If a lack of water is a problem, them Drought tolerant plants are one answer. We also look at ways to help drought proof your garden.
Drought tolerant or drought resistant plants are increasingly popular with landscapers and gardeners alike. Plants that require little or no extra water are of great use in helping conserve natural resources.
Generally these plants also require little maintenance and are great for those with little time to maintain a garden.
It is not only succulents that are drought tolerant, well known garden plants such as clivia and roses can actually survive with little water once established.
Mulching and soil preparation are an important part of the drought tolerant regime, consult your local nursery for expert advice.
Characteristics of Drought Tolerant Plants
Drought tolerant plants cope in many different ways.
- Silver or grey foliage plants are often suitable as they tend to reflect light, keeping the leaves and therefor the plant cooler.
- Plants with fine hairs on the foliage can trap moisture.
- Some plants put down very deep tap roots that allow them to access moisture from deep in the soil.
- Others store moisture in their trunks, foliage or root systems.
- Some just require less moisture than others.
- Often the establishment of a plant is a key to its surviving through dry periods.
How to make plants more drought tolerant
- Planting in late summer to fall.
This can give plants the chance to establish a root system before the heat and dryness of summer. - Buy smaller plants.
Smaller plants will use less water than larger ones. so they can have a better chance of establishing themselves. - Use Shade Cloth for new plants.
Young and newly planted plants need a hand to get established, some shade through the first summer will help. - Provide shade by using more tolerant plants to shade the less tolerant varieties
- Digging in lots of humus rich compost.
This improves water retention in the soil, giving plants access to moisture for longer periods. - Mulching.
Again this improves soil moisture retention. It also keeps the soil cooler and therefore the root systems. - Clever Planting Positions.
Use the toughest and most drought tolerant species to provide shade in the afternoon for the less drought resistent species .
List of drought tolerant plants
- Achillea or ‘Yarrow’
- Agastache
- Agave
- Alyssun saxatile
- Amsonia
- Anacyclus
- Artemisia
- Arum
- Asters
- Boronia
- Cactus
- Calylophus
- Cheilanthes lanosa Hairy Lip Fern
- livia (dry shade)
- Coreopsis
- elosperma
- Dianthus
- Echinacea
- Echinops
- Epimedium (dry shade)
- Euphorbia
- Gaillardia
- Geum
- Grevillea
- Helianthus
- Liatris
- Penstemon
- Phlox stolonifera
- Saxifraga
- Sedum
- Tiarella
- Viola waiteri
- Yucca
Nurseries with drought tolerant plants for sale include:
WILLOW CREEK SPRINGS
26521 Hammack Ave Perris,Ca 92570 in Riverside County
Contact Joe or Liz Grumbine 951-436-6361 or 562-537-5647
Wholesale nursery and botanic garden specializing in drought tolerant perennials,bushes, groundcovers,vines,herbs,and trees
www.willowcreeksprings.net
