Looking for plants that thrive in dry hot conditions that don't require routine H2O.?
Question:especially a good shade tree, some flowering hedges (or w/great foliage color), and flowering plants, any veggies. thanks!
Answers:
Xeric shade trees with flowers;
Goldenrain tree Koelreuteria paniculata has yellow pea-like flowers in July followed by lantern-like pods in late http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/k/koepa... Mid sized tree at 30 feet.
Nurseries selling this tree http://davesgarden.com/ps/search.php?sea...
Western catalpa Catalpa speciosa is native from southern Illinois to Arkansas. Grown for it's showy flowers.
http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/c/catsp...
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consu...
5 nurseries list this tree
http://davesgarden.com/ps/search.php?sea...
Most garden catalogs will tell you if a plant is "drought resistant" or "drought tolerant," although most expect you to have enough water for whatever they sell. Seeds of Change is one of the few plant catalogs which uses Xeric water symbols for crop plants.
Seeds of Change
http://www.seedsofchange.com/garden_cent...
For full xeric gardening High Country gardens offers a broad selection of drought tolerant plants.
For hedging a budleia will flower mid summer. http://www.highcountrygardens.com/catalo...
Fern bush Chamaebatiera millifolium http://www.highcountrygardens.com/catalo...
I saw this growing in Sedona and hoped I could have it but I live in the great North wet so can't grow it. This is a goreous plant http://www.highcountrygardens.com/catalo...
However I have managed one of these planted in sand so it never drowns. Ceanothus, California lilac http://www.laspilitas.com/garden/califor...
Lantana, anything with the word "Texas" in the title, and for the tree-- try a non-fruiting gum.
Lavendar is a great low-water plant. There are tons of different varieties with different foliage and blossom color, they're bush-like, they flower prolificly, and they're fragrant!
Any variety of sedum works well in dry conditions. They come in all sizes and colors. I planted a south facing slope with them and zebra grass it looks great.
You should look into native plants for your area. They are best adapted to your climatic zone. For instance, in California, there are beautiful shrubs called Ceanothus (California wild lilac) which actually do not do well if they have too much water. Check with your nearest Native Plant society. Also look at foothill Palo Verde trees.
Hi. I live in Australia and we are in water restrictions where I live. I have discovered the best plants over the last 4 years that have survived with little or no water are the Mediterannean types (geranium, pelargonium, potato vine, rosemary, lavendar), the Australian natives (murraya - it's like a soft green hedge with white flowers that smell like honey - it grows so well in the heat and I never water it. It trims nicely and thickly for a hedge) and African natives (agapanthus, ground cover daisies). I have some Japanese Sasanqua Camellias that seem to tolerate the hot Australian summers amazingly. They are glossy leafy green and their winter flowers beautiful. I also have hedges along my fencelines of gardenias (lovely fragrant summer flowers) and hebes with purple flowers. I have a flowering plum, but I do have to water it with a bucket at least once a week in the really hot weather. It's worth it for the summer blossoms though.
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