Rain Gardens – Native Plant List – Part 3 This native plant species page covers sample Herbaceous Perennials. All of the listed plants are deciduous except the evergreen Tough-Leaf Iris. Listed varieties are suited to Rain Gardens within coastal SW British Columbia. Native Plants – Herbaceous Perennials 
Great Northern Aster (Aster modestus): Zones 2 & 3Aster modestus: Sunlight requirements - Full sun - Great Northern Asters bloom in July and August - 0.30-1.05 m (12-42") high, 0.90 m (36") wide - Late Summer blooms of violet-to-purple flowers Great Northern Asters thrive with full sun exposure 
Giant Camas (Camassia leichtlinii): Zones 2 and 3Camassia leichtlinii: Full sun/partial sun exposure - 0.90-1.22 m (36-48") high, 0.45 m (18") wide - Giant Camas blooms in late Spring-to-early-Summer - Loose clusters of light-blue to deep-blue flowers Showy planted in groups; aka 'Great' or 'Large' Camas 
Common Camas (Camassia quamash): Zones 2 & 3Camassia quamash: Full sun/partial sun exposure - 45 cm (18") high, 30 cm (12") wide - Camassia quamash blooms in May and June - Loose clusters of deep-blue, 6-petalled flowers Originally in camas prairies, meadows, and by streams 
Western Bleeding Heart (D. formosa): Zones 2 & 3Dicentra formosa: Full/partial sun; blooms in Spring - 15-50 cm (6-20") high, 15-75 cm (6-30") wide - Pink or red heart-shaped flowers; fern-like foliage - Spreads by seed and rhizome, can form large patches The commonly-available D. spectabilis is non-native 
Showy Fleabane (Erigeron speciosus): Zones 2 & 3Erigeron speciosus: Full sun/partial sun exposure - 45 cm (18") high, 60 cm (24") wide - Erigeron speciosus blooms in Spring and Summer - Clusters of yellow-eyed dark violet/lavender flowers Leafy stems; aka 'Darkest of All' Showy Fleabane 
Tough-Leaf Iris (Iris tenax): Zones 1, 2 and 3Iris tenax: Full sun/partial sun; blooms in May-June - 30-45 cm (12-18") high, 30 cm (12") wide - Showy blue flowers; slender, grass-like leaves - Iris tenax also known as the Oregon Iris or as Flag Use instead of invasive non-native Yellow-Flag Iris 
Lupine (Lupinus): Note: Lasts 2-5 years - Zone 3Lupinus: Full sun/partial sun; blooms in the Summer - 45-122 cm (18-48") high, 60-76 cm (25-30") wide - Blue, purple, or reddish flower clusters on spikes - Note: Many lupine species/cultivars are available Lupinus attracts butterflies and butterfly caterpillars 
Beard Tongue (Penstemon cardwellii): Zone 3Penstemon cardwellii: Full sun/partial sun exposure - 20-75 cm (12-30") high, 20-60 cm (12-24") wide - Blooms in early Summer; purple/blue-purple flowers - Found in western forests and on rocky slopes Aka 'Cardwell's Penstemon'; considered a 'sub-shrub' 
Woodland Beard Tongue (N. nemorosa): Zone 3Nothochelone nemorosa: Full sun/partial sun - 0.2-1.05 m (12-42") high, 0.2-1.05 m (12-42") wide - Blooms in Summer; pink-purple, tubular flowers - Coarsely-toothed oval leaves; quite long-flowering Nothochelone nemorosa also known as 'Turtlehead' 
Henderson's Checker-Mallow (Sidalcea): Zone 1Sidalcea hendersonii: Full sun/partial sun - 0.9-1.2 m (36-48") high, 0.6-0.9 m (24-36") wide - Blooms in Summer; pink flower clusters atop stems - Spreads aggressively; complements tall bulrushes Salt-tolerant, found in SW BC estuaries & tidal flats 
Pacific Aster (Symphyotrichum chilense): Zone 2Symphyotrichum chilense: Full sun (sunflower family) - 45-90 cm (18-36") high, 90 cm (36") wide - Blooms June-to-Sept; white to purple flowers - A salt-tolerant, rhizomatous, perennial herb Aka 'California Aster'; very attractive to butterflies 
Douglas Aster (S. subspicatum): Zones 1, 2 and 3Symphyotrichum subspicatum: Full sun/partial sun - 15-90 cm (6-36") high, 90 cm (36") wide; spreading - Blooms June-to-Sept; blue to purple flowers - A complement to checker-mallow and bulrushes Tolerates some shade; prefers full sun in moist soil 
Fringecup (Tellima grandiflora): Zones 2 and 3Tellima grandiflora: Partial sun/shade - 30 cm (12") high, up to 30 cm (12") wide - Blooms March-to-June; yellow-green to pink flowers - Broad-leafed foliage persists somewhat into Winter Fringecup is deer-resistant; Saxifrage family member 
Foamflower (Tiarella trifoliata): Zones 2 and 3Tiarella trifoliata: Partial sun/shade - 30 cm (12") high, 30 cm (12") wide - Blooms early-to-mid Summer; creamy-white flowers - Broad-leafed foliage persists somewhat into Winter Can form dense colonies, aka 'Threeleaf Foamflower' Note: Although native, Foamflower has become rare. Avoid gathering plants from the wild. Seeds are collected by hand during late August and early Fall. 
Piggyback Plant (Tolmiea menziesii): Zone 2Tolmiea menziesii: Partial sun/shade - 30-60 cm (12-24") high, 30 cm (12") wide - Blooms April-to-August: brownish-purple flowers - Foliage present in winter (tiny leaves seen in axils) Effective Summer groundcover; aka 'Youth-on-Age' 
Western Trillium (Trillium ovatum): Zones 2 & 3Trillium ovatum: Partial sun/shade (shade-tolerant) - Up to 45 cm (18") high, 30 cm (12") wide - Blooms in early Spring; three-lobed, white flowers - Deer-resistant; FRAGILE (do not pick in the wild) Find nurseries which do not disturb wild trilliums 
Coastal Strawberry (F. chiloensis): Zones 2 & 3Fragaria chiloensis: Full sun/partial sun - Blooms in Summer; white flowers, hairy red fruit - 15-25 cm (6-10") high, 90 cm (36") wide; spreading - Reasonably fast-growing; available commercially Thick, shiny evergreen leaves; prefers sandy areas Sechelt Rain Gardens – A Native Plant List for Coastal BC – Part 4 Home | Rain Gardens | Native Plants | Rainwater Harvesting | Resources |