same, "rick rack" shaped leaves are heavily scented when crushed. Comptonia should be purchased in sod form as it is difficult to establish individual plants, tolerates sandy, dry, rocky soil |
| LE - Ledum groenlandicum , Labrador Tea, Woody Shrub, 1-3' by same, showy white flowers in late spring, tolerates wet feet | AR - Arctostaphylos uva ursi , BearBerry, Woody Shrub, 6-12" x 1-2', shiny evergreen leaves turn bronze in the fall, small white to pink flowers in the early spring, bright red berries in late summer that persist through winter, tolerates sandy, dry, rocky soil |
| RF - Osmunda regalis , Royal Fern, Perennial, 2-5' by same, Large showy fern. Needs moisture! You must keep this plant watered if you are experiencing low rainfall. | |
| C - Aquilegia canadense , Native Colombine, Perennial, 1-2' by same, Showy red and yellow flowers in spring and sometimes reblooming in autumn. Beautiful foliage. | |
| S - Onoclea sensibilis, Sensitive Fern, Perennial, 24" x 18", Soft green fern. Thrives in moist areas. | |
| CA - Lobelia cardinalis , Cardinal Flower, Perennial, 2-4' x 1', bright red flowers July to September. | |
| IV - Ilex verticillata , Winterberry, Woody Shrub, 6-8' x same, plant a male and female to take advantage of showy orange berries that persist all winter long. | |
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Drawing of shade garden as designed above. |
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