Page 77 - 7166 - Rain Garden Handbook
P. 77
ZONE EXPOSURE MATURE SIZE
Scientific Name TIME OF PLANT A-9
Common Name 1 2 3 D or E NATIVE Sun Partial Shade Height Width BLOOM CHARACTERISTICS
GROUNDCOVERS, ORNAMENTAL GRASSES, HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS, AND FERNS (CONTINUED) Plant
List
Molinia caerulea This cultivar has creamy yellow
Missouri Botanical 'Variegata' 1 2 D 12" to 18" 12" to 18" July others available; provides an
and white striped foliage; many
Moor grass (variegated)
attractive edge
Heart-shaped, gray-green
leaves; lavender-blue flowers;
Wikipedia Commons Nepeta x faassenii 3 (Semi) 12" 18" to 24" Late Spring to attractive to cats; thrives in
E*
full sun; many cultivars with
Early Summer
Catmint
differing heights, spread, and
flower color
Wikipedia Commons Nothochelone nemorosa 3 D 12" to 42" 12" to 42" Summer Long-flowering with purple-
Turtlehead, woodland beard-
pink flowers
tongue
Striking black grass-like foliage
is a nice background for brightly
Wikipedia Commons Ophiopogon planiscapus 3 (Semi) Up to Up to Late Spring to colored flowers; spreads slowly;
E*
Early Summer
bell-shaped white or purple
12"
12"
Black mondo grass
flowers; best in filtered light; try
'Nigrescens' or 'Ebony Knight'
Clump-forming grass with
showy, airy flowers; foliage
Wikipedia Commons Panicum virgatum 2 3 D 48" to 72" 48" to 72" Summer ranges from bright red to bluish;
great fall color and winter
Switch grass
interest; try 'Heavy Metal,' Dallas
Blues,' or 'Shenandoah'
Several varieties in dwarf and
various colors; bottle-brush-like
North Creek Nursery alopecuroides 3 D 4" to 48" 12" to 24" Some Over flowers; some persist through
Pennisetum
Summer;
winter; cut dried foliage in late
Winter
winter/early spring; try 'Hameln'
Fountain grass
'Little Bunny,' or 'Moudry'
Bright purple to blue purple
Penstemon cardwellii 3 E* 12" to 30" 12" to 24" Early Summer flowers; found in west side
forests and on rocky slopes;
PNW Flowers Cardwell's penstemon, (Semi) other natives available
beard tongue
including other evergreens
Wikipedia Commons Perovskia atriplicifolia 3 (Semi) 36" to 48" 36" to 48" Late Spring to Semi-woody; aromatic gray-
E*
green foliage; small lavender-
Late Summer
Russian sage
blue flowers; very adaptable

