Rain Gardens – Native Plant List – Part 1 This native plant species page covers sample Emergents – one Sedge, three Rushes, and a Bulrush) as well as Native Grasses. Listed are varieties which are well-suited to Rain Gardens and are native to coastal British Columbia. Native Plants – Evergreen Emergents and Native Grasses Evergreen Emergents – Sedges, Rushes, and Bulrushes 
Slough Sedge (Carex obnupta): Zones 1 and 2Carex obnuta: Sunlight requirements - sun/partial sun - 30-90 cm (12-36") high, 122 cm (48") wide - C. obnuta blooms in the late Spring (April and May) - Shiny foliage, spreads rapidly, excellent soil binder First Nations use Slough Sedge as a basket material. Other coastal BC native sedges are: Henderson's Sedge (Carex hendersonii), the Woodrush Sedge (C. ablata), the Many-Flowered Sedge (C. pluriflora), the Few-Flowered Sedge (C. pauciflora), and Kellogg Sedge (C. kelloggii). The so-called 'White Beak-Rush' (Rhynchospora alba) is actually a sedge. 
Dagger-Leaf Rush (Juncus ensifolius): Zone 1Junncus ensifolius: Full sun; blooms May-to-August - 15-38 cm (6-15") high, 45-60 cm (18-24") wide - Brown flowers (small & rounded like pom-poms) - Yellow-orange Fall colours; aka Sword-leaf Rush Dagger-Leaf Rushes have flattened, iris-like stems 
Taper-Tip Rush (Juncus acuminatus): Zone 1J. acuminatus: Full sun; blooms Spring-to-Summer - 15-38 cm (6-15") high, 15-23 cm (6-9") wide - Open array clusters of purple to red-brown flowers - J. acuminatus clusters have up to 20 flowers each Delicate but flood-tolerant; aka Sharp-Fruited Rush 
Slender Rush (Juncus tenuis): Zones 1 and 2Juncus tenuis: Full sun; blooms May-to-September - 15-50 cm (6-20") high, 15-75 cm (6-30") wide - Soft, bright green foliage and delicate flowers - Clay/sandy soils, high tolerance of compacted soil - Rarely sold by nurseries; aka Wiregrass, Path Rush Other native Coastal BC rush species are: the Common Rush (J. effusus, a rather slow-spreading species) and the Baltic Rush (Juncus balticus). 
Small-Fruited Bulrush (S. microcarpus): Zone 1Scirpus microcarpus: Partial sun; blooms June-to-Aug - 60-90 cm (24-36") high, 30-60 cm (12-24") wide - Spreads very aggressively; excellent soil binder - Large, round flower clusters persist over winter Combine with Douglas Asters, spiky flowers, etc. Ornamental Native Grasses 
Bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis): Zone 2 & 3C. canadensis: Full sun;* blooms in June-to-July - 0.9-1.5 m high, 0.8-1.2 m wide; Flowers at ~1.5 m - Drought tolerant; moisture determines flower height - Bluejoint is a good soil stabilizer in wet conditions * Full sun only in moist soil; partial shade in dry soil 
Cotton Grass (Eriophorum angustifolium): Zone 1Eriophorum angustifolium: Full sun (shade intolerant) - 1.22 m (48") high, 0.60 m (24") wide, spreading - Blooms in late Spring; present Summer-to-Fall - Small yellow flowers followed by brown seeds Common in BC bogs, fens, marshes, wet meadows 
Sitka Brome Grass (Bromus sitchensis): Zone 2Bromus sitchensis: Partial sun/shade (shade-tolerant) - Blooms late-Spring; yellow flowers/brown seeds - 0.60-1.60 m (2-5') high, 0.60 m (24") wide - Fast-growing; long-lived; available commercially Also known as Sitka Bunchgrass or Alaska Brome Sechelt Rain Gardens – A Native Plant List for Coastal BC – Part 2 Home | Rain Gardens | Native Plants | Rainwater Harvesting | Resources |