Most gardeners are well aware that a hot summer’s day can quickly transform your lush tropical paradise into a bleak and crispy disaster. With each year seemingly a bit hotter than the last- planting for drought resistance takes the worry and heartbreak out of summer gardening.
While the key idea here is to save our gardens from a premature and fiery demise, planting for drought resistance can also help you out in a few other key ways.
Perks of Drought Resistance
Staying Alive
Maybe this is an obvious one, but this really is the key purpose here. These plants are going to stay alive and thrive. (Even if you leave town for the weekend and accidentally forget about them)
Saving Water
Less water needed means less water used. Cutting down on water use in the garden is great for our environment, and gives you the opportunity to skip out on a day or two of watering.
Longer Lasting
As an added bonus to being resistant to drought, these plants are often longer lasting than their more fragile counterparts. This leaves you with flowers that last longer into the season, thriving throughout with minimal effort on your par
Human Health
Green space can quickly help to cool down surrounding areas- this is especially helpful for hot humans looking to escape our summer’s heat waves.
So, without any further ado- here are some of our top picks for drought-resistant plants to pick up before the heat begins:
Shrubs and trees:
Smoke Bush (Cotinus coggygria)
Unique and striking shrub with dramatic plumes of delicate smoke-like flowers. A perfect hands off interest piece for your garden.
Junipers (Juniperus species)
A drought tolerant shrub that can act as a great privacy screen once they have established a root system. Small blue berries can attract a number of unique birds to your backyard paradise.
California Lilac (Ceanothus species)
Alternative to the classic lilac, with the same type of enticing smell and a fraction of the worry. Small bundles of showstopping blue flowers that thrive on neglect. Once established they typically only need water once or twice a month.
Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)
Deciduous shrub with bright velvety spires of red flowers and an extreme tolerance for drought and neglect.
Camellia (Camellia species)
Gorgeous and universally adored for their classic beauty. These deep rooted beauties can stand up to dry conditions, especially once mature.
Perennials:
Lavender (Lavendula species)
Various varieties of long lasting fragrant blooms. Native to the Mediterranean, they nonchalantly deal with whatever our summer seasons throw at them.
Lupine (Lupinus species)
An undisputed westcoast staple. Bold spires of colourful sun loving flowers are extremely self sufficient once established in your garden.
Stonecrop (Sedum species)
Extremely tough little groundcover. Numerous varieties with a number of different whimsical shaped leaves and flowers. Can be used as edging and groundcover, or as a decorative addition to any rock garden.
Thyme (Achillea millefolium)
Delicious herb, hardy groundcover, garden depth- this tough little plant performs in whatever situation it’s placed in.
Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum species)
Shade and light drought tolerant interest plant. Swaths of deep green leaves gently curve with the weight of their delicate white flowers.
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia grandiflora)
Bold and gorgeous heat loving perennial. These low maintenance plants are butterfly magnets and are renowned for their long lasting sunset coloured flowers.
Coneflower (Echinacea species)
Long lasting and tough flowers that last all season and often well into the fall.
Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Pollinator magnet that can easily be ignored into thriving. Will bring swaths of hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators racing to your garden.
With our weather on the west coast being consistently unpredictable, drought tolerance is a quality you can never go wrong with. If you are still finding yourself worrying about your garden in the peak of the heat, we are always here to help.
Instagram
