Prairie crabapple
Malus ioensis
This small native tree has spreading branches and a broad, open crown and sometimes grows … 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—
candy corn vine
Manettia luteorubra
Small, bright red blooms tipped with gold look just like candy corn candy!. A vigorous … Continued
creeping mazus
Mazus reptans
This low-growing, mat-forming perennial features rosettes of lance-shaped toothed leaves spreading quickly and blooming from … Continued
Wild Mint
Mentha arvensis
Tiered clusters of small white flowers open along stems in summer and continue through fall, … Continued
mint
Mentha (assorted)
‘The Best’ (Mentha spicata), like other spearmints, has less menthol than peppermint varieties which make … Continued
‘Bandwidth’ Japanese silver grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Bandwidth'
Broad, bright gold bands running along the length of rich, green leaf blades. Useful as … Continued
‘Gracillimus’ maiden grass, Chinese maidenhair
Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus'
Blooms with a massive display of copper-colored flowers in late summer. The seedheads age to … Continued
‘Adagio’ dwarf maiden grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Adagio'
Silver gray narrow foliage to 3-4′ tall with a 3-4′ spread. Pink inflorescence appear in … Continued
‘Little Zebra’ dwarf zebra grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Little Zebra'
‘Little Zebra’ is shorter and more upright than ‘Zebrinus’ but retains the distinctive gold banding. … Continued
‘Morning Light’ maiden grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light'
Feathery, fan-shaped, pale pink panicles. Neat narrow-leaved upright grass arches outward at the top in … Continued
‘Dixieland’ maiden grass, variegated eulalia
Miscanthus sinensis 'Dixieland'
Also called Japanese silver grass, this ornamental grows 4-5′ tall with wide leaves that are … Continued
‘Zebrinus’ zebra grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus'
Horizontal yellow bands on wide foliage that grows 4-6′ tall and 3-5′ wide. Tolerates poorly … Continued