Drought Tolerant Plants Part 2: More Plant Choices

Drought tolerant plants help those gardens that generally do not get a lot of rain. These water wise plants do not need supplemental watering to keep them alive and thriving, thus making them an asset to those in semi-desert areas. These plants listed below all have clickable links on their name that will open to more in depth articles; complete with planting instructions and interesting facts about the plant. Go here for part one of this series.

Moss Rose

Also known as Portulaca grandiflora, the moss rose is a semi-succulent that is good as a container plant. It grows up to 6 inches in height and has bright green leaves and a rose-like flower. Blooms open only when sunny and can be red, white, pink, yellow or orange. It does well in rock gardens.

Common Rue

Also known as Ruta graveolens, common rue is a drought tolerant evergreen that grows 2 to 3 feet high. They have sea green leaves and yellow small flowers. It does well in poor soils. The USDA hardiness range for rue is 4 through 9. It is the plant that is represented on playing cards.

Society Garlic

Also known as Tulbaghia violacea, society garlic grows 2 feet high with gray-green leaves and small tubular flowers. It prefers full sun and a sandy soil. Propagate by dividing the rhizome and grow in USDA hardiness zones of 7 through 10.

Century Plant

Also known as Agave americana, the century plant grows 20 to 40 feet high with the flowering stalk. Evergreen leaves are in a basal rosette and the flower stalk has yellow-green blooms. Plant this specimen in well-drained acidic soil and full sun. Flowers only start appearing on plants at least 10 years old and may be even older before blooming.

Oysterplant

Also known as Tradescantia spathacea, the oysterplant grows 8 inches tall. Forest green leaves adorn white flowers that can bloom all year long. It is hardy in zones 9 through 11 and prefers light shade. It tolerates sun and drought.

Oxeye Sunflower

Also known as Heliopsis helianthoides, the oxeye sunflower grows up to 5 feet with dark green leaves and a ray flower that is yellow. It grows in well-drained soils and in full sun conditions. Propagate by cuttings, division, or seed.

These are only a few of the plants that can be used in desert or rock gardens. For more choices of drought tolerant plant choices, see Part One of the series on Drought Tolerant Plants for Water Wise Gardens.