Designing Rain Gardens That Work as Beautifully as They Perform
A rain garden is more than a landscape feature — it’s an intelligent, living system that captures stormwater, nourishes the soil, and brings your garden to life.
Rain Garden Design in Bay Area, California
In California’s ever-changing climate, smart water use isn’t just a trend — it’s a responsibility. At Petrus Landscape, we design rain gardens that transform rainfall into an asset, blending ecological function with refined landscape design. Our goal is simple: to create gardens that are as intelligent as they are beautiful.
A rain garden is a shallow, planted area designed to collect and filter rainwater runoff from roofs, patios, or driveways. Instead of sending that water into storm drains, it seeps gently into the ground — cleansing itself through soil and plant roots. This process reduces erosion, replenishes groundwater, and brings vibrant life to your outdoor spaces.
Xeriscaping is more than a trend — it’s the future of responsible garden design in the Bay Area. With Petrus Landscape, you can achieve a landscape that is beautiful, resilient, and built for long-term sustainability.
Why Rain Gardens Matter in California
In regions like the Bay Area and Pebble Beach, rainfall can be unpredictable — long dry months followed by sudden downpours. A thoughtfully designed rain garden manages both with grace.
These systems:
Help control drainage and prevent flooding on estates and residential properties.
Support native plants and pollinators, enhancing local biodiversity.
Promote sustainable landscape practices without compromising aesthetics.
Contribute to luxury estate landscaping that aligns with California’s environmental standards.
At Petrus, we integrate function and beauty, designing rain gardens that complement your home’s architecture and reflect your lifestyle.
Timeless Aesthetic
Native garden isn’t wild and unruly when designed by experts it’s structured, intentional, and stunning. We select plants not only for water efficiency, but also for visual impact throughout the seasons: structural evergreens, soft ornamental grasses, bold bloomers like Penstemon or Salvias, and sculptural forms like manzanita or ceanothus. Whether you’re after a formal Mediterranean layout or a flowing California woodland feel, our planting plans are designed to support your estate’s style.
Built for Bay Area Microclimates
No two properties are alike—and we don’t treat them that way. We assess your estate’s sun exposure, wind patterns, slope, soil composition, and surrounding ecology before making any plant selections. That’s how we achieve successful establishment and long-term beauty in zones as diverse as coastal Woodside and the arid pockets of Saratoga.
Lower Water Bills, Higher Impact
Native and drought-tolerant species are not only adapted to thrive with less water—they flourish once established with smart irrigation systems. Petrus Landscape integrates efficient drip systems to dramatically reduce water usage without compromising on lushness or color.
Native Plants
These plants have adapted to local conditions over centuries and require minimal maintenance. They support local wildlife and pollinators, creating a more biodiverse ecosystem. Native plants also have a timeless beauty that blends naturally into California landscapes.
Drought-Tolerant Species
Perfect for California’s dry climate, these species provide beauty without demanding water. Plants like lavender, salvia, and agave thrive in dry soil and still offer stunning foliage and blooms. Their resilience makes them ideal for sustainable gardens.
Ornamental Grasses
These low-maintenance plants add motion, texture, and architectural interest. Grasses like blue fescue or feather reed grass can soften hard edges and complement flowering plants. They work well in modern, rustic, or naturalistic designs.
Flowering Perennials
These provide lasting color and attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Perennials return year after year, creating a reliable display of blooms. Choices like echinacea or coreopsis can be mixed for a vibrant garden experience.
Evergreen Shrubs
These foundational plants offer year-round structure and screening. Shrubs like boxwood, viburnum, or pittosporum maintain their leaves in winter and are easily shaped for formal or informal designs. They add depth and continuity to the landscape.
The Art of Planting in a Rain Garden
As professional Bay Area landscape designer, we know that successful rain gardens start with the right plants. Our designs balance form, texture, and ecological purpose, using native and drought-tolerant selections that thrive in alternating wet and dry conditions.
Plants ideas that can be included in a Rain Garden:
Absorbing Zone: Juncus patens (California Gray Rush), Carex praegracilis (Meadow Sedge) — to filter and absorb water efficiently.
Mid-Zone: Mimulus aurantiacus (Sticky Monkey Flower), Penstemon heterophyllus (Foothill Penstemon) — for seasonal color and pollinator appeal.
Dry Edge: Achillea millefolium (Yarrow), Salvia clevelandii (Cleveland Sage), Arctostaphylos (Manzanita) — adding fragrance, structure, and longevity.
Each layer works together to create a self-sustaining, living system — a fusion of horticultural science and artistic design.
Low-Maintenance by Nature
Rain gardens, when designed correctly, are remarkably low maintenance. Using the right soil composition, plant palette, and grading, they evolve naturally with minimal care. Our landscape design services include:
Designing for Luxury + Longevity
A rain garden should look intentional — not improvised. At Petrus Landscape, our designs combine elegant grading, architectural edging, and plant composition to ensure each garden feels cohesive and timeless.
From modern estates to traditional residences, we design with attention to detail:
Stone or steel borders define structure and retain soil.
Subsurface engineering ensures proper flow without standing water.
Landscape lighting highlights water movement and textures after dark.
Hardscape integration (paths, seating, or bridges) connects the rain garden seamlessly to the overall property design.
Each detail contributes to what makes our luxury landscape design in California distinctive — thoughtful, functional, and artfully composed
Why Choose Petrus Landscape?
Petrus Landscape brings decades of combined experience in residential and estate landscaping across the Bay Area and Northern California. Founded by horticultural experts passionate about design and ecology, our team blends craftsmanship, sustainability, and vision in every project.
Whether you’re updating your Atherton estate, creating a rain garden in Pebble Beach, or enhancing your Bay Area residence, our designs elevate outdoor living while caring for the land that sustains it.
Native Plants
These plants have adapted to local conditions over centuries and require minimal maintenance. They support local wildlife and pollinators, creating a more biodiverse ecosystem. Native plants also have a timeless beauty that blends naturally into California landscapes.
Drought-Tolerant Species
Perfect for California’s dry climate, these species provide beauty without demanding water. Plants like lavender, salvia, and agave thrive in dry soil and still offer stunning foliage and blooms. Their resilience makes them ideal for sustainable gardens.
Ornamental Grasses
These low-maintenance plants add motion, texture, and architectural interest. Grasses like blue fescue or feather reed grass can soften hard edges and complement flowering plants. They work well in modern, rustic, or naturalistic designs.
Flowering Perennials
These provide lasting color and attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Perennials return year after year, creating a reliable display of blooms. Choices like echinacea or coreopsis can be mixed for a vibrant garden experience.
Evergreen Shrubs
These foundational plants offer year-round structure and screening. Shrubs like boxwood, viburnum, or pittosporum maintain their leaves in winter and are easily shaped for formal or informal designs. They add depth and continuity to the landscape.
Plant Installation Services
Beyond selection, our team ensures each plant is installed correctly to promote healthy growth.
Soil Preparation
We enrich soil with compost and nutrients to boost plant health and root development.
Proper Planting Techniques
We follow spacing, depth, and light requirements to ensure lasting success.
Mulching
Helps retain moisture, regulate temperature, and reduce weeds. Gives a clean, finished look.
Staking and Support
We provide discreet supports for young or tall plants to protect against damage.
Initial Watering and Fertilization
We water thoroughly and may apply a gentle fertilizer to support early growth.
Soil Preparation
We enrich soil with compost and nutrients to boost plant health and root development.
Proper Planting Techniques
We follow spacing, depth, and light requirements to ensure lasting success.
Mulching
Helps retain moisture, regulate temperature, and reduce weeds. Gives a clean, finished look.
Staking and Support
We provide discreet supports for young or tall plants to protect against damage.
Initial Watering and Fertilization
We water thoroughly and may apply a gentle fertilizer to support early growth.
Enhance Your Landscape with These Related Services
Elevate your outdoor living with hardscape elements. We specialize in crafting beautiful patios, walkways, retaining walls, and outdoor kitchens that seamlessly blend with the natural surroundings.
Enjoy a lush and well-maintained garden without the hassle. Our garden maintenance services cover everything from pruning, weeding, and fertilizing to seasonal planting, ensuring your garden thrives year-round.
Our Luxury Landscape Design Bay Area Projects
See how we’ve transformed some of the Bay Area’s most exclusive estates.
Taj Palace
Bimmerle
Vista Verde
Fern Hill
Horseshoe
Cowell
Stillwater
Tuscaloosa
Testimonials
Hear what our distinguished clients have to say about their experience with Petrus Landscaping
Excellent services provided by Ward and his team! They are skilled in their craft and dedicated to providing immaculate service!
Amazing service, really enjoyed working with the Petrus team to help us set up and keep the landscape in our properties looking stunning!
Petrus Landscaping transformed our steep hillside yard with beautiful features like a stone staircase, pond, tiered garden beds, and drought-tolerant planting with an automated drip system. The team was professional, thoughtful, and delivered results beyond what we imagined.
I have been working with Ward, Gabe and their team of gardeners at my clients estate for the past 5 years. I have found them to be reliable, professional, and extremely knowledgeable of landscapes. They certainly know their plants, and have been instrumental in bringing a fine level of detail to the estate I manage. Their team of gardeners are respectful, attentive, and go above and beyond to create the well manicured gardens that the estate requires.
Ward and his team completed two complex projects for our Silicon Valley client at their Sunnyvale campus. One involved redesigning a large atrium’s hardscape, requiring careful weekend transport of heavy materials through a newly renovated cafeteria—executed flawlessly without disrupting operations. They also revamped the main entrance planters, replacing an unsatisfactory installation with a more elegant and formal design. Their work is always thoughtful, precise, and completed with minimal disruption. We trust Petrus Landscaping for all large-scale projects, knowing they deliver exceptional results every time.
Contact us for Desiging your Rain Garden
Let’s design a rain garden that works beautifully — and works for the planet.