Explore Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Tuesday - August 03, 2010
From: New York, NY
Region: Northeast
Topic: Rain Gardens
Title: Plants for a bioswale in New York City
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I am interested in learning about the best vegetation for planting in a bioswale in New York City. Can you help? Thanks!ANSWER:
Bioswales, or rain gardens, require plants that must be able to tolerate growing in standing water, but also need to be able to thrive when the water dries up. Below are some that should work in your New York City bioswale. Since I don't know the other aspects of your site, such as how much sunlight it gets, you should check the GROWING CONDITIONS on each of the species pages to see if they are compatible with those of your site.
Grasses/Grass-like
Andropogon glomeratus (bushy bluestem)
Carex stipata (owlfruit sedge)
Calamagrostis canadensis (bluejoint)
Perennials
Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed)
Chelone glabra (white turtlehead)
Hibiscus moscheutos (crimsoneyed rosemallow)
Monarda didyma (scarlet beebalm)
Ferns
Athyrium filix-femina (common ladyfern)
Osmunda cinnamomea (cinnamon fern)
Shrubs
Cephalanthus occidentalis (common buttonbush)
Physocarpus opulifolius (common ninebark)
Clethra alnifolia (coastal sweetpepperbush)
Here are photos from our Image Gallery:
More Rain Gardens Questions
Raingardens in Indiana
May 09, 2012 - I need to have annual native plants to add to a demonstration rain garden to fill in while we wait for the perennial plants to mature. The only plant I can think of is annual phlox. Do you have any ...
view the full question and answer
Rain garden plants for Austin
March 20, 2010 - I have a 7'x1' shaded area in between my house and sidewalk where the downspout is, and would like to add plants for a more eco-friendly drainage solution. Which plants would be best? I know that th...
view the full question and answer
Plants for a bioswale in TX
February 18, 2011 - Dear Mr.Smarty Plants, What kind of plants are best suited for a bioswale in Edinburg, Texas?
view the full question and answer
Plants for difficult site in Jacksonville, TX
July 07, 2010 - East Texas (Cherokee County) red clay hillside, hard-packed, difficult to get to, 40' of it slopes 4' down in about 6'! Another 30' of it is flat. Between the hillside and the flat clay area is a...
view the full question and answer
Plants for a pond edge in IN
June 08, 2012 - Hello, I live in Southern Indiana. I care very much about reinforcing native plants for my region & not planting anything invasive.
I had a pond built last year & need some suggestions for native ...
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
