From: A Paradox of Nature
Dry Rain Garden Plant Descriptions
Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
USDA hardiness zone: 3–8
Size: 60 to 80 feet, typically
Sun: Full sun
Comments: No parking lot island is complete without trees. This oak is very adaptable to a variety of soils, including sandy plains and moist alluvial soils. It casts dappled shade, which is suited to the sun-loving vegetation that follows below.
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
USDA hardiness zone: 4–9
Size: 4 to 8 feet
Sun: Full sun
Comments: A warm-season grass native to prairies and open woods that has long been appreciated in European gardens. Easy to grow in sandy soils when exposed to full sun. A highly variable species. Some seed sources may produce plants that are too tall for an ornamental environment. “Heavy Metal” is one notable variety of the many available cultivars due to its stiffly upright form, moderate height (4 to 5 feet), and blue-green foliage.
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
USDA hardiness zone: 4–9
Size: 2 to 4 feet
Sun: Full sun
Comments: A warm-season grass native to prairies and open woods. This species excels in dry sandy soils. Usually remains upright through the winter, even after repeated snowfalls. Many plants develop a noticeable and very attractive bronze-orange fall color.
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
USDA hardiness zone: 4–9
Size: 2 to 3 feet
Sun: Full sun
Comments: Native to dry prairies. A striking and rugged plant that thrives in dry soils and has fantastic orange flowers that attract butterflies. It is slow to establish but easy to grow from seed and is well worth the wait. Mature plants freely self-seed.
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
USDA hardiness zone: 3–9
Size: 2 to 4 feet
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Comments: Native to prairies and open woods. At home on a variety of soils including sand. Easy to establish from seed and tend to self-seed. Intricate pink/lavender flowers and attractive dry seed heads.
Walker’s Low Catmint (Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’)
USDA hardiness zone: 4–8
Size: 2 to 3 feet
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Comments: A hybrid cultivar with blue-violet flowers. Thrives in hot and dry conditions—very drought tolerant. Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year 2007.
October 2008
From: A Paradox of Nature
Dry Rain Garden Plant Descriptions
Bur Oak (
Quercus macrocarpa)
USDA hardiness zone: 3–8
Size: 60 to 80 feet, typically
Sun: Full sun
Comments: No parking lot island is complete without trees. This oak is very adaptable to a variety of soils, including sandy plains and moist alluvial soils. It casts dappled shade, which is suited to the sun-loving vegetation that follows below.
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
USDA hardiness zone: 4–9
Size: 4 to 8 feet
Sun: Full sun
Comments: A warm-season grass native to prairies and open woods that has long been appreciated in European gardens. Easy to grow in sandy soils when exposed to full sun. A highly variable species. Some seed sources may produce plants that are too tall for an ornamental environment. “Heavy Metal” is one notable variety of the many available cultivars due to its stiffly upright form, moderate height (4 to 5 feet), and blue-green foliage.
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
USDA hardiness zone: 4–9
Size: 2 to 4 feet
Sun: Full sun
Comments: A warm-season grass native to prairies and open woods. This species excels in dry sandy soils. Usually remains upright through the winter, even after repeated snowfalls. Many plants develop a noticeable and very attractive bronze-orange fall color.
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
USDA hardiness zone: 4–9
Size: 2 to 3 feet
Sun: Full sun
Comments: Native to dry prairies. A striking and rugged plant that thrives in dry soils and has fantastic orange flowers that attract butterflies. It is slow to establish but easy to grow from seed and is well worth the wait. Mature plants freely self-seed.
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
USDA hardiness zone: 3–9
Size: 2 to 4 feet
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Comments: Native to prairies and open woods. At home on a variety of soils including sand. Easy to establish from seed and tend to self-seed. Intricate pink/lavender flowers and attractive dry seed heads.
Walker’s Low Catmint (Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’)
USDA hardiness zone: 4–8
Size: 2 to 3 feet
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Comments: A hybrid cultivar with blue-violet flowers. Thrives in hot and dry conditions—very drought tolerant. Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year 2007.