willow oak
Quercus phellos
Frequently planted along streets and in parks. Turns shades of yellow bronze-orange, yellow-brown and russet-red … Continued
browsing: drought tolerant once established
Drought-tolerant and drought-resistant plants may still need supplemental water from time to time, but they can survive periods of dryness without dying.
Drought-resistant plants like cactus, hens and chicks, and sedums can go for very long periods without water and do not tolerate poorly drained locations. Drought-resistant tropical plants grown indoors in winter like cactus, Sansevieria, Echeveria, and other succulents sometimes fail due to overwatering.
Drought-tolerant plants grow in many textures and sizes and have different adaptations that help them get through periods of drought:
- succulents have thick, fleshy foliage to hold moisture for long periods
- silver-leaf plants reflect sunlight
- many grasses and native prairie plants have deep root systems that allow them to access moisture way underground
The latter two types of plants are drought tolerant once established because any new planting, regardless of drought tolerance, needs to be watered during the first growing season to allow roots to reach the depths needed to access moisture during dry periods.
It’s also important to note that survival may not mean that the plant will look its best during this time. Watering weekly for a longer period of time will result in the best-looking gardens with the highest tolerance for drought. During the hottest, dryest times in summer, watering deeply twice a week is recommended. These less frequent waterings will encourage root systems to expand, making it easier for plants to access moisture when their environment is dry.
Winter drought has become a bigger problem in recent years as snowfall declines. Evergreen plants are especially vulnerable during winter drought because their foliage continues to shed moisture while dormant deciduous plants have shed their leaves and can conserve moisture in woody stems and underground. Watering shrubs and trees in winter on days when the temperature allows (above freezing) will help ensure their healthy return in spring.
Here are some drought-tolerant and drought-resistant plants to grow—
English oak
Quercus robur
A long-lived oak with a broadly rounded to spreading habit and a short trunk. An … Continued
northern red oak
Quercus rubra
Grows more than two feet per year for 10 years and provides great fall color, … Continued
Shumard oak
Quercus shumardii
Typically grows at a moderately fast rate to a height of 40-60′ with shiny, dark … Continued
raspberry
Rubus idaeus/Rubus occidentalis
‘Heritage Red’ is an everbearing variety bears fruit the first year. Produces light crop in … Continued
gray-headed coneflower
Ratibida pinnata
Native plant that thrives in dry woods, prairies and along railroad tracks and roads. Composite … Continued
Mexican hats
Ratibida columnifera
Round, dense, fine foliage is covered with 1″ blooms of yellow, red and bicolor flowers … Continued
Fine Line® fernleaf buckthorn
Rhamnus frangula 'Ron Williams' PP #14,791
Ferny foliage and a narrow columnar habit make this a fantastic plant for contrast. Foliage … Continued
Moses-in-a-cradle
Rhoeo spathacea nana
Succulent stems sport showy flat, pointed leaves of dark green above with purple undersides. Intermittent … Continued
‘Crimson Cherry’ rhubarb
Rheum x hybridum
Produces multitudes of red-blushed green stalks and is the best cooking rhubarb. Sweeter and milder … Continued
aromatic sumac, fragrant sumac
Rhus aromatica
This low-growing, native shrub forms a dense mass of stems and is used en masse … Continued
smooth sumac
Rhus glabra
This native, deciduous shrub occurs on prairies, fields, abandoned farmland, clearings and along roads and … Continued