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Plants for a Rain Garden?
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Posted by louky z6 (My Page) on Sun, Apr 12, 09 at 8:24
| I'm steadily developing permaculture practices in my yard, in a older subdivision (1940's). I have completely converted my back yard to "practicality" (no grass left), and am gradually working more on my front yard, not wanting to freak the neighbors out too quickly, but with long term plans for having little or no grass there either. I have dug a rain garden of about 200 square feet and planted a cherry and a dwarf apple in it so far, and a, looking for suggestions for more permaculture or guild plants. Most of the knowledge or rain garden planting around here dictates using native plants, but I have a goal of using only edible plants, (either for me or the rabbist or chickens) in the rain garden. Does anyone have suggestions for perennials, that would form a loose guild, that are edible? Zone 6, mostly sunny.
Thanks, Ray |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Plants for a Rain Garden?
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| Blueberries work great. I used them for every rain garden that I built. The great thing about the rg is that there are different areas to it that can accomodate almost anything you want to grow. If you think of the garden as a saucer than there is the lower area that will be very wet, and area a little higher up around the edge that will not be/stay as moist and the outer edge that will be fairly dry. So obviously the plants that can handle a lot of water go on the inside and those that need drier soils can be planted around the edges. I never did a totally edible rain garden but I'm interested in how it comes out. |
RE: Plants for a Rain Garden?
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| It seems to me that there are few plants that WOULDN'T work well in a rain garden. The two most important things would be suitability for your climate, and placement in or around the basin. Sue |
RE: Plants for a Rain Garden?
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| Asparagus, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, rhubarb, and sorrel are all perennials I've had good luck with here in Michigan. This year I'm trying Cardoons. Don't forget herbs, both culinary (Sage, Thyme, Peppermint, Chives, Lemonbalm, Oregano, Chamomile, Lavender, etc.) and medicinal (Comfrey, Yarrow, Feverfew, Motherwort, etc.) My chickens LOVE Comfrey. Queenanne's Lace (wild carrot) is another plant you could easily grow for the chickens and rabbits. Kathy |
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