Heat and drought are both significant problems for plants around the world. Drought is the leading cause of agricultural decline and death worldwide. Because all sorts of vegetation are susceptible to drought and heat-related illnesses, these issues threaten food security. Fortunately, drought-tolerant and heat-resistant plants make gardening much easier. But what are drought-tolerant plants? Why are drought-tolerant plants important?
One concern with plants that are susceptible to drought-related decline is climate change. Climate change has resulted in unstable droughts and rising energy costs throughout the country, resulting in many people turning to conserve resources. One example of cutting back is choosing drought-tolerant plants. This is especially true for those who work with landscaping and gardening and can reduce water usage through drought-resistant plants.
Drought-resistant plants consume less water but are still functional in both beauty standards and landscape functionality. When landscaping a single-family home, drought-resistant plants can save hundreds of gallons of water annually.
Types of Drought-Resistant Plants
There are many types of drought-resistant plants and vegetation, including flowers, bushes, beans, grains, and more. Some require less water than others and are more resistant to heat, leaving them less affected by drought-related occurrences.
Some drought-resistant plants examples include:
Trees:
- American Sweetgum
- Devil’s Walking Stick
- Hackberry
- Hedge Maple
- Italian Alder
- Japanese Tree Lilac
- Lacebark Pine
- Sassafras
- White Fir
- Yellowwood
Shrubs and Hedges:
- Forsythia
- Glossy Abelia
- Gray Dogwood
- Japanese Holly
- Juniper
- Lilac
- New Jersey Tea
- Seven-Son Flower
- Smokebush
- St. Johnswort
Annuals:
- Amaranthus
- Cosmos
- Four o’clock
- Globe Amaranth
- Lantana
- Mexican Sunflower
- Pot Marigold
- Rosemary
- Spider Flower
- Strawflower
Drought-Tolerant Perennials:
- Thyme
- Sage
- Sea Lavender
- Black-eyed Susan
- Sea Holly
- Daylily
- Butterfly Weed
- Basket-of-Gold
- False Indigo
- Snow-in-Summer
Grasses:
- Deergrass
- Giant Wild Rye
- Purple Needle Grass
- Sheep Fescue
Crops:
- Beans such as butter beans, lima beans, and others
- Corn such as pinky popcorn, silver queen hybrid sweet, and Tennessee red cob
- Grains such as barley, quinoa, and red stripe leaf
- Pepper such as Jupiter red bell and ordoño
- Herbs such as basil, catnip, and oregano
Creating a Drought-Resistant Garden
Creating a drought-resistant garden can be ideal for those who want to conserve resources and don’t have the time or energy to dedicate to maintaining water-needy plants. If you’re new to gardening and drought-resistant plants, you might wonder how to tell which plants are drought-resistant, how to choose the best ones for your garden, and how to care for them.
Characteristics of Drought-Tolerant Plants
Drought-tolerant plants can withstand high-heat conditions where water may be scarce. These plants don’t require much water to thrive and will still look aesthetically pleasing and be functional in their environments.
These plants sometimes have small or divided leaves in appearance. They may appear hairy or waxy in texture. The characteristics of these leaves help plants retain moisture and manage water loss through transpiration.
There may be spiny leaves present, or no leaves at all. Many drought-resistant plants also feature longer-than-normal roots that help them in accessing water that has been stored underground. Some species, particularly those of trees, shrubs, and perennials, will adjust their root depths to bind soil and rocks together as a source of nutrients.
Additionally, drought-tolerant plants may have silver or grey-green leaves, which result from the sun’s rays reflecting on them.
Choosing Drought-Tolerant Plants
If you’re working on creating a drought-tolerant garden or want to know the steps to care for drought-tolerant plants, then you should consider the following steps:
- Plan your garden out. Group them accordingly if you plan on having drought-resistant and non-drought-resistant plants in your garden. This will help you stay better organized and help you in caring for your new plant friends.
- Consider where you’ll plant. Drought-tolerant plants don’t do well in rich soils or soils that have poor drainage or are well-fertilized. Drought-tolerant plants require proper drainage to remain healthy and thrive.
- Consider using organic matter to help retain moisture. Organic matter should be placed before the plants are planted, and heavy soil should be ladened with grit or pea gravel to help with drainage.
- Ground cover plants can be used as a substitute for grass and other greenery. Plant these plants where growing grass and other turf is problematic, especially in places that have shade or are narrow.
- Leave appropriate space between plants, so they don’t compete for root space and nutrients.
- Consider your watering. Water your plants in the early mornings, particularly before the sun is in full blast. This helps avoid evaporation of the water. Additionally, if it’s supposed to rain, there’s no need to water the plants yourself.
- Ensure that you’re watering deeply and not too frequently. Quality over quantity.
- Mulch your garden. This helps mitigate weeds and retain moisture. Mulch should be placed 2 to 3 inches in layers. The most popular mulch options included shredded leaves, pine bark, and fine gravel.
- During spring, be sure to weed your garden as often as needed. You can weed your garden a few times a week, at intervals of 15 to 30 minutes.
- Most importantly, have fun. Drought-tolerant plants come in various shapes and sizes, so you’re sure to find the perfect fit for your garden.
Other Considerations
Deciding on plants in your garden can be difficult. Learning how to care for them can be even more difficult. To get an idea of what you want, it’s recommended that you visit a garden and consult expert gardeners and landscapists to find out which plants suit you, your landscape, and your lifestyle. It might also be helpful to read some books on gardening and plants to get more ideas about what drought-resistant plants can do for your garden.
Additionally, keep in mind these considerations:
- Silver-leaved plants that love the sun and appear less hardy should be planted in April. This ensures that they will be able to grow their roots before winter.
- Plants should be planted as small specimens. This helps them adjust to their environment as they grow.
- Most plants will require 1 to 2 years to develop a well-established root system. This means they must be watered carefully, especially during the first year.