Plants that tolerate drought and wet?
Dillybeansown (6b in the Ozarks)
4 years ago
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dbarron
4 years agoDillybeansown (6b in the Ozarks)
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Drought tolerant plants
Comments (13)Charlie, There is also a cold hardy cactus forum on another list exchange that cannot be named here. If you're interested, contact me privately, and I'll direct you to it. Also note that the problem for us in wetter climates (Kentucky is similar, but not identical to my climate in Pennsylvania) is not just the cold tolerance, but the winter wetness tolerance. Some of the most cold tolerant cacti and succulents cannot survive wet winters. So you have to be careful what you pick out to try to grow....See MoreDrought tolerant plants
Comments (19)Thank you, everyone - you've given me lots of plant ideas. I agree with you, Blueangel, about planting by groups of water needs. I have tried to do that in at least one area. And I certainly learned that some plants should not receive too much water. I had a waterline leak for two months (because they wouldn't fix it until I took some action) when we were having our wettest spring in a long time, and had a number of plants die. I also agree with Lorna that mulch is the best thing you can ever do for your plants. That's why I'm trying to mulch everything really well this year. And I should have learned this in prior years, but I should not give in to my impulses and purchase plants after the middle of May. It's just too hot and they don't have much of a chance of survival. I think the penstemon I just planted from Bluestone are already goners. Thanks, Mary...See MoreHelp placing drought tolerant plants
Comments (8)Those all want full sun and good drainage, if the part that doesn't get rain is under a building overhang none of them will like it if there is much shading. Otherwise the natural precipitation will probably be adequate for all of them, once established. Any that appear to be having a problem during a future dry spell can always be rescued with a good soak at that point. Mulching the planting(s) with gravel would probably be a good idea - you always want to mulch ornamental plantings with something, and the kind of planting you are talking about here is one that would often be mulched with stone rather than organic material. The most fussy about drainage is probably the lavender, in this region it seems a location cannot be too arid and austere for it....See MoreNative Plants and Shrubs that are Drought Tolerant
Comments (5)You're quite right, Pos02. I sometimes get quite exasperated at the attitude that any Australian plant is a "native". I am very jealous of mistymorn's rainfall levels, that he/she can regard Melastoma affine, which is a rainforest plant (and a lovely one), as "drought hardy". There's no way we could grow it here in Toowoomba without supplementary watering - yet we're hardly in what you'd call a "dry" part of Australia. Another important factor in choosing plants for success in drought is what time of year you have your dry spell. Some very drought-hardy south-western Australian plants don't cope at all well with Eastern Australia's wet summer/dry winter climate, becoming very short-lived plants if they succeed at all. My favourite drought-hardy shrubs include: Alectryon diversifolium Maytenus bilocularis Pittosporum angustifolium Petalostigma pubescens Psychotria daphnoides Erythroxyoum australe Croton insularis Senna artemisioides The last is the only one with showy flowers. It's also the only short-lived one. The others all have either attractive fruits or red leaves. As mistymorn says, there are lots of drought-hardy and attractive trees, of course. Here are a few, not too big, with nice dense, green canopies. Flindersia collina (lovely bark) Flindersia maculata (more drought hardy still) Allocasuarina torulosa (lovely, but very different bark) Brachychiton populneus Brachychiton rupestre Atalaya hemiglauca Geijera salicifolia Another clue, dee, is to look around at what natives your council is using as street trees. You can be sure they are tough. Trish...See MoreDillybeansown (6b in the Ozarks)
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4 years agoDillybeansown (6b in the Ozarks)
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4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoDillybeansown (6b in the Ozarks) thanked sah67 (zone 5b - NY)ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
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4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoDillybeansown (6b in the Ozarks)
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