Drought Tolerant Plants for a Wild Garden
As our climate changes, it’s imperative (especially here in the American West) that home and commercial landscapes become drought tolerant while also supporting wildlife such as pollinators, birds, and animals. In addition to western landscapes, many regions across the world are also experiencing unprecedented drought-like conditions which is taking a toll on ecosystems and water reserves. Unfortunately, fresh water is increasingly becoming a limited natural resource which impacts many facets of Western life, such as agriculture and municipal drinking water.
One of the ways water is wasted in the west is on landscapes filled with non-water-wise plants and lawns. Deep green lawns have long been a status symbol for the middle and upper class across America. While lawns in the desert might still symbolize wealth, I argue that we’re now entering an era where they also symbolize wastefulness, climate denialism, and a disconnection from nature. I say that boldly, knowing full well that a requirement for flipping a lawn into a drought tolerant, wild-life supporting landscape is in fact wealth and privilege. I acknowledge that there are many climate conscious and nature-connected individuals that do not have the resources to replace their landscapes. Its a big hurdle to overcome for those lacking resources. If you have the resources, the time is now to take action. Our land needs this, we need this. The good news is that states in the West are waking up this problem and some have implemented water-wise rebate programs to help homeowners flip their yards. This a great resource to take advantage of if it’s offered in your area. Check with your local municipality for offerings and water-conservation programs. If you’re like me and lack significant financial funds to rewild your land all at once, then start small - one little area at a time. As I rewild my land, cultivating a drought tolerant and wildlife friendly space is paramount to my landscape design plans.
The Downside to Xero-scaping
Many people think xero-scaping is the answer, but often this popular style of landscaping can cause more harm than good if it’s not implemented with the native landscape in mind. The problem with xero-scaping is that the lack of vegetation and the abundance of stones creates a heat dome over the land during the summer and it leaves homes fully exposed to winter weathering. Xero-scaping is not necessarily less maintenance because weed seeds travel by wind. Have you ever weeded rocks on a hot day? It’s blistering hell. Yes, xero-scaping uses the least amount of water but as a result it kills the top soil which means rainfall washes away rather than being captured to use later or absorbed into the the soil table like a sponge in water. Xero-scaping makes landscapes significantly hotter and eliminates habitats for wildlife and pollinators.
Alternatively, drought-tolerant plants use minimal water, prevent soil erosion, support soil health, create shade and cooling pockets, protect homes from weathering, filter air, transpire water into the atmosphere which ultimately creates clouds, provide habitats and food for wildlife, and offer visual interest in a landscape. Water-wise landscaping is the best option for the future.
Drought Tolerant Landscaping
In this blog post, I’m sharing a list of trees, shrubs, flowering perennials, grasses and ground covers that are drought tolerant. It is my intention to introduce you to water-wise plants that support wildlife in drought-stricken climates. Many of these plants are either native to the Intermountain West or naturalized to this region. Each of these plants grow very well in unaltered rocky, sandy soil that is well draining and slightly alkaline. Once established, they require little supplemental watering and can withstand both intense winters and prolonged dry summers. Furthermore, each of these plants support the natural ecosystem by providing habitats and food for pollinators, birds and animals.
Many of these plants can be sourced at local nurseries across the West as well as in other regions across the Northern Hemisphere. I strongly advise conducting your own research on plants before installing them into your landscape, primarily because some plants can be invasive in one region while being benefical in another region. For example: Cornflower (a drought-tolerant wildflower) is invasive in Idaho, but not invasive in the neighboring state of Utah. One of my favorite nursuries, High Country Gardens, specializes in cultivars that are grown for sustainable gardens in the Intermountain West. When I plan my garden each year, I like to research plants on High Country Garden’s website for specific areas in my garden, then develop a list of plants that I’m interested in planting. I take that list to my local nursery and If I don't see the plant in stock, I’ll ask them to special order it directly from the grower.
Drought Resistant Garden Design Inspiration
One of my favorite drought-tolerant landscape designers is the late Beth Chatto, from the UK. It feels a bit ironic for an English gardener to be an expert on drought-tolerant landscapes considering the infamous green and rainy climate of the UK. Howeve,r there are microclimates in the UK and other areas in Northern Europe that share similar traits (such as gravely soil and arid conditions) to landscapes in the West. The UK and many other historically rainy landscapes are increasingly experiencing prolonged heat waves and droughts. I highly recommend thumbing through her book “Drought Resistant Planting: Lessons from Beth Chatto’s Gravel Garden” for inspiration on plants and planting arrangements for the landscape.
NOTE: This plant list is not exhaustive, it’s merely a good starting point.
Drought Tolerant Grasses for Landscaping
Indian Rice Grass (Achnatherum hymenoides)
Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
Purple Three-Awn (Aristida purpurea)
Giant Reed Grass (Arundo donax)
Sideoats Grama Grass (Bouteloua curtipendula)
Blue Grama Grass (Bouteloua gracilis)
Buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides)
Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis acutiflora)
Tufted Hair Grass (Deschampsia caespitosa)
Blue Fescue (Festuca ovina glauca)
Blue Oat Grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens)
Mexican Feather Grass (Nassella tenuissima)
Drought Tolerant Perennial Flowers for Landscaping
Agastache
Prairie Aster (Machaeranthera tanacetifolia)
Oregon Sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum)
Mexican Hat (Ratibida columnifera)
Hoary Vervain (Verbena hastata)
Lewis Flax (Linum lewisii)
Palmer Penstemon (Penstemon palmeri)
Prairie Spiderwort (Tradescantia occidentalis)
Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea)
Rocky Mtn. Penstemon (Penstemon strictus)
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristate)
Beebalm | Wild Bergamont (Monarda)
Goldenrod (Solidago)
White Sage (Artemisia ludoviciana)
Stonecrop (Sedum)
Lavender (Lavandula)
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Russian Sage (Salvia yangii)
Salvia
Catmint (Nepeta Faassenii)
Coneflower (Ecchinacea)
Larkspur (Delphinium)
Wallflower (Erysimum)
Yarrow (Achillea Millefolium)
Drought Tolerant Shrubs for Landscaping
Yucca
Desert Mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigu)
Apache Plume (Fallugia)
Wood’s Rose (Rosea woodsii) (in addition to many varieties of roses)
Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium)
Rabbit Brush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus)
Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata)
Mormon Tea (Ephedra viridis)
Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) (grows to medium tree height)
Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus) (grows to medium tree height)
Butterfly Bush (Buddleja)
Desert Peach (Prunus andersonii)
Three Leaf sumac (Rhus trilabota)
Crandall's Clove Scented Currant (Ribes)
Fernbush (Chamaebatiaria)
Cheyenne Mock Orange (Philadelphus lewisii)
Service Berry (Amelanchier)
Ninebark (Physocarpus)
Lilac (Syringa)
Smoke Bush (Cotinus coggygria)
CACTi
Sotol / Desert Spoon (Dasylirion wheeleri)
Englemann Hedgehog (Echinocereus englmannii)
Claretcup Cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus)
Beavertail Cactus (Opuntia basilaris)
Hedgehog Prickly Pear (Opuntia erinacea)
Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia phaeacantha)
Plains Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia polyacantha)
Drought Tolerant Trees for Landscaping
Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)
Crabapple
Black Hawthorne (Crataegus douglasii)
Juniper (Juniperus)
Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)
Flowering Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
Scrub Oak (Quercus ilicifolia)
Pinyon Pine (Pinacaea)
Drought Tolerant Ground Cover for Landscaping
Creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
Wooly thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
Creeping Phlox (Phlox stolonifera)
Turkish Veronica Speedwell (Veronica liwanensis)
Star Carpet (Ruschia lineolata)
Ice Plant (Aizoaceae)
Snow in Summer (Cerastium tomentosum)
Silver Mound Artemisia (Artemisia schmidtiana)
Horizontal Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis)
Have you been experiencing drought in your region?
How do you feel about transitioning your outdoor green space to a low-water wildlife-supporting garden?