As I woke up yesterday, my muscles ached, my brain was foggy and I desperately wanted to reverse the process and crawl back into bed. As I began to focus my mind on the day’s events, I stopped and smiled. Today was the day of my root canal. The thought made me so very happy because although my calendar was filled up in the morning, after the dentist appointment, I had promised myself I would sit on the couch and watch television. Eight glorious hours of being kind to myself through rest and relaxation. Never before had I so desperately be happy to have a medical appointment.
We all live busy lives. Sometimes it seems that the business has no end. While gardening itself is tremendously therapeutic, both physically and mentally, sometimes it is wise to consider including plants in your landscape that require just a little less care. Some ornamental grasses, perennial flowers and shrubs are considered drought tolerant. While these plants do require watering, they are a little more tolerant than other plants that do best when watered on a regular basis. The following is a list of plants that are considered to be drought tolerant.
Pink Cotton Candy Wood Betony (Stachys officinalis ‘Pink Cotton Candy’)- The beautiful perennial flowers have large pink flowers that are present from June through August. It reaches a height of 18-24 inches and does best in full sun. It is deer resistant.
Cheyenne Spirit Coneflower (Echinacea ‘Cheyenne Spirit’- This is a new twist on a tough, durable perennial garden favorite. Cheyenne Spirit flowers are a whole kaleidoscope of colors including pink, purple, yellow, scarlet and white. They are long blooming and very adaptable plants. This plant is a great solution for a hot or windy area where little else will grow. They attract butterflies and make great cut flowers.
Zagreb Threadleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata ‘Zagreb’): The compact habit on this plant makes it perfectly situation for more compact spaces. It grows 15 inches tall by 15 inches wide. Deadheading will encourage it to rebloom faster, but is not required. Does best in full sun and will attract butterflies.
Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra terminalis ‘Green Carpet’): This evergreen groundcover does great in the shade. It grows 6-8 inches tall and spreads about 12 inches wide over time. It is rabbit resistant.
Meadow Cranesbill (Geranium pretense ‘Midnight Reiter’): This spring blooming plant has it all. Intense purple leaves are coupled with beautiful blue flowers. It grows well in part shade to full sun and is rabbit resistant. It grows about 10 inches tall and wide.
Cinderella Milkweed (Asclepias incarnate ‘Cinderella): This is a very low maintenance native perennial flower. It is tremendously beneficial to butterflies acting as the food source for the caterpillars. It grows tall at 3-4 feet and blooms pink in midsummer. It attracts hummingbirds as well as butterflies and does best in full sun.
Concorde Barberry (berberis thunbergii ‘Concorde’): This is a compact barberry reaching only about 18-24 inches tall and wide. The purple leaves on this shrub are beautiful but it also has thorns. It grows best in full sun.
Bobo Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘ILVOBO): This is a newer hydrangea that has large white flowers that are held upright on sturdy stems. It blooms from mid-summer through the fall and grows about 2 1/2 feet tall and wide. It grows best in part shade to full sun.
Little Blue Stem (Schizachryium scoparium): This ornamental grass is a native warm season grass. The blades have an orange red fall color that complements the seed heads. It grows about 3-4 feet tall and does best in full sun.
Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc., a garden center and landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or Kathleen@thegrowingscene.com. Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She may address it in an upcoming column.
