What is a rain garden?
A rain garden is a garden that lies lower than its surroundings and collects rainwater, allowing it to soak into the ground. Usually these gardens will be planted with native grasses and perennial flowers. However, in the Lowcountry there are also plenty of wetland-loving native shrubs and even trees that you can include, depending on the size of the garden.
Rain gardens make our neighborhoods more compatible with the local ecology by using native plants to temporarily hold water and reduce runoff. When we noticed standing water forming near the Conservancy’s parking lot, we knew it would be a fantastic opportunity to implement a rain garden!
The Conservancy’s rain garden acts as an example of how native plants can be used to aid in stormwater management.
Watch how our rain garden got its start:
Looking for native plant inspiration?
Check out what we’re planting in our rain garden in the diagram below. We selected those plants for their versatility and to match the conditions of the local environment. You can also check out the Town of Kiawah Island’s Native Plant Database to see what plants work in wet and moist-wet conditions.
