Drought Resistant Landscape Plants - University Of Georgia

1. Drought Resistant Landscape Plants (Gary Wade)
Annual and perennial flowers that thrive even in a drought are already out there --
hundreds of them -- in Georgia nurseries and garden centers.
Several Georgia landscape and greenhouse experts recently listed more than 200
mainstream plants that, if you get them established properly, need precious little water in
hot, dry conditions.
Most of these plants are truly prolific bloomers. For example, Lantana 'New Gold' loves
100-degree heat and needs watering only once every two weeks to bloom solidly through
the summer.
We often don't use these drought-resistant wonders because we're more drawn to the
many exciting new annuals that, unfortunately, are water hogs.
Native Woodland Flowers
Who waters our native woodland flowers? These plants have lived in Georgia droughts
for eons with no water fairies caring for them.
Native plants can take the heat, and they're adapted to drought. Hundreds of native
flowers and flowering bulbs can brighten your garden. And many garden centers and
nurseries carry natives.
You can learn more about native plants and where to buy them from the Georgia Native
Plant Society Web site.
Don't like bed preparation and all the fuss? Natives are the best way to responsibly
landscape and garden without the extra effort.
The Good, the Bad
Here are just a few plants we recommend and a few you need to avoid.
 Perennials for Sun: Lantana 'Miss Huff', Swamp Sunflower, Hummingbird
Sage, Mexican Sage, Mexican Sunflower, Black Eyed Susan, Lambs ears, Silver
King, and Red Hot Poker.
 Perennials for Shade: Lenten Rose, Japanese autumn ferns, Parlor Plant, Bee
Balm (wilts but comes back), Roof Iris, Bearded Iris, Sedum 'Autumn Joy',
Siberia Iris, and Hosta hybrids.
 Annuals: Lantana camara hybrids, Vinca, Amaranths, Cocks Comb, Portulaca
hybrids, Gold Button Plant, Petunias, 'Byron's Beauty' (Passiflora), Cosmos,
Mexican Sunflower, Moss Verbena, Hybrid Blue Salvia, and Zinnias.
 Perennial Natives: Lilies, Blue Stars, Queen Ann's Lace, Obedient Plant, Red
Honeysuckle, Yellow Yarrow), Clematis, Pink Sundrops, Blackberry Lily, White

2. Boltonia, Asters (native species), Purple Cone Flower, Spiderwort, Woodland
Ageratum, Joe Pye Weed, Butterfly weed, and Cross Vine.
 Annuals to Avoid: Impatiens, marigolds, begonias, Scaevola, New Guinea
Impatiens, Osteospermums, Ageratum houstonianum, caladiums, coleus (shade
type) and Nicotiana.
 Perennials to avoid: Phlox paniculata, Veronica hybrids, Centranthus roseus,
Coreopsis grandiflora, standard petunias and non-native asters.