‘Silver Dragon’ variegated monkey grass, lily turf
Liriope spicata 'Silver Dragon'
Grassy texture, but not a grass at all — actually, it’s a member of the … Continued
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:
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—
Liriope spicata 'Silver Dragon'
Grassy texture, but not a grass at all — actually, it’s a member of the … Continued
Lonicera sempervirens
A non-stop bloomer from late spring through the summer with showy clusters of orange-red flowers. … Continued
Lotus maculatus
Unusual bicolor blooms look like parrot’s beaks, yellow at the base darkening to orange and … Continued
Lychnis chalcedonica
An heirloom flower grown in gardens since colonial times. Dense heads of bright scarlet flowers. … Continued
Lychnis coronaria ‘Blood Red’
Pretty silver-gray foliage is topped with red blooms in spring. Plants grow 18-24″ high. Can … Continued
Salvia lyrata ‘Purple Knockout’
A gorgeous selection of a native grown for the striking dark purple foliage which forms … Continued
Lysimachia clethroides
Arching spikes of white flowers have a graceful crook that gives them the look of … Continued
Lysimachia punctata ‘Alexander’
Golden yellow flower spikes 24-36″ tall on hardy, easy care perennials with pretty green and … Continued
Lysimachia congestiflora
Bold yellow and green variegated foliage is topped with bright yellow flowers. An underutilized annual!
Macleaya cordata
Fantastic ornate foliage resembles a huge oak leaf and is green overlaid with silver frost. … Continued