6 Nov 2026
Residential Rain Gardens - a "Plop and Play" Approach
Native landscapes are excellent at managing stormwater, even in their most low-tech applications. While a designed rain garden, or a comprehensive site plan might be beyond the scope of many gardeners’ goals, a simple ‘plop and play’ approach to mitigating runoff and “Containing the Rain” can yield big results with simply the right plants in the right place. Chris Cardwell of Deep Roots will share his own home approach to downspout solutions that are easy and effective at on site stormwater control for residences.
Join our free webinars live every 1st and 3rd Thursday at 12pm CST, visit www.deeproots.org/curious-by-nature (https://www.deeproots.org/curious-by-nature)
Questions, comments, or feedback? Contact us at hello@deeprootskc.org (mailto:hello@deeprootskc.org)
Flora Species:
Eastern Woodland Sedge (Carex blanda)
River Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)
Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)
Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Celandine Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum)
Purple Poppy Mallow (Callirhoe involucrata)
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
White-Tinged Sedge/Oak Sedge (Carex albicans)
White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima)
Wild Violet (Viola sororia)
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Woodland Pinkroot (Spigelia marilandica)
Mistflower (Conoclinum coelestium)
Meadow Anemone (Anemone canadensis)
Eastern Star Sedge (Carex radiata)
Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)
Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia)
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
Jumpseed (Persicaria virginiana)
Resources:
Contain The Rain (https://www.jocogov.org/department/public-works/stormwater-management/contain-the-rain) – Johnson County, Kansas’ Cost Share Program for residents, reimbursing up to 50% of pre-approved native landscape projects for stormwater management. Each municipality has their own specific guidelines, requirements, and approved plant species.
UG / KCK Stormwater Quality Programs (https://www.wycokck.org/Departments/Public-Works/Environmental-Services/Stormwater-Runoff-Management/Stormwater-Quality-Programs) – A similar program in Wyandotte County, KS, for residential water quality projects. Includes free soil testing, cost-share reimbursement for stormwater management landscapes, and public outreach like stormwater drain stenciling to raise awareness of watershed health.
KC Rainkeepers (https://kcrainkeepers.org/) – Mid-America Regional Council’s Kansas City-centered resource hub for all whings water quality. Extensive educational resources, as well as local events, trainings, and community engagement opportunities. Especially well-branded, with Dewy the Droplet providing entertaining animations to teach the value of watershed health. “If it’s on the ground, it’s in our water”
Blue Thumb – Planting for Clean Water (https://bluethumb.org/) – One of the leading resources in the Midwest for water quality-focused native landscape stewardship. Based in Minnesota, this group offers educational workshops and programs to support professionals and residents alike in creating sustainable, pollinator-friendly, and water-wise landscapes. The Blue Thumb manual has been highly regarded as gospel in the field.
Native Plants for Stormwater Management Projects (https://grownative.org/learn/manage-stormwater/) – Authored by the same team as Blue Thumb, this extensive resource from GrowNative! focuses more on the lower Midwest plant palette. Available as a free PDF download, this 300+ page guide is a valuable resource for planners of all skill levels
Be Water, My Friend – The True Teachings of Bruce Lee (https://brucelee.com/)
