Drought tolerant annuals and perennials are plants that can withstand dry soil after their roots are established. No plant is drought-resistant until it become established.
All plants require a steady supply of moisture when first planted. Once a plant is established and has a deep root system, it requires less water.
Annuals and perennials started in spring when the soil is relatively moist can set down roots and then survive dry weather. It is best to start drought-tolerant annuals and perennials in the spot they will grow through dry weather rather than transplant them into the garden when the weather is hot and dry.
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.
Galium — commonly called sweet woodruff– is a carpet-like, spreading perennial with emerald-green leaves and a froth of starry white blooms that appear from late spring to midsummer. Sweet woodruff is a good choice for a shade or woodland garden. It can tolerate dry soil under a large tree. Galium will grow in just about…
Annual red salvia, Salvia splendens, produces spikes of tubular bright scarlet, pink, or white flowers through summer. Annual red salvia is also called scarlet sage. Annual red salvia is an upright tender perennial, grown as an annual, with spear-shaped dark green leaves. Salvia likes full sun or partial shade and humus-rich, well-drained soil. Sage can…
Bulbs are remarkably beautiful flowers and they are remarkably beautiful cut flowers. Bulbs flower in a wide range of colors, forms, and sizes. They can be grown indoors as well as out, and they are relatively easy to grow. As cut flowers they certainly rival annuals and perennials. Botanically speaking a bulb is an encased…
Vinca–commonly called periwinkle–are slender stemmed evergreen subshrubs and perennials that bear lavender blue, five-petaled, pinwheel-shaped flowers above shiny dark green oval leaves. Vinca is a useful ground cover for a woodland garden, shrub border, or shady bank. There are two commonly grown species, Vinca major and Vinca minor. Vinca minor has smaller leaves and flowers…
Many plants grow well by the sea, so it is not impossible or very difficult to have a seaside garden. When native seaside vegetation is supplemented by “exotics” (in this case non-seashore native plants), a garden will lack nothing that is needed to be delightful–and unmistakably a seaside garden. At a distance of 500 feet…
Filipendula–commonly call queen-of-the-prairie–is an upright moisture-loving perennial with deeply cut green leaves. From early to midsummer, it produces heads of fluffy pink flowers on tall slender stems. Filipendula is a favorite of bees. Plant Filipendula in full sun in cool-summer regions; plant it partial shade in hot summer regions. Filipendula grows best in soil that…
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