Drought tolerant plant choices
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8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
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Nil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Your favorite drought tolerant companion plant?s
Comments (17)I'm trying to get perennials going, especially gypsophilia paniculata, but it hasn't bloomed yet, tried some crushed drywall (chalky) to lower the ph a little. Coreopsis went double on me, loved that, but hard to train right, cut it back. I have grown annual salvia 2 years now but want to go perennial where I used that, blue crystal this year and sangria last year, also a freebie yellow coneflower looks nice, meadow sage is good, haven't had time to mulch it yet and can't get that bed watered much. Some Color Parade lilies. Trying to get some delphs and white foxglove going. Crazy daisy should bloom next year. And catmint, not doing much this year but hangin' in there. Annual alyssum is very drought tolerant. White, pink and purple phlox. I stuck in some Rudbeckia Prairie Sun, very striking but not where it is, supposed to self-seed. I want something medium height or tallish with purple bells. What might that be? Failed twice trying to get campanula? ladybells going from seed, will give it one more shot. Russian sage I love but it gets too big, should try to find the smaller variety. Finally, clematis. Have two kinds going well now; one too young yet, one won't bloom, and one isn't happy where I put it. Many of the plants people in warmer zones are using doubt will grow in my zone....See MoreWhat are your fav California natives or drought tolerant plants?
Comments (19)You could try checking out Las Pilitas Nursery ( http://www.laspilitas.com/ ); it has quite an extensive database for native plants--including a native plant "finder" that will find something that suits your situation (though planting in proximity to the lawn might pose some issues from competition for nutrients). My personal favorites for California native plants are (as my ID indicates) Manzanitas (which aren't quite suitable to be placed nearby the lawn), California Fuchsias (these can be planted closer to the lawn if you want), Monkeyflowers (Mimulus guttatus can live nearby the lawn, being that it lives in riparian habitats in the wild), and Sages (there's so many aromatic sages in California, with some species capable of tolerating more water). California has quite diverse climate that produces various natives suitable for a multitude of environments; there's probably something that can work for you. This post was edited by CAManzanita on Mon, Sep 2, 13 at 19:21...See MoreFavorite drought tolerant plants
Comments (31)Chitown33, Since we moved here, I have been interested in plants that naturally do well here. We found a great designer and landscaping company that installed them. I just try to keep them going. I'm not a gardener; I'm really more of a natural history enthusiast. As time goes on, I am working up to gardening. I had to learn about handling really basic things like watering, fertilizing, mulching, weeding and stuff. When I was in school at the U of A, I took a plant science class and had friends in RNR. The UA campus is a certified arboretum, and a stroll on campus is an education in what marvelous plants grow in their arid climate. Everybody in AZ lives outside and most have at least a passing acquaintance with nature. So, I am more inclinded to discover what grows here naturally or at least happily and the local ecology and weather. It's been very absorbing here, and I am still enjoying learning about it. I was just kidding really, because I thoroughly enjoy my midwestern plants. Essentially, I just want a pot of prickly pear and maybe some creosote bush, for that great "desert rain" smell. Something I could bring in during the winter. We have several very hot southwest windows. We went on vacation back to Tucson, I picked up a package of ocotillo seeds, and it should be fun trying to get them started in a pot....See MoreDrought tolerant plants dying after planting?
Comments (4)I would check the soil in the root zone depth of the new plants. I agree that 10 minutes sounds like far too short a time to water, and two days seems too frequent. Check to make sure the soil is at least a little moist a foot or two deep around the plants. For the first year I'd make sure the plants have moderate to ample moisture in the soil all summer. After that, they should be established well enough to need only perhaps a monthly very deep, thorough watering. One possible problem with the plants is that the planting hole is probably softened soil in what may be hard, relatively impermeable soil, so all your water is saturating the planting hole. In effect, your plants may be sitting in a hole full of water. On the other hand, they might be getting too little water. Before you change what you are doing, dig around a little and see how wet the soil is. Moist soil is good, mud or dusty conditions are bad. If moisture seems OK, maybe it is just bad luck. I'd would expect to lose a plant or two, but you shouldn't lose more than 10 or 20% even with really bad luck....See MoreJXBrown (Sunset 24, N San Diego County)
8 years agoJXBrown (Sunset 24, N San Diego County)
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8 years agoSuzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b
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8 years agoJXBrown (Sunset 24, N San Diego County)
8 years agoJXBrown (Sunset 24, N San Diego County)
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8 years agosocalgal_gw Zone USDA 10b Sunset 24
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoJXBrown (Sunset 24, N San Diego County)
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8 years agosocalgal_gw Zone USDA 10b Sunset 24
8 years agoJXBrown (Sunset 24, N San Diego County)
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8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoNil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)
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8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoNil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)
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Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b