Drought, Xeric & Dry Soil Plants
Showing 121–124 of 144 results
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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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Saponaria ocymoides Rock soapwort Z 4-8
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.
