Drought-tolerant trees can withstand dry conditions once established. No native or commonly used landscape plant is drought-resistant until it becomes established in the site. All plants require a steady supply of moisture when first planted.
Trees can tolerate drought if they are deep-rooted. Deep roots can harvest soil moisture from past rainfalls. Trees planted in the landscape should be deeply watered for the first two or three years before they can become full drought resistant.
Roots follow moisture in the soil; deep watering will result in deep roots. Surface watering–the water you might give a lawn or perennial plants–will be insufficient to sustain mature trees. Avoid shallow-rooted trees and increase drought tolerance by watering trees deeply until they are well established.
Stephen Albert is a horticulturist, master gardener, and certified nurseryman who has taught at the University of California for more than 25 years. He holds graduate degrees from the University of California and the University of Iowa. His books include Vegetable Garden Grower’s Guide, Vegetable Garden Almanac & Planner, Tomato Grower’s Answer Book, and Kitchen Garden Grower’s Guide. His Vegetable Garden Grower’s Masterclass is available online. Harvesttotable.com has more than 10 million visitors each year.
Symphoricarpos–commonly called snowberry or coralberry–are deciduous shrubs usually grown for their fleshy white to pink or dark blue or purple fruits that hang on the plant well into winter. Symphoricarpos’ fruit is preceded by bell or funnel-shaped, nectar-rich white to pink flowers. Symphoricarpos is very hardy. It is tolerant or poor soil and pollution. It…
Pittosporum is a genus of subtropical mostly evergreen shrubs and trees grown for their glossy, leathery leaves and dense foliage. Pittosporums also bear clusters of fragrant small white flowers and showy pea-size fruit. Pittosporums adapt to a wide range of soils and tend to make good seaside plantings. They can withstand salt, drought, and wind, in full sun…
Katsura tree is a colorful addition to any landscape. The leaves are reddish in spring, blue-green in summer, and red and gold in fall. The fallen leaves smell of burnt sugar or cinnamon. Katsura is the common name for Cercidiphyllum japonicum a bush deciduous tree from Japan. It is often planted for ornament because of…
Metrosideros–commonly known as New Zealand Christmas tree–is a subtropical tree or large shrub that bears colorful red flowers with many stamens from spring to early summer. Metrosideros is native to New Zealand. Metrosideros can be grown as a specimen, hedge, or screen. It takes well to pruning and clipping. It can be planted on coastal…
Styrax–commonly called snowbell–are small trees and shrubs with dainty, nodding, bell-shaped fragrant white flowers. The flowers are produced in racemes and panicles in clusters on short branches. Styrax have slender, graceful trunks and strongly horizontal branches; they are flat topped. Leaves angle upward from branches while flowers hang down; the effect is of parallel green…
Broussonetia–commonly called paper mulberry–is a deciduous shade tree grown for its fast growth and dense, broad head. It grows to 25 feet (8m) tall and wide and often larger. Broussonetia tolerates pollution, heat, and poor soil. It is popular in urban locations. Broussonetia’s leaves are gray-green, ovate to deeply lobed, and grow to 8 inches…
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