Edible Drought Tolerant Plants Part 1: Plant Selections

Water wise plants, those that are drought tolerant, do not have to be ugly and without function. There are many drought tolerant plants that are edible and can be used as a food source. In this day and age of sustainable living the combination of an edible plant that does not require supplemental watering is a great addition to any garden plot. For more plant choices, see Part Two of the Drought Tolerant Plants That are Edible series.

Muscadine

Also known as the scuppernong or Vitis rotundifolia, the muscadine is a perennial vine from the grape, or Vitaceae, family. Growing in a vine formation, the muscadine can be 100 feet long and 6 feet wide. The berries are bronze or purple and have a soft edible pulp. Leaves are triangle-shaped and deciduous. They prefer partial shade and regular waterings, but can live through a drought. Propagate by softwood cuttings or layering. The muscadine does well in USDA hardiness zones of 6 through 10.

Tepary Bean

Also known as Phaseolus acutifolius, the tepary bean is an annual from the bean, or Fabaceae/Leguminosae, family. This vine has green leaves, purple blooms, and green hairy pods that dry to a light tan color. The beans are inside the pods and resemble tiny lima beans. They grow well in full sun and are very drought tolerant after establishment. Propagate by seed. Tepary bean should be planted in USDA hardiness zones of 7 through 10.

Lyreleaf Sage

Also known as Salvia lyrata, the lyreleaf sage is a perennial from the mint, or Lamiaceae/Labiatae, family. It is easy to grow and attractive to both hummingbirds and butterflies. It has leaves in a basal rosette and blue or lavender flowers. Stems are hairy and are 1 to 2 feet tall. Flowers are tubular. Seeds are in a cup-like structure and are brown when ripe. It grows in full sun or light shade, and while it prefers moist soil, it can grow in drought or flooding conditions. Propagate by seed. It will work well in USDA hardiness zones of 5 through 10.

These three choices can be added into any vegetable garden or water-wise garden. They may not be typical choices on a gardener’s mind when creating the garden plot, but after careful observance, one can see the benefits of these plants. They conserve water use by tolerating dry conditions, they produce food and seasonings for the kitchen, and they create interesting visual effects when placed in non-food plots.