zinnia ‘Magellan’
Zinnia elegans
‘Dreamland’ is a dwarf cultivar with a compact growth habit only 12″ tall but with … 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—
Zinnia elegans
‘Dreamland’ is a dwarf cultivar with a compact growth habit only 12″ tall but with … Continued
Zinnia elegans
Tall plants bear very large flowers in bright scarlet, gold, lavender, purple, orange, pink, red … Continued
Zinnia 'Sweet Tooth Candy Cane'
A dwarf zinnia with large, double bi-color blooms that will fill your gardens and containers … Continued
Zinnia tenuifolia
One of the original zinnia species, ‘Red Spider’ has small blooms with rich red narrow … Continued
Zinnia angustifolia 'Zahara'
Red, rose, pink, orange, yellow and white blooms all summer top these disease resistant, heat … Continued
Zizia aurea
An easy to grow short-lived native that will self-seed and thrive in a variety of … Continued
Zizia aptera
A larval host for black swallowtails and an exceptional early-season nectar source for countless species … Continued