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Water Misers
| Ann-Marie Vazzano
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>> Published Date: 12/27/2012
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The record-setting heat and drought in 2012 caused much frustration among homeowners whose landscapes looked tired at a time of year when they’d normally be in their prime. And with more than half the contiguous United States in some form of drought condition last summer, it’s best to be prepared. While it’s difficult to predict what weather conditions 2013 will bring, there’s no question that low-maintenance, heat- and drought-tolerant plants are a welcome addition to any landscape. Here’s a look at just a handful of varieties to consider. However, keep in mind many of the perennial varieties need to be established in the landscape before they become truly drought-tolerant—they aren’t immediately tolerant of dry conditions.
Annuals
Zinnia Zahara Strawberry
The heat-loving Zahara series of zinnia from PanAmerican Seed offers excellent disease tolerance. Both the single and double Zahara zinnias require little water and offer season-long color. Their large blooms come in an array of colors.
Geranium Caliente Orange
Caliente geranium is part of the GoldFisch Heat Lovers series. This variety will bloom all summer with vigorous, semi-trailing growth. Self-cleaning flowers contribute to excellent landscape performance.
Begonia Gryphon
Begonia Gryphon from PanAmerican Seed features large silver-green leaves with bronze undersides. It adds a tropical look to landscapes and requires little water to produce a showy display.
Euphorbia Euphoric
GoldFisch Vegetative’s self-cleaning Euphoric euphorbia blooms even under stressful summer conditions. Its dark-green foliage spreads quickly in the landscape. Plant it in an area that gets at least six hours of full sun for maximum flowering.
Lantana Landmark Citrus
Ball FloraPlant’s colorful Landmark series of lantana is vigorous and strong, assuring fast fill and full canopies. They thrive in extreme heat, humidity and drought with less seed set for more continuous flowering.
Osteospermum Voltage Yellow
Ball FloraPlant’s vibrant Voltage Yellow osteospermum is excellent for adding high-impact color in the landscape. It blooms well into warmer weather and is easy to grow.
Perennials
Echincea PowWow Wild Berry
All-America Selections winner PowWow Wild Berry from Kieft Seeds is a very drought tolerant and floriferous echinacea with vibrant color. Compact in height, it makes a great border perennial that stays tidy in the landscape.
Salvia nemorosa Blue Hill
Blue-purple spikes appear over gray-green aromatic foliage on Salvia nemorosa Blue Hill from Midwest Groundcovers. This disease- and insect-resistant variety is ideal for perennial borders.
Sedum Pure Joy
Proven Winners’ Sedum Pure Joy provides masses of bubblegum pink flowers that create a carpet of color in late summer and fall. It’s an excellent edging plant that can thrive in poor to average soils.
Delosperma Fire Spinner
North Creek Nurseries’ Delosperma Fire Spinner flowers from spring through summer, creating a mat like carpet of bicolored flowers in the landscape. The blooms have a purple-pink inner band that transitions to a glowing yellow-orange. It’s hardy in zones 5 to 9.
Echinacea Let’s Boogie series
Hardy in zones 4 to 8, Walters Gardens’ native Let’s Boogie series of echinacea thrives in the heat and tolerates drought conditions once established. Each variety in the series features completely quilled petals and a strong, stocky habit.
Echinacea Sombrero series
Darwin Perennials’ Sombrero series of echinacea offers vibrant blooms on compact plants that are hardy to zone 4. Deadheading will prolong the flowering period. GP
Ann-Marie Vazzano is a freelance writer and editor based in Canton, Ohio. She can be reached at amvazzano@gmail.com.
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