Drought Resistant Plants

Last night I did my own version of a rain dance by turning on the sprinklers. This most recent dry spell has clearly defined which plants in my yard are drought tolerant and which ones are not. Surprisingly, my shrub roses seem to be holding their own right along with some of the hardiest plants. I recently read a guide sheet which stated that most gardeners use about twice as much water in their landscapes as is needed. With Missouri’s climate, water-efficient gardening is a great approach to conserving water and reducing demands of the garden during the hottest part of the season.

Black-eyed susans

To achieve a water efficient landscape, you should choose plants that can survive short periods of heat and drought. A good way to determine which plants can endure drought without supplemental water is to observe plants around town during drought conditions. Native plants tend to be more drought tolerant; however, there are many introduced varieties of plants that perform well under Missouri summer drought conditions. There are many shrubs that are suitable for low water use areas including barberry, beautybush, buttonbush, forsythia, flowering quince, juniper species, lilac, rose of sharon, sumac and viburnum. Perennial flowers that tolerate low water conditions include butterfly weed, coneflowers, coreopsis, goldenrod, gaillardia, liatris, primroses, asters, black-eyed susan, yarrow and Russian sage. Others include butterfly bush, monarda, daylily, peony and veronica.

When selecting plants that are drought tolerant, it is important that the plants be compatible with exposure conditions. Extremely sunny locations require plants that can tolerate both extreme drought and sun. Plants that can tolerate less sun would be more suited for northern areas or shadier spots.

Butterfly Bush

Perennials that are drought tolerant and good for shady locations are columbine, bleeding heart, gas plant, candytuft, cardinal flower, primrose and violets. While the goal is to reach a point where no extra water is needed, newly establishing plants will need supplemental water until their root systems become well developed. During the first year, newly established plants should get one deep watering per week. Slow, thorough soaking of individual plants or plant beds is preferable to frequent light watering. In the second and third year of establishment, plants may still need supplemental water if extreme drought conditions exist. Mulching is also beneficial to conserve soil moisture because it helps block evaporation. Mulches also keep soil cooler. Another tactic to help give individual plants a greater supply of soil moisture is to avoid overcrowding plants. Dense plantings need more water because there are more thirsty roots to supply. For more information on water-efficient landscaping, refer to MU Extension Guide G6912 ( http://muextension.missouri.edu/xplor/agguides/hort/g06912.htm).

Mary Kroening, Missouri Master Gardener Coordinator and UMC Horticulturalist, (573) 882-9633