Dry Weather Friends
As the busy gardening season arrives, many gardeners look for fresh new ideas as well as new plants to refresh and update the garden. Now is the wise gardener’s chance to heed last winter’s drought warnings and replace thirstier plantings with xeric (low water) or drought tolerant species.
Many handsome shrubs and colorful perennials thrive on little or no summer water; for help identifying some to replace thirstier plants, there are numerous resources (see below for a selection). For instance, beloved Salvias (Sage) like S. ‘Indigo Spires’ requiring regular water could be exchanged for water-thrifty S. greggii with its many cultivars in blue, red, white, and salmon.
To start a new water-wise garden area, here are a few under-used, large scale architectural plants I have found invaluable. These dramatic specimens can be planted singly or in multiples to anchor a grouping or serve as a focal point.
All thrive in the dry sunny areas of my Inverness garden where they add interest, use little or no water, and require minimal maintenance. A few water-thrifty companions are suggested for each, but many more smashing colorful combinations are available.
Leonotis leonurus (Lion’s Tail) is a handsome 4-6’ tall South African native with dense whorls of tubular deep orange flowers from summer through fall; narrow 2-5” toothed leaves are evergreen. Leonotis provides a dense backdrop for the sizzling colors of gaillardias, sunflowers, and coreopsis.
Romneya coulteri (Matilija Poppy) from coastal Southern California grows to 6-8’ with gray-green lobed leaves and huge white flowers resembling fried eggs which bloom from late spring into fall. This vigorous plant quickly spreads by rhizomes underground so give it plenty of room and keep it under tight control.
Rosa rugosa ‘Hansa’ has crinkly (rugose) leaves and bears double magenta 3” flowers from May to September followed by bright red hips in fall. This 6’ shrub thrives in full sun or bright shade. When pruning, be careful of its really fierce thorns. Combined with foxgloves, Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears), daisies and lavenders, ‘Hansa’ is as lovely as it is tough.
Melianthus major (Honeybush) is a spectacular soft-wooded evergreen shrub from South Africa with blue-gray toothed, almost tropical leaves; it grows quickly to 6’ high and 8-10’ wide. For contrast, surround it with structured gray shrubs like Senecio greyi ‘Sunshine,’ mounding sub-shrubs such as Santolina chamaecyparissus (Lavender Cotton) and spiky perennials like brilliant blue Eryngium tripartitum (Sea Holly). To accent the tropical feel, plant it with fiery cannas and exotic foliage plants.
Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ (Wormwood) is a woody perennial with silvery finely cut foliage growing into a feathery mound 3’ high and 6’ wide in sun or light shade. A superb background plant to cool hot blossom colors, A. ‘Powis Castle’ also blends beautifully with quieter colored companions including pale yellow Achillea millefolium ‘Moonshine’ (Yarrow), lavender blue Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ (Catmint) and lush masses of rose red Centranthus ruber (Jupiter’s Beard).
Verbascum olympicum (Mullein) native to Greece is a biennial with yellow flowers on stems soaring 6’ tall over a 2’ wide rosette of wooly leaves. This generous reseeder is right at home with yellow and coppery achilleas, kniphofia (red hot pokers) and swaying ornamental grasses.
Acanthus spinosus (Spiny Bear’s Breeches) from the Mediterranean is a stately perennial with needle-like spines (akanthos is Greek for thorn). 3’ spikes of hooded icy pink and burgundy flowers provide an impressive backdrop for purple spires of Linaria purpurea (Toadflax) or gently mounding Erigeron karvinshianus (Mexican Daisy). A. spinosus also grows well in bright shade combining nicely with the chartreuse flowers of Helleborus argutifolius.
Selected Resources for Water Thrifty Plants
- Sunset’s WESTERN GARDEN BOOK is the most comprehensive single reference.
- EBMUD’s PLANTS AND LANDSCAPES FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA describes 650 low water and drought tolerant plants and offers gorgeous photos as well.
- In April the Marin Master Gardeners will put their list of water conserving plants on their website: www.MarinMG.org
- The California Native Plant Society is a terrific resource; begin with the Marin Chapter website.
- The websites for nurseries that offer mail order sales are full of enticing plant descriptions and helpful photographs. Two of my favorites for new ideas are:
- Annie’s Annuals & Perennials in Richmond: www.anniesannuals.com Check their lists of plants for dry places and of California natives.
- High Country Gardens in New Mexico specializes in xeric species well suited to that dry, stony soil. They also offer suggestions for appealing preplanned gardens designed by landscapers like Lauren Springer. www.highcountrygardens.com