What’s The Deal With Drought Tolerant Plants?
Much of Maine is in a drought. Are you thinking about adding some drought tolerant plants to your garden this year? Here’s what you should know.
In the past, Maine gardeners did not need to be too concerned about droughts. In recent years, however, dry summers have become more common, leading to a greater interest in what are known as “drought tolerant” plants.
But what does it mean for a plant to be drought tolerant?
Does it mean you never have to water it?
No! You should still water your drought tolerant plants.
Does it mean that, once established, it can survive periods of dryness without withering away and dying?
Yes!
Drought tolerance refers to a plant’s ability to survive during drought. Some plants are even “drought resistant”, meaning that they can survive long periods with no water at all (such as a cactus). Drought tolerant plants still need some water and are simply considered to be “low water” plants.
Drought tolerant plants come in many textures and sizes and have special adaptations that make them low-water plants. Sedum has thick leaves that trap moisture. Artemisia has silvery foliage that reflects sunlight and keeps the heat away. Willow-leaf sunflower has long thin leaves that reduce the surface area the sun can hit. Ornamental grasses, such as switchgrass, have deep and extensive root systems that help them access water.
What you’ll likely come across when searching for drought tolerant plants is the phrase “drought tolerant once established”. Any new planting, regardless of drought tolerance, needs to be watered during their first growing season. Once roots have established and the plant is taking on new growth regularly in the growing season, then these plants can be considered healthy and established, and can tolerate drought.
It is also important to note that a plant “surviving” a drought does not mean that the plant will be “pretty” during this time. If you want your gardens to remain “pretty” during drought, you must water. As a rule, we recommend watering weekly and deeply. In drought, like the one we are experiencing, watering deeply twice a week is recommended. Less frequent waterings such as these will encourage root systems to expand, making it easier for the plant to access moisture when its environment is dry.
Ready to choose some drought tolerant plants? Here are some plants we recommend:
Trees and Shrubs:
Crataegus crus-galli, Cockspur Hawthorn
Ginkgo biloba, Ginkgo
Gleditsia triacanthos, Honeylocust
Picea glauca, White Spruce
Pinus strobus, White Pine
Syringa reticulata, Japanese Tree Lilac
Celtis occidentalis, Common Hackberry
Ostrya virginiana, American Hophornbeam
Caragana arborescens, Weeping Peashrub
Chaenomeles, Flowering quince
Comptonia peregrina, Sweetfern
Cotoneaster
Potentilla
Juniperus communis, Common Juniper
Myrica gale, Sweetgale
Myrica pensylvanica, Northern Bayberry
Physocarpus opulifolius, Common Ninebark
Prunus maritima, Beach Plum
Rosa virginiana, Virginia Rose
Corylus americana, American Hazelnut
Diervilla lonicera, Dwarf Bush-honeysuckle
Symphoricarpos, Snowberry
Viburnum nudum (cassinoides), Witherod Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum, Arrowwood Viburnum
Perennials:
Achillea, Yarrow
Artemisia stelleriana, Beach Wormwood
Aruncus aethusifolius, Dwarf Goatsbeard
Asclepias tuberosa, Butterfly Weed
Baptisia australis, False Blue Indigo
Coreopsis verticillata, Threadleaf Coreopsis
Lavandula angustifolia, Lavender
Nepeta x fassenii, Catmint
Papaver nudicaule, Iceland Poppy
Perovskia atriplicifolia, Russian Sage
Salvia x superba, Summer Sage
Sedum, Stonecrop
Sempervivum, Hen-and-Chicks
Thymus pseudolanuginosus, Woolly Thyme
Yucca filamentosa, Adam’s Needle
Alchemilla mollis, Lady’s Mantle
Aquilegia canadensis, Columbine
Epimedium, Barrenwort
Eurybia (Aster) divaricatus, White Wood Aster
Geranium, Cranesbill
Viola pedata, Bird’s-foot Violet
Arctostaphyllos uva-ursi, Bearberry
Waldsteinia fragarioides, Barren Strawberry
Annuals:
Dichondra argentea, Silver Falls Dichondra
Eschscholzia californica, California Poppy
Euphorbia marginata, Snow on the Mountain
Gazania rigens, Treasure Flower
Gomphrena globosa, Globe Amaranth
Helichrysum bracteatum, Strawflower
Portulaca grandiflora, Moss Rose
Senecio ‘Silver Dust’, Dusty Miller
