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Rain Garden

Rain Gardens are a way to naturally manage water runoff on your property from rooftops, driveways and streets. In many areas like Portland, aging stormwater systems (to which many older homes' downspouts are still connected) have not been able to keep up with the population growth over the last century.  The more homeowners we can help in our neighborhoods safely disconnect their downspouts and manage their stormwater on-site with Rain Gardens, the less likely that sewage will overflow into the Willamette during heavy downpours.  For residents living outside Portland, rain gardens are still an excellent opportunity to plant a beautiful collection of native plants with lush foliage and pollinator blossoms that are naturally acclimated to having their roots soaked in winter and dry in summer.  The plants listed here are from a fantastic free community resource to help you safely plan and create your Rain Garden: The Oregon Rain Garden Guide.

Filter collection by sun or shade to find the best native plants for your Rain Garden.

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  • Close up of the inflorescence of spreading blue rush (Juncus patens). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • A mature slough sedge plant (Carex obnupta) creates a gorgeous evergreen backdrop in an urban raingarden. One of 150+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close-up of the fruit on salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis). One of the 100+ Pacific Northwest native plants, shrubs and trees available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants nursery in Portland Oregon
  • Abundant purple flowers of great camas (Camassia leichtlinii). One of 150+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • A young Douglas' sagewort (Artemisia douglasiana) plant. One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Mountain or large boykinia flowers (Boykinia major). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close up photo of the attractive rosy pink flower of rosy spiraea, also known as subalpine spiraea, mountain spiraea, or rose meadowsweet (Spiraea splendens, formerly/aka Spiraea densiflora). One of 100+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close-up of the
  • Close-up of pacific ninebark flower (Physocarpus capitatus) getting visited by a small bug. Another stunning Pacific Northwest native shrub available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close up of flower stalk of small-flowered alumroot (Heuchera micrantha). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close up of the splendid magenta flower of clustered wild rose or swamp rose (Rosa pisocarpa). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close-up of the yellow flower of shrubby cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa, formerly/aka Potentilla fruticosa). One of 100+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Growth habit of pacific rush (Juncus effusus), also known as common rush, pasture rush, or soft rush. One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Serrated leaves and showy purple flowers of cascade penstemon (Penstemon serrulatus). One of 100+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Population of showy white and pink flowers of slim-leaf or narrow-leaf onion (Allium amplectens). One of 100+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Countless pink blooms of purple monkeyflower, aka Lewis' monkeyflower or pink monkeyflower (Erythranthe lewisii, formerly Mimulus lewisii). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native trees, shrubs and wildflowers available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon
  • Close-up of many white and yellow fragrant popcorn flowers (Plagiobothrys figuratus). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest Native Plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants in Portland, Oregon
  • Close-up of the showy purple flower of Nuttall's Larkspur (Delphinium nuttallii). One of 100+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close up of king's or staff gentian flowers (Gentiana sceptrum) with a tiny yellow spider. One of the 150+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants in Portland, Oregon
  • Inflorescence of slender rush or path rush (Juncus tenuis). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close up of a seed head of dagger-leaf rush (Juncus ensifolius). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close-up of Straggly Gooseberry flowers (Ribes divaricatum). One of 100+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Yellow flowering common sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) plant from above. One of 100+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Many dense sedge (Carex densa) plants in production at the nursery. One of 150+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Fresh spring leaves and flower buds on a small 4
  • Close up of the bluish-purple flowers of western or broadleaf bluebells (Mertensia subcordata, formerly Mertensia platyphylla). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Wet, green Wapato (Sagittaria latifolia) leaves burst from a rainwater catchment feature. One of 100+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close-up of deep red common chokecherry berries (Prunus virginiana). Another stunning Pacific Northwest native small tree available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close-up of a cluster of white Pacific or western crabapple flowers (Malus fusca). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest Native Plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants nursery in Portland, Oregon
  • Close up of a purple bloom of harvest brodiaea (Brodiaea elegans). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available through Sparrowhawk Native Plants in Portland, Oregon
  • Close up of a gorgeously symmetrical, dark brown flower cone of western coneflower (Rudbeckia occidenalis). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close up of the white flowering stalk of coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus), surrounded by its large green leaves. One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close up of the blooms of straightbeak buttercup (Ranunculus orthorhynchus). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close-up of the needles of Oregon's native Western Red Cedar tree (Thuja plicata). One of 100+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close-up of the dark, dangling inflorescence of Merten's sedge (Carex mertensii). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close up of the white umbel flower of cow parsnip (Heracleum maximum). One of 100+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close-up of the showy yellow flower of golden-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium californicum). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • A large, wild population of taper-tip rush (Juncus acuminatus) beside a pond. One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close-up of the delicate, diminutive whitish-pink flowers of Nuttle's Toothwort (Cardamine nuttallii). One of 100+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close-up of the immense, maple-like leaves of devil's club (Oplopanax horridus). One of 150+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.