City of Clifton Rain Garden

What is a Rain Garden?

It is a shallow depression that captures, filters, and infiltrates stormwater while it is also aesthetically pleasing. The water drains within 24 hours after a rain event. Stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces needs to be offset by pervious surfaces and current ways used are rain gardens, rain barrels, gravel trenches, and pervious pavement/pavers. Rain Gardens keep our streams clean and prevent flooding while also adding beauty to the landscape.

Where is Clifton's Rain Garden located?

The Rain Garden is located next to the Art Center and the City Well on the City Hall grounds.


Photos of the Rain Garden!

Learn More About Rain Gardens!

  1. Build Your Own Rain Garden!
  2. City of Clifton Rain Garden Infographic

What Plants Are In Clifton's Rain Garden?

Black Eyed Susan

Common Name:  Black-Eyed Susan

Species Name:  Rudbeckia Iaciniata

Placement:  Buffer

Bloom Time:  June-Sept

Additional Benefits:  Host sp. For butterfly (silvery checkerspot), deer resistant

New England Aster

Common Name:  New England Aster

Species Name:  Aster novae-angliae

Placement:  Slope

Bloom Time:  Aug-Sept

Additional Benefits:  Host plant for painted lady (butterfly), Deer resistant


Coneflower

Common Name:  Coneflower

Species Name:  Echinacea purpurea

Placement:  Buffer

Bloom Time:  June-Sept

Additional Benefits:  Host sp. For butterfly (silvery checkerspot)

Cinnamon Fern

Common Name:  Cinnamon Fern

Species Name:  Osmunda cinnamomea

Placement:  Slope

Bloom Time:  Non-flowering

Additional Benefits:  Rabbit Tolerant

Cardinal Flower

Common Name:  Cardinal Flower

Species Name:  Lobelia cardinalis

Placement:  Base

Bloom Time:  July-Sept

Additional Benefits:  Attracts hummingbirds & butterflies

Swamp Milkweed

Common Name:  Swamp Milkweed

Species Name:  Asclepias incarnata

Placement:  Base

Bloom Time:  June-Oct

Additional Benefits:  Host plant for monarch butterflies


Blue Festuca

Common Name: Blue Festuca

Species Name:  Festuca ovina glauca

Placement:  Buffer

Bloom Time:  June-August

Additional Benefits:  Deer Resistant

Columbine

Common Name:  Columbine

Species Name:  Aquilegia spp.

Placement:  Slope

Bloom Time:  April-June

Additional Benefits:  Host plant for columbine
dustywing (Butterfly)

Blue Lobelia

Common Name:  Blue Lobelia

Species Name:  Lobelia siphilitica

Placement:  Base

Bloom Time:  July-Sept

Additional Benefits:  Deer Resistant

Butterfly Weed - Milkweed

Common Name:  Butterfly Weed/Milkweed

Species Name:  Asclepias tuberosa

Placement:  Buffer

Bloom Time:  May-Aug

Additional Benefits:  Host sp. for monarchs, deer resistant

What Plants Are In Clifton's Rain Garden?

Common Name Species Name Placement Bloom Time Additional Benefits
Black Eyed Susan Rudbeckia laciniata Buffer June-Sept Host sp. For butterfly (silvery checkerspot), deer resistant
Butterfly Weed/Milkweed Asclepias tuberosa Buffer May-Aug Host sp. For monarchs, deer resistant
Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea Buffer June-Sept Host sp. For butterfly (silvery checkerspot)
Wild Bergamont Monarda didyma Buffer June-Sept Larval host for hermit sphinx moth, gray marvel moth, deer resistant
Cinnamon Fern Osmunda cinnamomea Slope Non-Flowering Rabbit Tolerant
Columbine Aquilegia spp. Slope April-June Host plant for columbine dustywing (Butterfly)
Tickseed Coreopsis Slope May-July Attract Goldfinches in winter
New England Aster Aster novae-angliae Slope Aug-Sept Host plant for painted lady (butterfly), Deer resistant
Blue Lobelia Lobelia siphilitica Base July-Sept Deer Resistant
Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis Base July-Sept Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies
Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata Base June-Oct Host plant for monarch
Blue Festuca Festuca ovina glauca Buffer June-Aug Deer Resistant