Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
3/26/01
Contacts:
Cindy Haynes, Horticulture Extension, (515) 294-0046,
chaynes@iastate.edu
Elaine Edwards, Continuing Education and Communication
Services, (515) 294-5168, eedwards@iastate.edu
Yard and Garden Column for the Week Beginning March 30
Be Lazy, Plant Drought-Tolerant Flowers
By Cindy Haynes
Extension horticulturist
Iowa State University Extension
I'm a lazy gardener. Sometimes the terms "lazy" and "gardener" seem contradictory, but I try my best every year to prove that they also can be compatible. With a little forethought, you can be a lazy gardener, too.
There are several chores in the garden that I try to avoid as much as possible. Weeding and watering are always at the top of this list. While mulch controls most weeds and helps conserve moisture, it does not eliminate the need for irrigation. Soaker hoses and sprinklers are great ways to water plants from your lawn chair. Yet water is expensive, especially if the weather is dry. (Did I mention that I was cheap as well?)
One of the best ways to reduce water usage and the amount of time spent irrigating is by planting drought-tolerant flowers. Gardening with plants that require less water does not mean landscaping with cactus. I may be lazy, but I still insist on having a lush, attractive landscape that is packed with plants. There are several beautiful perennials and annuals that, once they are established, thrive in sunny, hot and dry sites.
The foliage of many of these plants is a dead giveaway to their tolerance of dry soils. Gray, fuzzy foliage is one indication of tolerance of sunny sites with little moisture. Lamb's Ear, Russian Sage, Snow-in-Summer, Mullein, Wormwood and Dusty Miller are great examples of plants with fuzzy, gray leaves. The thick and fleshy leaves of Stonecrop or Moss Rose are another indication of plants adapted to dry areas.
Try combining some of these plants in containers or hanging baskets. The combination of Cockscomb, Moss Rose and Dusty Miller in a container on the deck may not need water every day to remain attractive. For retaining walls and other dry sites in the garden, try a few perennials like Stonecrop, Sea Thrift and Snow-in-Summer.
While these plants are adapted to drier areas, some watering may be necessary during long periods without rain. Newly planted flowers also will require more water for the establishment of root systems. Examine the soil and plants to determine when water is needed.
But remember, many of these plants languish in moist, well-watered soils or shade. If you enjoy having a water hose attached to your hand for hours daily, stick with impatiens. Leave these lower maintenance flowers in the garden centers for me and the other lazy gardeners out there. Come July, we will be relaxing in our hammocks, sipping iced teas and watching our neighbors scrambling to keep up with their water demanding landscapes.
Perennials for Dry Areas
Yarrow (Achillea)
Sea Thrift (Armeria)
Wormwood (Artemisia)
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias)
Snow-in-Summer (Cerastium)
Globe Thistle (Echinops)
Sea Holly (Eryngium)
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)
Russian Sage (Perovskia)
Stonecrop (Sedum)
Lamb's Ear (Stachys)
Mullein (Verbascum)
Annuals for Dry Areas
Vinca (Catharanthus)
Cockscomb (Celosia)
Spider Flower (Cleome)
Dahlberg Daisy (Dyssodia)
Gazania (Gazania)
Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena)
Strawflower (Helichrysum)
Moss Rose (Portulaca)
Mealycup Sage (Salvia)
Dusty Miller (Senecio)
Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia)
ml: isugarden
Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.