A moisture-loving planting for wet ground and seasonal bloom

The Rain Garden Set

$32.00

Rain Garden Set
Turn a wet spot into one of the most dynamic parts of the garden. Our Rain Garden Set brings together six moisture-loving plants chosen for their bold texture, long season of interest, and ability to thrive where water lingers. From the elegant spring flowers of Iris virginica to the vivid late-season color of Boltonia asteroides and Vernonia noveboracensis, this collection creates a richly layered planting that feels lush, architectural, and alive from spring through fall.

Designed for rain gardens, low areas, pond edges, and consistently moist beds, this set transforms challenging conditions into an opportunity for beauty — while also supporting pollinators and adding strong seasonal structure.

Why This Set Works

A successful rain garden should do more than simply tolerate moisture. It should look intentional, provide season-long interest, and make use of changing conditions in a way that feels natural and abundant. That is exactly why this set was built the way it was.

A thoughtfully sequenced season of interest

This collection was selected to provide texture, bloom, and strong garden presence across much of the growing season:

  • Late March–June: Iris virginica
  • June–October: Hibiscus moscheutos
  • June–October: Verbena hastata
  • August–October: Boltonia asteroides
  • August–October: Vernonia noveboracensis
  • Year-round structure: Equisetum hyemale

Together, that gives the planting visual interest from early spring through autumn, with evergreen structure carrying the composition even further.

Pickup available at Aiken Nursery

Usually ready in 2-4 days

The Set Details

  • Includes: 6 plants, one each
  • Best for: rain gardens, low areas, pond edges, moist beds
  • Bloom season: Late March–October
  • Year-round interest: Evergreen structure from Equisetum hyemale
  • Light: Full sun to part shade
  • Approx. coverage: 45–55 sq. ft. at maturity
  • Water needs: Consistent moisture to wet soils

The Set Coverage

At maturity, one set will cover approximately 45–55 square feet.
A practical planting footprint is about:

  • 6' x 8', or
  • 5' x 10'

Approximate height range:
From 1–3 feet at the front and lower layers to 4–6 feet in the tallest selections.

Optional design note:
Place taller plants like Vernonia noveboracensis, Boltonia asteroides, and Hibiscus moscheutos toward the back or center, with lower and more textural plants at the edge.

Why these plants belong together

Each plant serves a different purpose in the overall composition:

  • Iris virginica opens the season with graceful foliage and elegant spring flowers, bringing early life to the planting.
  • Hibiscus moscheutos adds lush foliage and oversized blooms, creating a dramatic summer focal point.
  • Verbena hastata introduces vertical spikes of color and movement, weaving easily through the planting while feeding pollinators for months.
  • Boltonia asteroides provides a cloud of late-season bloom, softening the composition and extending the show into fall.
  • Vernonia noveboracensis brings rich, saturated color and height at the end of the season, when the garden begins to shift toward autumn.
  • Equisetum hyemale offers upright, evergreen structure — the architectural backbone that keeps the planting looking deliberate even when little else is in bloom.

The result is a planting that feels both ecological and refined: bold leaves, fine texture, strong vertical accents, and a bloom sequence that rewards the garden over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many plants are included?
This set includes six plants total, one of each variety listed.

How much space does one set cover?
At maturity, one set covers about 45–55 square feet.

Can this set handle standing water?
It is well suited to sites with periodic standing water and consistently moist soils, though drainage patterns and duration of saturation may affect performance.

Is this a good set for a dry sunny border?
No. This collection is designed for moisture-retentive to wet conditions.

Will these plants come back every year?
Yes, this is a perennial collection in suitable growing zones.

Does this set attract pollinators?
Yes. Several plants in the collection provide valuable nectar and habitat for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.

Plant Profiles

Boltonia asteroides

A Cloud of Autumn Stars

Native to much of the eastern and central United States, Boltonia asteroides rises in late season with a luminous haze of daisy-like blooms that seem to float above the garden like a field of pale stars. Its airy habit softens wetter plantings beautifully, bringing movement, lightness, and an almost wild grace to the rain garden just as summer begins to turn. A generous late bloomer for pollinators and people alike.

  • Height: 3–6 ft
  • Light: Full sun to part shade
  • Bloom: August–October
  • Wildlife Value: Bees, butterflies

Equisetum hyemale

Evergreen Architecture for Wet Ground

An ancient, striking species with prehistoric charm, Equisetum hyemale brings bold vertical structure to the garden with its deep green, bamboo-like stems and year-round presence. It thrives where soils remain consistently moist, lending clean lines and a distinctly architectural character to rain gardens, pond edges, and wet borders. Graphic, textural, and quietly dramatic, it is the backbone of the planting even when little else is in bloom.

  • Height: 2–4 ft
  • Light: Full sun to part shade
  • Bloom: Evergreen / non-showy
  • Wildlife Value: Shelter, structural habitat

Hibiscus moscheutos

Southern Drama in Bloom

A bold native of the southeastern United States, Hibiscus moscheutos brings oversized flowers and lush summer abundance to the rain garden. Its broad, theatrical blooms open through the warmest months, drawing the eye from across the bed while offering a welcome nectar source for pollinators. Flourishing in moist soils, it adds richness, color, and a sense of high summer extravagance to the planting.

  • Height: 3–6 ft
  • Light: Full sun
  • Bloom: June–October
  • Wildlife Value: Bees, butterflies
Buy Separately

Iris virginica

Spring Grace at Water’s Edge

Native to the southeastern United States, Iris virginica sends up elegant blue-violet blooms above sword-like foliage from early spring into early summer, bringing poise and clarity to wetter places in the garden. Its upright leaves remain handsome long after flowering, adding texture and rhythm to the planting. Refined yet resilient, it is one of the season’s first signals that the rain garden is waking.

  • Height: 1–3 ft
  • Light: Full sun to part shade
  • Bloom: Late March–June
  • Wildlife Value: Pollinators, habitat value

Verbena hastata

A Violet Spire for Pollinators

Native to moist meadows and streambanks across much of North America, Verbena hastata sends up slender, tapering spikes of violet bloom that weave effortlessly through the summer garden. Its upright habit adds lift and movement, while its long bloom season makes it a favorite of bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Airy, elegant, and quietly hardworking, it brings a naturalistic ease to rain garden plantings.

  • Height: 2–4 ft
  • Light: Full sun to part shade
  • Bloom: June–October
  • Wildlife Value: Bees, butterflies, beneficial insects

Vernonia noveboracensis

Royal Purple for the Late Season

A commanding native perennial of moist meadows and low grounds, Vernonia noveboracensis rises tall in late summer with rich purple flowers that bring depth and drama just as many other plants begin to fade. Its strong vertical presence anchors the back of the planting, while its nectar-rich blooms provide an important late-season resource for pollinators. Bold, stately, and unmistakably wild at heart.

  • Height: 4–6 ft
  • Light: Full sun to part shade
  • Bloom: August–October
  • Wildlife Value: Bees, butterflies

Curated by Woodlanders

This set was assembled to bring beauty, structure, and ecological value to the parts of the garden that many plantings avoid — turning wet ground into a place of abundance.