Drought Tolerant PlantsWaterwise Plants for the Dry GardenThe use of drought tolerant plants is one of the basic tenets in xeriscape design. Nowhere is the phrase "the right plant in the right place" more apt than in xeriscaping.Choosing the right plants to save the water is fundamental. Did You Know?Some insects have specifically evolved to take advantage of the chemical properties of a plant? – Monarch butterfly larvae feed solely on milkweed which gives them the benefit of a poisonous chemical in it, making the larvae unpalatable to birds.Putting in place water capture systems and water conservation methods and making full use of the water you have by drip irrigation techniques, rain gardens and mulch beds are right in second place for importance. Permaculture design also uses water wisely, making sure that food producing trees, shrubs and vegetable gardens receive the majority of the moisture captured from rainfall or guided from a waste recovery system such as greywater. Soil type is crucial for the success of many drought tolerant plants; they require good drainage, but don’t worry, they’ll be quite happy in raised beds if your soil is of the clay variety. The addition of sand and compost will improve any soil, and using a lava rock or pebble mulch perfectly complements the choice of drought tolerant plants with low maintenance requirements and again, prevents the soil from washing away. Why Should I Plant Drought Tolerant Plants?
Some of my favorite drought tolerant plants are Sedum, with its extensive fibrous root system, Thymus which I plant as a lawn, Sempervivum, the rare and hard to find Jovibarba, Orostachys and Rosularia, as well as many other perennial xeric plants. It can be difficult to grow anything in shade gardens if you don't choose the right plants. But if you know which ones to choose a shaded garden can be just as easy and colourful as a sunny garden. So to find out more go to Shade Plants. (this link opens in a new window) The climate is changing, and so variable that many plants don’t know which way is up, but the drought tolerant plants that we grow and our grandmothers grew before us are so adaptable and useful in so many ways they’ll be with us a long time yet. Don't settle for simply beautiful - demand and expect hardiness, ease of growth, and drought tolerance in your plants.
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Xeriscaping
Fad? Or New Mindset?
Xeriscaping, or building beautiful gardens with very little water, is a new buzz.
Utilizing Drought Smart Plants that are beautiful, low water and hardy gives you a wide palette to choose from for your xeric garden.
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