Drought Tolerant Native Plants in the Garden

Like many parts of the world, it has been extremely hot and dry this past summer. The effect of this weather has been most acute in my west-facing front yard. As I am in the midst of renovating the whole front garden, taking stock of plants that are doing well in this dry weather would help me choosing the plants for the new garden. Unfortunately, it seems that hot and dry summers will be the norm rather than the exception due to the climate change. Here are the plants that have done well during the exceptionally dry summer of 2022.

Asters

By far the most resilient group of plants, and the most surprising to me, were various native asters. They all came through beautifully without any supplemental water.

Raydon’s Favorite aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) in mid-October.
Lush summer leaves of Raydon’s Favorite aromatic aster.
Raydon’s Favorite aster in my front border in November. The flowers persist into Novevember when most other prennials have begun their winter rest.
Blue wood aster or heartleaf aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) is first aster to bloom in my garden in late September.
Dainty flowers of blue wood aster create magical lavender haze. I found it flowers in dry shade as well as in partial to full sun.

Prairie Plants

This group of plants native to prairies did very well. I suppose they are adapted to hot and dry condtions in the sunny prairies where they originate.

Blue and white spires of Liatris spicata blooms early summer followed by attractive seedheads that gold finches love.
Butterfly weed (Ascelpias tuberosa) with cheerful orange flowers in August.
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpuria) has long-lasting flowers. Spiky orange cone-shaped seed heads last into the winter and are another favorite of gold finches.
Rattlesnake Master — perhaps the coolest name of all plants. The scientific name of this architectural plant, Eringium yuccifolium refers to its eringium- like flower head and yucca-like leaves. It is much loved by all pollinating insects.
Gaura (Oenothera lindheimeri) “Whirling butterflies” does flutter like butterflies in warm summer breeze.

False sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) “Burning Hearts” brightens summer border. The dark stems and almost burgundy leaves compliment the yellow-orange rays of flower.

Horticultural Information

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium: zone 3-8. height 2-3 ft. spread 1-2 ft. full sun.

Symphyotrichum cordifolium: zone 3-8. height 2-5 ft. spread 1.5-2 ft. full sun to part shade.

Liatris spicata: zone 3-8. height 2-4 ft. spread 0.75-1.5 ft. full sun.

Ascelpias tuberosa: zone 3-9. height 0.75-2 ft. spread 0.75-2 ft. full to part sun.

Echinacea purpuria: zone 3-8. height 3-5 ft. spread 1.5-2 ft. full sun to part sun.

Oenothera lindheimeri: zone 5-9. height 3-5 ft. spread 1-2 ft. full sun.

Heliopsis helianthoides: zone 3-9. height 3-4 ft. spread 1-1.5 ft. full sun.

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