The drought tolerant landscape

June 13, 4:58 PMBackyard Living ExaminerJane Gates

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The drought tolerant landscape can be colorful!

As water becomes an ever more critical resource, there is less reason than ever to be designing and planting water-guzzling landscapes.  With water rationing, a drought tolerant garden is the best solution. Unfortunately, many folks are under the impression that this means they must have a sparse, hungry looking garden in varied shades of olive and brown. Nothing could be further from the truth. Drought tolerant means exactly what it says. There are plants that bloom luxuriantly and still require minimal water. These plants may not look tough, but indeed they are.

Cactus and succulent gardens, when thoughtfully designed with paths, boulders, rocks, even sculptures, can become a maze of fascinating texture and color, created in diverse scenes. California natives can be selected to be as ornamental as any other flowering plant. Seeding California native annuals in fall and winter can blanket the ground with startling color by early and mid spring. Perennials can be grouped to give color most of the year. There is also a growing selection of wonderful new plants from South Africa and Australia where the climate is similar to here. Mid summer is the resting period for most CA natives. The hot dry air gives them the same signal for dormancy as the cold winter does to most plants in the cooler parts of the country. If you want color in your garden during this resting period, try planting an area or two with colorful plants that do require summer water. Give them a selected sprinkler valve, or, better, snake in a drip irrigation line (putting it on a timer so you don't have to think about it), and these specific areas will brighten up your garden for the short few months the natives are sleeping. You will still keep your water bills low and your maintenance minimal.

Take a wander through some of our local nurseries. You'll find awesome California bloomers in Ceanothus, the Matilija Poppy, Banksia rose, Salvias, or native Penstemmons. Non-native drought tolerants that put on a flamboyant show include the Butterfly bush, Rockroses, Daylilies, Society Garlic, Verbena and many more. The list of succulents and cacti that have sculptured, colored or amazingly textured foliage or showy flowers is far too long to cover here. And these are only a few of the many drought tolerant plants available. The best time to plant California natives is in the autumn or winter so they can establish their root systems for solid growth before summer dormancy. Many other drought tolerants prefer the same period, though be careful of those sensitive to frost if you live in a frost-vulnerable area. These will do better planted in the spring or summer, as will cactus and many succulents that don't like their feet wet when it is cool.

So, now's the time to do a little research into drought tolerant landscaping. Don't be limited by preconceived ideas. You can make water rationing unimportant while having a garden that is the envy of the neighborhood by using drought tolerant designs and plants. What these plants offer is less maintenance and lower water bills, with all the beauty of their more demanding counterparts. Yet they're more than just good, practical sense. They're fun!

More Information:

A basic list of great plants for drought tolerant planting

Easy drought tolerant plants

Making mulch work in the landscape

Choosing lawns or lawn substitutes