If you live in an area prone to drought or have a busy lifestyle that makes it difficult to keep up with watering, having a garden full of perennial flowers might seem like an impossible dream. However, there are many beautiful and hardy flowers that can thrive in dry conditions without the need for constant watering. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll introduce you to the best drought-tolerant perennial flowers that can add color and life to your garden, even in the hottest and driest of conditions.
Best Drought-Tolerant Perennial Flowers
Coneflowers
Coneflowers are a popular choice for drought-tolerant gardens, thanks to their bright and showy blooms that come in a range of colors, including pink, purple, and white. They are also known for their hardiness, able to withstand droughts, heat, and even cold winters. Coneflowers bloom from mid-summer to fall, providing a source of nectar for bees and butterflies.
Characteristics
- Height: 2 to 5 feet tall
- Spread: 1 to 2 feet wide
- Bloom time: Mid-summer to fall
- Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water: Low to moderate
- Soil: Well-drained, average to poor
How to plant
Coneflowers are easy to grow from seed or planted as young plants. They prefer a well-drained soil, so be sure to amend your soil with sand or gravel if it tends to be heavy and waterlogged. Plant them in a sunny location and water them well until they are established. After that, they can tolerate dry conditions without the need for supplemental watering.
Maintenance tips
Coneflowers are low maintenance and do not require regular fertilizing or deadheading. However, you can cut back the spent flowers to encourage more blooms. In the fall, leave the dead flower heads on the stem to provide food for birds.
Blanket Flowers
Blanket flowers are a cheerful addition to any garden, producing bright and daisy-like flowers that bloom throughout the summer and fall. They are also known for their ability to attract bees and butterflies. Blanket flowers come in a variety of colors, including red, yellow, and orange.
Characteristics
- Height: 1 to 3 feet tall
- Spread: 1 to 2 feet wide
- Bloom time: Summer to fall
- Exposure: Full sun
- Water: Low to moderate
- Soil: Well-drained, average to poor
How to plant
Blanket flowers are easy to grow from seeds or young plants. They prefer a well-drained soil and full sun. To encourage bushy growth, pinch the tips of the plants when they are 6 inches tall. After that, they can tolerate dry conditions without the need for watering.
Maintenance tips
Blanket flowers do not require regular fertilizing or deadheading. However, you can cut back the spent flowers to encourage more blooms. In the fall, leave the dead flower heads on the stem to provide food for birds.
Lavender
Lavender is a fragrant perennial herb that produces beautiful spikes of purple, blue, or pink flowers. It is known for its calming and relaxing properties and is often used in aromatherapy. Lavender can also thrive in dry conditions and is a great choice for a low-maintenance garden.
Characteristics
- Height: 1 to 3 feet tall
- Spread: 2 to 3 feet wide
- Bloom time: Summer
- Exposure: Full sun
- Water: Low to moderate
- Soil: Well-drained, slightly alkaline
How to plant
Lavender prefers a well-drained soil and full sun. It is also important to plant it in a location with good air circulation to prevent disease. Water the plant well until it is established, and then reduce watering to once a week or less. Overwatering can cause the plant to rot.
Maintenance tips
Lavender is a low-maintenance plant that does not require regular fertilizing. However, you can fertilize it once a year with a balanced fertilizer. Prune the plant in the spring to encourage bushy growth and prevent woody stems. Lavender is also known to be resistant to pests and diseases.
Yarrow
Yarrow is a hardy plant that produces clusters of small flowers in shades of white, yellow, pink, and red. It is known for its ability to attract beneficial insects and has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. Yarrow can also tolerate dry conditions and is a great choice for a low-maintenance garden.
Characteristics
- Height: 1 to 3 feet tall
- Spread: 1 to 2 feet wide
- Bloom time: Summer
- Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water: Low to moderate
- Soil: Well-drained
How to plant
Yarrow prefers a well-drained soil and full sun to part shade. It is easy to grow from seeds or young plants. Water the plant well until it is established, and then reduce watering to once a week or less. Overwatering can cause the plant to rot.
Maintenance tips
Yarrow is a low-maintenance plant that does not require regular fertilizing. However, you can fertilize it once a year with a balanced fertilizer. Cut back the spent flowers to encourage more blooms. Yarrow is also known to be resistant to pests and diseases.
Russian Sage
Russian Sage is a beautiful and hardy plant that produces tall spikes of lavender-blue flowers. It is known for its silvery-gray foliage and its ability to attract bees and butterflies. Russian Sage can also tolerate dry conditions and is a great choice for a low-maintenance garden.
Characteristics
- Height: 3 to 5 feet tall
- Spread: 2 to 4 feet wide
- Bloom time: Summer to fall
- Exposure: Full sun
- Water: Low to moderate
- Soil: Well-drained, average to poor
How to plant
Russian Sage prefers a well-drained soil and full sun. It is easy to grow from seeds or young plants. Water the plant well until it is established, and then reduce watering to once a week or less. Overwatering can cause the plant to rot.
Maintenance tips
Russian Sage is a low-maintenance plant that does not require regular fertilizing. However, you can fertilize it once a year with a balanced fertilizer. Cut back the stems in the fall to prevent them from flopping over. Russian Sage is also known to be resistant to pests and diseases.
Tips for Growing Drought-Tolerant Perennial Flowers
Soil Preparation
The key to growing drought-tolerant perennial flowers is to prepare the soil properly. Choose a well-drained soil that is not too heavy or waterlogged. If your soil is heavy, amend it with sand or gravel to improve drainage. You can also add organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure, to improve soil quality and fertility.
Best soil type
The best soil type for drought-tolerant perennial flowers is a sandy loam or a loamy sand. These soils drain quickly, allowing the plant roots to access water without becoming waterlogged.
How to improve soil quality
To improve soil quality, you can add organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure. This will increase soil fertility, improve soil structure, and provide essential nutrients for the plants.
Watering Techniques
When it comes to watering drought-tolerant perennial flowers, less is often more. These plants are adapted to dry conditions and can tolerate periods of drought without the need for watering. However, they still need water to thrive, especially during the first year after planting.
How much to water
Water the plants deeply once a week or less, depending on the weather and soil conditions. Avoid frequent light watering, which can encourage shallow roots and weaken the plant.
Best time to water
The best time to water is in the morning, when the soil is cool and the sun is not too strong. This allows the water to soak in before the heat of the day evaporates it.
How to conserve water
There are several ways to conserve water in a drought-tolerant garden. One is to mulch around the plants, which helps to retain moisture in the soil. Another is to choose plants that are adapted to dry conditions and require less water.
Mulching
Mulching is an important part of growing drought-tolerant perennial flowers. Mulch helps to retain moisture in the soil, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. It also adds organic matter to the soil as it decomposes.
Benefits of mulching
- Retains moisture in the soil
- Suppresses weeds
- Regulates soil temperature
- Adds organic matter to the soil
Types of mulch to use
There are several types of mulch to choose from, including organic matter such as shredded leaves, grass clippings, and straw, as well as inorganic matter such as gravel, stones, and landscape fabric.
How to apply mulch
Apply a layer of mulch around the plants, making sure not to cover the crown or stem of the plant. The mulch should be 2 to 3 inches deep and extend out to the drip line of the plant.
ALSO READ
Benefits of Drought-Tolerant Perennial Flowers
Saves Time and Money
One of the main benefits of growing drought-tolerant perennial flowers is that they save time and money. These plants require little to no watering, which means less time spent tending to the garden and lower water bills.
No need for constant watering
Drought-tolerant perennial flowers are adapted to dry conditions and can survive with little to no watering. This means you don’t have to spend as much time tending to your garden.
No need for frequent replacement
Because these plants are hardy and long-lived, you don’t have to replace them as often as you would with annuals or other types of plants. This saves you money in the long run.
Attracts Pollinators
Drought-tolerant perennial flowers are also great for attracting pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. These insects are essential for pollinating plants and enhancing biodiversity in the garden.
Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
Many drought-tolerant perennial flowers produce nectar-rich blooms that are attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. These insects help to pollinate the plants and create a thriving ecosystem in your garden.
Enhances biodiversity