Drought Resistant Shrubs and Plants for Desert Gardening

A worker in the Denver Colorado Water Department coined the term xeriscaping way back in 1981, joining the Greek word xeros, which means dry, with “-scape,” as in landscape to describe garden design planned to resist and withstand drought.

Drought resistant shrubs and plants can lower the water requirements in any home garden, especially important now when so much development is occurring in areas with low water reserves. In fact, many cities and counties are severely limiting the amount of lawn grass that can be planted in new developments because lawn grasses require so much water to keep them looking green and healthy.

However, regardless of where you live in North America, you should start considering less water greedy alternatives to traditional grass lawns. Extending patio or deck areas, building terraces, allowing woodland gardens to go natural and landscaping or re-landscaping with drought resistant plant species are all good alternatives.

Drought resistant plants tend to share one or more of the following physical characteristics:

fleshy thick stems and leaves, (succulents such as cactus, sedums and jade plants)

waxy coated leaves (herbs and flowers like rosemary, wax-leaf begonia)

densely hairy leaves (plants like lamb’s ears or Stacys)

silvery, grayish or bluish foliage (such as Artemisia, Dianthus)

narrow leaves (like ornamental grasses)

prickly leaves (such as globe thistle or Eryngium)

Though the plants in the following lists will require some water, the amount they need is at the low end of the scale.

Drought resistant evergreens and deciduous trees include White fir, Box Elder, Gray Birch, Cedars, Hackberry, Spruces, Pines, Oaks, Staghorn Sumac, Black Locust, White Cedar and most Elms.

Good shrub choices for low water needs include: Dutchman’s Pipe, Red Chokeberry, Butterfly Bush, Trumpet creeper, Blue mist Spirea, Flowering Quince, Sweet Autumn Clematis, Carolina Allspice, Cotoneaster, Scotch Broom, Witch Hazel, Virginia Sweetspire, Juniper, Honeysuckle, Russian Arborvitae, Bayberry, Virginia creeper, Cinquefoil Shrub roses, Yew and Weigela.

Good low-watering flower and ornamental grass choices include: Yarrow, Blue Stars, Wormwood, Butterfly Flower, False Indigo Feather Reed Grass, Heather, Sedge, Goldenstar, Coreopsis, Hardy Ice Plant, Dianthus, Coneflower, Plume Grass, Blue Fescue, Blanket Flower, Geranium, Baby’s Breath, Hellebore, Daylily, Plantain Lily, ( in shade) Dead Nettle, Lavender, Lupine, Catmint, Evening Primrose, Switch Grass, Poppy, Foxtail Grass, Peony, Phlox, Russian Sage, Hens and chicks, Thyme, Black-eyed daisy, periwinkle and yucca.

Sticking with plants from these categories will help ensure that the demands you make on our water supplies remain reasonable while your garden remains healthy and green.