URBANA, Ill. — Let the garden games begin with the return of the annual Rain Garden Rumble, where nature and gardening enthusiasts get to pick the champion in this native-plant-playoff. This botanical bout – hosted by the Red Oak Rain Garden, University of Illinois Extension, and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant – invites participants to submit their bracket and vote to decide which of the 28 native plant species found in the rain garden will take home the 2026 title.
Starting March 17, participants can vote daily online while learning more about how their favorite native plants benefit the environment and manage stormwater. This year’s contenders include purple coneflower, royal catchfly, wild geranium, woodland phlox, cardinal flower, and more.
“With the annual Rain Garden Rumble competition, we highlight and celebrate native plants and all the work they do to support our environment, from anchoring soil and filtering water to providing food and habitat for pollinators, and so much more,” said C. Eliana Brown, Extension and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant water quality and stormwater specialist. “Each day, participants will learn about four 'competing' native plants, which we hope inspires them to grow them at home.”
The competition is open to Illinois residents and beyond. To participate, download a bracket at go.illinois.edu/RainGardenRumble. Fill it out and submit a bracket to RedOakRaingarden@illinois.edu by 5 p.m., Monday, March 16, to be eligible to win a prize. On weekdays from March 17 to April 3, vote on the plant matchup posts at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on the Red Oak Rain Garden Facebook page and Instagram account.
The Red Oak Rain Garden is a demonstration landscape on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus managed by Illinois Extension and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant staff. Explore more about rainfall management, including rain gardens, at go.illinois.edu/RainfallManagement. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact C. Eliana Brown at (217) 265-0760 or brown12@illinois.edu.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.