Here's some ideas from the Brooklyn Botanical Garden (they are listed under "Rain Garden Plants"). A rain garden is essentially the situation you describe. They are areas that are designed to catch runoff, hold it for awhile and then let it filter slowly back into the ground. A Google search on "Rain Gardens" will get you a lot more information.

Plant selection for rain gardens is based on the wet/dry cycle produced by this process.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rain Garden Plants

i ahve that problem with the central air drain. i planted the naturalized day lillies there, and wa-la

i've got a lobelia cardinalis there.

The Louisiana iris would work great there.

I've had good luck in the same situation with siberian iris, daylilies, chameleon plant, creeping jenny, and astilbe.