It seems that water shortages and droughts are the new norm for certain parts of the United States, especially in the western, southwestern, and southern regions. From California to Texas, farmers are plowing under fields, mandatory water restrictions are in place or about to be enforced, and customers are urged to conserve, conserve, conserve. Yet, it’s still common to see large stretches of lawn or other water-thirsty plants in front of homes, business, and retail spaces. Since the EPA estimates that landscape irrigation uses up almost seven billion gallons of water per day, our yards seem a likely place to make tangible changes. Planting drought-tolerant plants is a good place to start.
Not All Prickly Pears
Many people assume that a drought-tolerant yard is one consisting of lava rocks and cactus. Xeriscaping, which refers to gardening and landscaping that minimizes the amount of water used, focuses on plants that are well adapted to the climates in which they are being planted. This results in yards that span the board in terms of color, foliage, form, and fragrance. And unlike tender ornamentals and needy lawns, these drought-tolerant plants are almost always less maintenance.
The best place to look for plants that don’t need a lot of extra water or help is with a native plant nursery. Whatever grows naturally in your area is already adapted to it; that means it can thrive in summer dry, hot, or harsh climates. Natives are also usually more disease-resistant and they attract native pollinators, so expect to see more butterflies, hummingbirds, and beneficial insects in your yard.
Looking outside of your own range, choosing plants that have similar climate adaptations to your own should also work. For instance, if you live in summer dry areas like parts of the West and Southwest, you can usually pick from areas that are similar, meaning Baja, the Mediterranean, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Chile. Not all plants from other regions or microclimates will survive in yours, so be sure to check growing requirements.
Pretty Perennials
Perennials are those plants that stick around all year, but usually flower for a few seasons. For this reason, it’s important to pick the perennial not just for the flower, but also the leaves. These are a few of my favorites.
Beard Tongue (Penstemon spp.)
Penstemon is a huge genus of flowering perennials that have beautiful flowers in the spring and summer. Flower colors come in a huge variety, including purple, red, violet, and white; most grow between one to four feet tall. They are endemic to North America and do well in hot dry areas, including rock gardens. Many of the desert species won’t do as well in areas with high rainfall or humidity.
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Echinacea has a daisy-like flower that is usually pink or purple and very striking. It grows two to three feet and blooms throughout summer and into fall, and once established requires very little water. Native to the eastern United States.
Sages (Salvia spp.)
Salvias are wonderfully diverse, hardy, and colorful plants. Many perennial species have long flowering seasons and do well in hot climates. They range in color from purple, white, violet, and pink, with grey-green leaves. Some species of salvias look more like woody shrubs than perennials and most, but not all, need little water. Almost all thrive in sun. Good drought-tolerant varieties include hummingbird sage, Mexican bush sage, and autumn sage.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow is a tough plant that looks delicate, with tiny pink, yellow, or white flowers lumped on flat flower heads. The leaves are pale green with a fern-like texture. They like full sun and once established are very drought-tolerant.
Lavender (Lavandula)
A classic Mediterranean, drought-tolerant plant with fragrant leaves and flowers. Lavenders look best when planted in mass and are hardy perennials that will last many years. There are multiples types of lavender to choose from, depending on what shape and color flower you want. They thrive in hot, dry climates and are highly attractive to bees.
