Drought, Xeric & Dry Soil Plants
Showing 105–112 of 133 results
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Ruellia humilis Prairie petunia Z 3-9
Lilac trumpets late June-October. Slow to emerge in spring so be patient and watch for it. It’s one of those non-flashy work-horses. One of internationally known garden designer Piet Oudolf’s 100 “MUST HAVE” plants, Gardens Illustrated 94 (2013)
Lilac trumpets late June-October. Slow to emerge in spring so be patient and watch for it. It’s one of those non-flashy work-horses. One of internationally known garden designer Piet Oudolf’s 100 “MUST HAVE” plants, Gardens Illustrated 94 (2013)
Size: 10-12” x 10”
Care: sun in any soil
Native: Midwest south to Florida and Texas, Wisconsin native
Wildlife Value: Pollinated primarily by long tongue bees who can reach far into the flower’s throat.Ruellia named for French royal herbalist Jean Ruell (1474-1537.) First collected by Thomas Nuttall. C.1810 English plant hunter who found more American plants than anyone else, early 1800’s.
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Salvia argentea Silver sage Biennial or short lived perennial Z 5-7
Large rosettes of the woolliest silver leaves. So soft you want to pet them. This one’s for the leaves, not the flowers. It dies after flowering so cut back flower stems to prevent flowering, or, if you want to save seeds let it flower.
Large rosettes of the woolliest silver leaves. So soft you want to pet them. This one’s for the leaves, not the flowers. It dies after flowering so cut back flower stems to prevent flowering, or, if you want to save seeds let it flower.
Size: 2-4’ x 12"
Care: Sun in well-drained soil.
Native: Europe & No. Africa around Mediterranean
Awards: Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit; Plant Select® Central Rocky Mountain regionSalvia is from the Latin “salveo” meaning “to heal” referring to the plant’s ancient medicinal uses. Collected before 1750. The Garden reported it was introduced in 1768. Liberty Hyde Bailey said its, “white woolly foliage makes it a very decorative plant.” (1933).
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Salvia nemorosa Meadow sage, Balkan clary Z 5-7
Purple/lavender spire dense with flowers June to September
Purple/lavender spire dense with flowers June to September.
Size: 36" x 24"
Care: full sun in moist well-drained to well-drained soil - deadhead to promote rebloom. Drought tolerant.
Native: Europe to Central Asia. Wildlife values: attracts butterflies & hummingbirdsSalvia is from the Latin word salveo meaning “to heal” referring to the plant’s ancient medicinal uses. Collected before 1762.
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Salvia verticillata Lilac sage, whorley clary, Salbey Z 5-8
Muted lilac blue spikes June to October
Muted lilac blue spikes June to October. It took 2 years to establish this plant to maturity during which time it was unimpressive but in year 3, it’s fabulous. You get the benefit of mature plants.
Size: 24” x 18-24”
Care: sun in moist well-drained to well-drained soil. Dead head to prolong bloom
Native: Spain to Ukraine, Caucasus to Iran
Wildlife Value: Butterfly magnet.Collected before 1753.
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Salvia yangii syn. Perovskia atriplicifolia Russian sage Z 5-9
Showy subshrub with tall spikes covered by tiny lavender blue tubes
Showy subshrub with tall spikes covered by tiny lavender blue tubes from July to October. One of the best shrubby plants with its graceful form, its tough constitution and long bloom.
Size: 4' x 3'
Care: full sun in well-drained soil, drought tolerant, deer resistant.
Native: Afghanistan
Awards: Great Plant Pick Award from Elizabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden and Perennial Plant Association 1995 Perennial Plant of the Year.Perovskia was named for V.A. Perovski, governor of a Russian province in central Asia around 1890. Introduced to American gardens in 1904. Recommended by Gertrude Jekyll in 1908.
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Saponaria ocymoides Rock soapwort Z 4-9
Cheery pink soapwort, in late spring, hugs the ground
Cheery pink soapwort, in late spring, hugs the ground. Good for rock gardens, front of border or groundcover.
Size: 3" x 18"
Care: Sun, well-drained soil, cut back hard after flowering
Native: Spain to YugoslaviaBoth the botanical and common names come from the plant’s use as soap, the leaves “yeelde out of themselves a certain juice when they are bruised, which scoureth almost as well as sope.” Gerard (1633). Soapwort is still used today by antique and art restorers for its gentle cleaning: chop dried leaves and roots, boil in water for 5 minutes, and then agitate to make suds. William Robinson, father of today’s mixed perennial border gardens, praised this as bearing “masses of rosy blooms.” American garden cultivation since 1800’s. Received England’s Royal Horticultural Society Award of Merit.
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Scabiosa lucida Pincushion flower Z 4-9
Lilac pincushions all summer & fall
Lilac pincushions all summer & fall
Size: 8" x 12"
Care: full sun in moist well-drained to well-drained soil. Drought tolerant.
Native: Central and Eastern Europe
Wildlife Value: attracts butterfliesScabiosa from Latin scabies referring to the itch caused by a mite infestation, which another Scabiosa species allegedly cured. Collected before 1779.
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Scabiosa ochroleuca Cream pincushion Z 4-9
June-October ivory pincushions atop wiry stems
Looking for a non-stop bloomer? June-October ivory pincushions atop wiry stems
Size: 18"-24" x 18"
Care: sun to part shade in moist well-drained soil. Drought tolerant.
Native: Europe & Asia
Wildlife Value: attracts butterfliesThe name scabiosa from Latin scabies refers to the mite infestation that this plant was supposed to cure; ochroleuca means “yellowish white.” In gardens by 1753.
