By BECCA LOWRY
Marigold. Zinnia. Gaillardia blanket flower. Crepe myrtle and Lilac. These are all flowers and trees that are drought resistant and I can’t wait to tell you more with you about why you should choose these plants for your garden.
There are a number of reasons why it makes sense for you to choose drought-resistant or drought-tolerant plants for your garden.
According to the site Gardening Know How:
Gaillardia
“Drought-tolerant plants survive long periods of drought by storing water internally or by developing extensive root systems that sink deep into the soil. Many drought- tolerant plants have additional protection through a waxy coating that reduces evaporation or hairs on the leaf surface that reflect some of the light, insulating the plant.”
Pink Crepe Myrtle
So drought-resistant plants are super hardy. Since the coronavirus has taken off, it has been a difficult time for everyone. The last thing someone who loves to garden needs is to see their beautiful flowers falling apart so drought-resistant plants might just be the perfect choice for them at this time.
There are many different types of flowers and plants you can choose from that tolerate drought. Among them are cacti and succulents and, as Gardening Know How writes, a popular perennials is sedum, also known as stonecrop — not only drought resistant but also a lovely choice for a rock garden. Adding to the rock garden idea, Lamb’s ears can make for a great addition and they spread very easily. Because of its velvet-like texture, Lamb’s ear is very drought resistant. Other types of flowers that you might be interested in are—my personal favorite, lavender, which can come in many different varieties, so have fun with that—dianthus, also called “pinks,” ageratum, marigold, aster, daylily, penstemon, zinnia and yucca, a popular indoor and outdoor plant.
Zinnia
That was just the flowers that are drought resistant.
Lilac
There are also a number of shrubs and trees that could make for a great addition. According to Gardening Know How, the shrub spirea can be used as an ornamental accent in your rock garden or as a low border along a walk. Another shrub, which can be found in many varieties, is viburnum. Spirea and viburnum are also both very easy to care for. More drought-resistant trees you might like for you garden are Crepe myrtle, locust, lilac and dogwood.
Let’s discuss a few more reasons why drought resistant plants might make for an excellent choice for your garden- and your wallet.
According to the site BrightView, three reasons why you should choice drought-resistant plants are that they use less water, they are lower maintenance and they make for more beauty. We already discussed why some drought-resistant or drought-tolerant plants need less water. One of the reasons why they need lower maintenance is because these plants have adapted to their environment; you can spend less time fertilizing, pruning, and caring for them in general. Furthermore, according to BrightView, these plants tend to be more disease-free and pest-resistant so you can spend less time on fertilization.
Lamb’s Ear
I once worked at Mahoney’s Garden Center in Falmouth and I saw how easily some plants could be destroyed by pests so speaking as someone who loves to garden, I find that very helpful to know.
Lastly, they add beauty to your garden. According to BrightView, a well-designed, drought-tolerant landscape can look attractive all year long. To add a spark of color to your garden, choose such plants as lantana, verbena, and agastache, which will add beauty without requiring a lot of water.