Rain Gardens   Sometimes referred to as bioretention systems, Rain Gardens are a relatively new concept that was developed in the early 1990’s by storm water specialists in Maryland. Basically a Rain Garden is a shallow landscaped depression that catches and holds rain water while it soaks into the ground. They capture rain that runs off impervious surfaces like roofs, walkways, driveways, and even compacted lawns, preventing this runoff from entering local streams and rivers. By allowing this runoff to soak into the ground and move through the soil, rain gardens naturally remove pollutants such as fertilizers from rain water. Rain gardens help to keep local streams clean and allow rain water to filter back into the ground water table. Native plants are often recommended for planting in Rain Gardens since many are tough and adaptable. In addition, native plants have evolved under local climate and soil conditions and are naturally suited to local growing conditions. Also, many are beautiful and unique to our area. Plants that go in the bottom of the Rain Garden need to be tough and tolerant of both flooding for extended periods and drought when natural rain is lacking.   Rain Garden Plants for Southeastern North Carolina We have included two lists of plants that are suitable for planting in Rain Gardens. List #1 Plants for moist to wet Rain Gardens, where water may stand for extended periods. List #2 Plants for dry Rain Gardens, where water stands for only 1 to 2 hours before draining away. For more information on Rain Gardens and how to create one visit the North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Backyard Rain Garden website.