Dry garden? Try these planting ideas!
Whether it’s the watering you hate or the bill that comes later, drought-tolerant plants are a great idea for your garden. But if you’re afraid you’ll be stuck growing only cactus and yucca (Yucca species and hybrids), you’re in for a pleasant surprise. There really is quite a variety of drought-tolerant plants. That said, no plant can survive without any water. Most grow best and develop deeper, stronger root systems with an occasional deep watering. And always keep new plants watered until they’re established.
What makes a plant "drought-tolerant"?
Plants have a lot of ways to conserve water. Some have ingenious storage facilities, such
as tubers or rhizomes, that keep them well supplied. Bearded iris (Iris spp. and hybrids) is one example. But if you’re shopping and wonder if a plant will be drought-tolerant or not, look at the plant's foliage for the following characteristics:
-
Succulent leaves, such as those of ground cover sedums (Sedum spp. and hybrids), store water.
-
Silver leaves on plants like Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) reflect light, which keeps them cool. This means they won’t dry out as quickly.
-
The hairs on fuzzy foliage, such as pulmonaria (Pulmonaria spp. and hybrids), shade leaf surfaces, keeping them cooler.
-
Leathery leaves of plants like gazanias (Gazania rigens) have a waxy exterior that prevents transpiration, the movement of moisture in and out of the leaf.
Site plants with water sources in mind
A little garden planning can make any watering chore a lot easier. Annuals, especially those in containers, are water hogs, so keep them within easy reach of the spigot. You can put the most drought-tolerant perennials and shrubs farther away from the water source. Let’s take a look at just a few of the possibilities.
You Might Also Like:
Native Prairie Plants for Any Size Garden
Shop Our Problem-Solving Garden Books
DIY Rain Barrel
Drought-tolerant perennial planting
Low-maintenance, drought-tolerant and beautiful — what a great combination in this sunny spot! Once you plant the Russian sage, leave it there. It has a taproot so it doesn’t adapt well to being moved. This blue oat grass has beautiful blue foliage that won’t flop on the ground. Sedum, on the other hand, may need to be pulled if it strays too far.
A) Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Perennial; lavender flowers in mid- to late summer; full sun; 3 to 5 ft. tall, 2 to 4 ft. wide; cold zones 5 to 9
B) Sedum (Sedum rupestre)
Perennial; yellow flowers in summer full sun; spreads easily; 6 to 10 in. tall, 8 to 12 in. wide; cold zones 3 to 11
C) Blue oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens)
Perennial; light brown flowers in summer; full sun; 18 to 36 in. tall, 24 to 30 in. wide; cold zones 4 to 9
Drought-tolerant variegated plants
Who says you can’t mix stripes and spots? There’s no better way to jazz up a shady place in your garden than with the variegated foliage of plants like the ones above. Pulmonaria sends up a cluster of flower stems with small leaves in spring. When the blooms are done, cut the stems back to make way for the new mound of bigger foliage.
A) Pulmonaria (Pulmonaria ‘Trevi Fountain’)
Perennial; pink and purple flowers in spring; part shade to full shade; 6 to 12 in. tall, 18 to 24 in. wide; cold zones 4 to 9
B) Lilyturf (Liriope muscari ‘Variegata’)
Perennial; purple flowers in late summer; full sun to part shade; 12 to 18 in. tall, 12 to 24 in. wide; cold zones 6 to 10
Colorful drought-tolerant planting
Between its size and the bright yellow-green flowers, the Mediterranean spurge in this sunny garden will certainly grab attention. After it flowers, cut any dead growth back to the crown to keep it looking tidy. Mediterranean spurge reseeds freely so pull any new plants you don’t want, or deadhead the flowers as they turn brown before they can drop seed.
Slow-growing Mexican bush sage takes a while to get going in spring. Be patient, though, and those beautiful purple flowers will soon show up. The color of California poppy can vary from red to yellow to orange. Since the plants don’t like being moved, it’s best to sow seed directly where you want them to grow. And although no plant is totally deer-proof, this grouping is less likely to be nibbled than other plants!
A) Mediterranean spurge (Euphorbia characias wulfenii)
Perennial; chartreuse flowers in late spring to early summer; full sun to part shade; 3 to 5 ft. tall, 3 to 4 ft. wide; cold zones 7 to 11
B) Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha)
Perennial; purple flowers spring to fall; full sun; 24 to 40 in. tall, 20 to 36 in. wide; cold zones 9 to 11
C) California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
Perennial; orange flowers in spring; full sun; 12 to 18 in.tall, 6 to 12 in. wide; cold zones 6 to 11
You Might Also Like:
Grow a Drought-tolerant Border with 'Millenium' Allium
How to Plant a Low-maintenance Gravel Garden
Drought-tolerant Lawn Alternatives
Shade show-offs
When it comes to plants, there are degrees of drought tolerance. While this group isn’t as fond of dry conditions as lamb’s ear or succulents, it won’t need babying, either. You may notice the pulmonaria and hydrangea wilting in super dry weather, but a deep drink will revive them in no time. And keeping the corydalis on the dry side will prevent it from reseeding too much.
A) Hydrangea (Hydrangea ‘Preziosa’)
Shrub; white to pink flowers from summer to fall; part shade; 3 to 4 ft. tall and wide; cold zones 6 to 9
B) Pulmonaria (Pulmonaria ‘Spilled Milk’)
Perennial; pink to blue flowers in spring; part shade to full shade; 6 to 9 in. tall, 6 to 18 in. wide; cold zones 4 to 9
C) Corydalis (Corydalis lutea)
Perennial; yellow flowers spring to frost; reseeds in ideal conditions; part sun to full shade; 4 to 18 in. tall, 6 to 12 in. wide; cold zones 5 to 8
D) Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’)
Perennial; spreading ground cover; full sun to full shade; 4 to 6 in. tall, 12 to 18 in. wide; cold zones 3 to 9
Garden bed edged in silver
Lamb’s ear is a great plant for growing along the edge of a sidewalk or driveway. It loves the heat and dry conditions there. ‘Big Ears’ is an especially good choice because it rarely blooms so there’s no deadheading needed! The bloody cranesbill and phlox prefer more water than the lamb’s ear, so give them a drink if the weather has been exceptionally dry.
A) Bloody cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum striatum)
Perennial; pale pink flowers with dark pink veins late spring to early summer; full sun to part shade; 6 to 9 in. tall, 12 to 18 in. wide; cold zones 3 to 8
B) Smooth phlox (Phlox glaberrima ‘Morris Berd’)
Perennial; pink flowers in late spring; full sun; 18 to 24 in. tall, 12 to 18 in. wide; cold zones 3 to 8
C) Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina ‘Big Ears’)
Perennial; rarely blooms; silver-gray foliage; full sun; 8 to 12 in. tall, 12 to 18 in. wide; cold zones 4 to 8
You Might Also Like:
Watch Garden Videos On Our YouTube Channel
Drought-Tolerant Perennials
How to Grow Tall Sedum
