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plants for bioretention area
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Posted by shalinip (My Page) on Thu, Nov 12, 09 at 17:00
| I am making about a 130 square foot bioretention area at the end of a dry creek bed in my backyard. The creek bed will drain my roof water via a hidden perforated pipe into the bioretention area when it rains. It rains only during winter months in our area with a dry summer.
Since this bioretention area will only have water for a few days after it rains (it is not a pond), I want to put plants in there to cover it at all times. I would like to know plants I can put in this area that will stay mostly green (and may even produce some flowers) even in the dry summer and fall, with very little summer watering, and tolerate fluctuating water conditions in winter and spring.
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: plants for bioretention area
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| Are you allowed to do this? Around here you aren't, but I haven't a clue as to why not. Personally I think these empty ponds look silly. |
RE: plants for bioretention area
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- Posted by jean001 z8aPortland, OR (My Page) on
Thu, Nov 12, 09 at 23:48
| In my region, they're called rain gardens. An internet search with that phase might help you. |
RE: plants for bioretention area
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- Posted by bahia SF Bay Area (My Page) on
Fri, Nov 13, 09 at 10:54
| Almost any native riparian species of California natives would work well in this situation. You don't mention where you are located, so I'll just recommend some general plants that would do well most anywhere in California, such as the various Juncus and Carex species. If you are willing to water a bit in summer, almost any plant that likes wet feet in winter will also do well, which would give you more to choose from as to flowering things. |
RE: plants for bioretention area
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| You might want to consider planting a few Chondropetalum tectorum. They seem to do well in both dry and marshy conditions. I've seen them growing in pot ponds, of all things. My best friend has one in her drought resistant yard that gets absolutely no supplemental water during the summer in the central valley. It doesn't look too happy about it, but it stays alive. |
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