Drought, Xeric & Dry Soil Plants
Showing 25–32 of 133 results
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Calamintha nepeta ssp. nepeta syn. Clinopodium nepeta ssp. nepeta Lesser calamint Z 4-9
Profuse violet blooms on mint-scented, gray-green foliage gives frosty image, June-October
Profuse violet blooms on mint-scented, gray-green foliage gives frosty image, June-October
Size: 18-24” x 8-12”
Native: Europe and Mediterranean
Wildlife Value: attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirdsThis subspecies 1st described by Linnaeus in 1753. Genus name comes from Greek kalos meaning beautiful and minthe meaning mint. It is not, however, a mint and is not invasive.
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Callirhoe involucrata Wine cups, Prairie poppy mallow
Magenta-purple upfacing cups, June - October
Magenta-purple upfacing cups, June – October, non-stop. Wonderful for rock gardens or as a ground cover.
Size: 6" x 12"
Care: Full sun in well-drained soil. Drought tolerant
Native: Missouri to TexasAlthough an American prairie native, Callirhoe is named for the daughter of the Greek river god. Teton Dakota burned its dried root for smoke to cure the common cold and aches and pains. First collected by Thomas Nuttall in 1834. Ferry’s 1876 catalog described it as having “a trailing habit, of great beauty.” William Robinson extolled Prairie mallow as “excellent for the rock garden, bearing a continuous crop of showy blossoms from early summer till late in autumn.”
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Centranthus ruber Jupiter’s beard, red valerian, Pretty Betsy Z 5-8
Cluster of crimson, star-shaped florets atop 2’ stems bloom their heads of ALL summer into fall.
OUT OF STOCK
Cluster of crimson, star-shaped florets atop 2’ stems bloom their heads of ALL summer into fall.
Size: 24-36”x 12”
Care: Sun in well-drained alkaline soil, drought tolerant
Native: Mediterranean
Wildlife Value: attracts butterflies, bees and hover flies.Centranthus is from the Greek meaning “spurred flower.” According to Culpepper, an English herbalist from the early 1600’s, this plant comforts the heart and stirs up lust. Parkinson, in 1629 describes it “of a fine red colour, very pleasant to behold.”
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Cerastium biebersteinii Mouse ear Z 4-7
White felt-like foliage, covered with white flowers
White felt-like foliage, covered with white flowers in spring. Makes a wonderful groundcover.
Size: 6" x spreading
Care: Sun in well-drained soil
Native: TauriaCerastium is from the Greek keras meaning horn because of the shape of the seed capsule. Six inch tall, spreading, small chalky-velvet leaves. Rarely offered but should be. Used as a groundcover for its frosted, felt-like foliage under tropical plants in Victorian gardens. American gardens since 1860.
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Clematis ternifolia Sweet Autumn clematis Z 4-8
Fragrant, small white blossoms smother this vigorous vine
Fragrant, small white blossoms smother this vigorous vine in September and October.
Can not ship to: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
Size: 15-20’ x 6-10’
Care: Sun moist well-drained soil mulched. Flowers on current year’s wood. Cut back in early spring to 6-8” above the soil.
Native: JapanThe genus Clematis was named by Dioscordes, physician in Nero’s army, from “klema” meaning climbing plant. In 1877 seeds of this vine sent from Russia to the Arnold Arboretum in Boston, then distributed to nurseries throughout America.
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Clematis virginiana Virgin’s bower, Devil’s darning needles Z 4-8
July-September star-like white blossoms
July-September star-like white blossoms cover this vine – good for clambering up small trees.
Size: 12-20’ x 4’
Care: Sun to shade moist well-drained soil. Flowers on new stems so cut back in late winter or early spring to 6-8” above the ground.
Native: Nova Scotia to Georgia and as far west as Kansas, Wisconsin nativeThe genus Clematis was named by Dioscordes, physician in Nero’s army, from “klema” meaning climbing plant. One of 1st No. American plants sent to Europe – grew in Tradescant the Elder’s South Lambeth nursery in 1634. Grown by Jefferson at Monticello in 1807. Described by Breck in his 1851 book The Flower Garden: “The flowers are white borne upon cymes, and make a handsome appearance.” Cherokee mixed this plant with milkweed to remedy backaches. A root extract cured stomach aches, nervous conditions and kidney ailments. For the Iroquois powdered root fixed venereal disease sores and an extract of the stem brought on strange dreams. Pressed specimen in Emily Dickinson’s herbarium.
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Coreopsis rosea Pink tickseed Z 4-8
Dainty (appearing but actually tough) pink daisies with yellow centers from summer through autumn, very long blooming. Wonderful for rock gardens, groundcover or front of border.
Dainty (appearing but actually tough) pink daisies with yellow centers from summer through autumn, very long blooming. Wonderful for rock gardens, groundcover or front of border.
Size: 12” x 12” spreading
Care: full sun in well-drained soil. Slow to emerge in spring.
Native: Eastern No. AmericaCoreopsis is Greek meaning “buglike” referring to the seeds looking like little black bugs. Thomas Nuttall 1st collected this flower in 1815 about 20 miles NW of Savannah along the river. He described its native habitat: “in open grassy swamps from New Jersey to Georgia…” William Robinson, father of the mixed perennial border called this “a neat and pretty plant.” In 1913 Sanders wrote that it “make(s) a brilliant display of color (when) grown in masses in sunny borders.”
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Coreopsis verticillata Thread leafed tickseed Z 4-9
All summer into fall, non-stop - yolk yellow daisies
All summer into fall, free-blooming non-stop – yolk yellow daisies atop wirey stems.
Size: 24" x 18" spreading
Care: Sun to part shade well-drained soil, drought tolerant
Native: S.E. U.S.
Wildlife Value: attracts butterfliesExported from its native America to England in 1759. Used to dye cloth red.
