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Choosing Native Plants for
Your Rain Garden
These five activities will help the class choose the specific plants for their Rain Garden.1. What is a Native Plant? TEACHER DIRECTIONS:
- Answer provided at this web address:
www.for-wild.org/landscap.htm
 Lesson options:
1. Print information and distribute to class
2. One student group uses the information for class presentation.
3. Teacher uses information for lecture.
More information about native plants can be found at:
www.riwps.org
New England Wildflower Society
www.newfs.org
2. What species of local native plants can survive in a Rain Garden?
TEACHER DIRECTIONS:
- You can find a list of R.I. Native Plants that tolerate the wet and dry conditions of a Rain Garden by going to this web site:
URI Healthy Landscape - Rain Gardens
www.uri.edu/ce/healthylandscapes
Print this list and give each student a copy.
3. Which of these Rain Garden plants are sold by local nurseries?
 TEACHER DIRECTIONS:
- Instruct students to compare URI's list of Rain Garden plants with the plants sold at local nurseries. (Two nurseries are listed below)
New England Wetland Plants
413-548-8000
www.newp.com
New England Wildflower Society
508-877-7630
www.newfs.org/
Instruct students to make a list of Rain Garden plants that are available.
4. Characteristics of available Rain Garden plants.
TEACHER DIRECTIONS:
- Find pictures and characteristics of native plants at:
Natural Resource Conservation Service (Plant Database)
NRCS Plant Database
plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov
Divide class into groups
Assign each group one or more of the native plants being considered for the Rain Garden
Distribute copies of the Native Plant Characteristic Chart
Student groups will use plant database to print picture of plant and research characteristics using chart
Ask students to create a class bulletin board display using this information.
5. Choose the plants your class wants for your Rain Garden.
TEACHER DIRECTIONS:
- Ask class to choose a way to select plants for the Rain Garden. It could be a general vote, or several groups presenting their garden designs to
the class for a class vote. Ask them to consider plant costs in their decision.
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