Paul Thomas
University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Cooperative Extension
Drought: Home & Garden
Rely on drought-resistant landscape plants
Several Georgia landscape and greenhouse experts list more than 200 mainstream plants that, if you get them established properly, need precious little water in hot, dry conditions.
Most of these plants are truly prolific bloomers. For example, lantana "New Gold" loves 100-degree heat and needs watering only once every two weeks to bloom solidly through the summer.
Native plants can take the heat, and they're adapted to drought. Hundreds of native flowers and flowering bulbs can brighten your garden. And many garden centers and nurseries carry natives. You can learn more about native plants and where to buy them from the Georgia Native Plant Society Web site at www.gnps.org. Natives are the best way to responsibly landscape and garden without the extra effort.
Here are just a few plants we recommend and a few you need to avoid.
Perennials for sun: Lantana 'Miss Huff,' Helianthus angustifolia, Salvia guaranitica, Salvia leucantha, Ruellia brittoniana, Rudbeckia triloba, Stachys byzantina, Artemesia "Silver King" and Kniphofia uvaria.
Perennials for shade: Helebor hybrids, Japanese autumn ferns, Aspidistra eliator, Monarda didyma (it wilts but comes back), Iris reticulata, Sedum 'Autumn Joy', Iris siberica and Hosta hybrids.
Annuals: Lantana camara hybrids, Catharanthus roseus, Amaranthus caudatus, Celosia cristata, Portulaca hybrids, Melampodium paludosum, Petunias (especially old-timey and "Wave" petunias), Passiflora 'Byron's Beauty', Cosmos bipinnatus, Cosmos sulfureus, Tithonia rotundifolia, Verbena tenuisecta, Salvia farinaceae hybrids and Zinnia elegans.
Perennial natives: Lilium hybrids, Amsonia tabernaemontana, Daucus carota, Physostegia virginiana, Lonicera sempervirens, Achillea millifolium, Clematis paniculata, Oenothera speciosa, Bellamcanda chinensis, Boltonia asteroides, asters (native species), Echinaceae purpurea, Tradescantia virginiana, Eupatorium coelestinum, Eupatorium fistulosum, Asclepias tuberosa and Bignonia capreolata.
Annuals to avoid: Impatiens, marigolds, begonias, Scaevola, New Guinea Impatiens, Osteospermums, Ageratum houstonianum, caladiums, coleus (shade type) and Nicotiana.
Perennials to avoid: Phlox paniculata, Veronica hybrids, Centranthus roseus, Coreopsis grandiflora, standard petunias and non-native asters.