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.
Nigella–commonly called love-in-a-mist–is a ferny-leaved annual that produces light blue flowers surrounded by delicate, finely-divided leaflike bracts. Each flower becomes a balloon-like green seedpod that is striped with purple or bronze. Nigella is a member of the buttercup family. Flowers appear in warm weather. In mild-winter regions, Nigella blooms in late winter and spring. The…
Strobilanthes–commonly called Persian shield–is an upright tropical shrub that is cultivated for its tubular, 2-lipped, often hooded blue to purple, white, and rarely yellow flower. The stems of Strobilanthes are furry and bear pairs of narrow, triangular leaves from 6 to 8 inches (15-20cm) long. The upper leaf surfaces are dark green flushed with purple and…
A number of members of the Grass Family are useful in landscaping and in the herbaceous border because of their distinctively decorative foliage and the pleasingly varied forms and soft colors of their spikes or plume-like flower clusters. Most of the annual forms of ornamental grasses and many of the perennials are also valuable for…
Coreopsis–commonly called Tickseed–are long-blooming annuals and perennials that bear daisy-like single or double flowers. Tickseeds belong to the genus Coreopsis. There are about 80 to 100 species of tickseed, most bearing yellow-orange or gold flowers, but there are species with pale yellow or pink flowers. Coreopsis is easily grown and attractive as bedding plants, meadow…
Many trees, shrubs, and perennials are grown especially for their autumn foliage color. Autumn is a time when many deciduous plants and a few evergreens make their presence known. Many people find the colors of autumn the loveliest of the year. Autumn plant color is part of the natural processes which begin with the shortening…
Corydalis–commonly called Fumewort–has irregular yellow, blue, purple, or rose flowers that resemble those of the bleeding heart. Fumewort is easy to grow in ordinary garden soil. Corydalis produces mounds of delicate-looking ferny foliage. Tubular and spurred flowers appear on racemes. Perennial varieties grow from rhizomes or tubers. Most Corydalis do not like being transplanted. They…
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