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Choosing plants for your landscaping can be challenging. Some will thrive in your local climate. Some will not. And if you live in a place that’s drought-prone, you need to give some real thought to your landscaping choices.
Fortunately, there are drought-tolerant plants out there. And in this article, we’ll give you some basic information about some of the best for your yard.
If you live in a dry part of the country and you’re looking to add some visually appealing elements to your yard, you’ve come to the right place.
Here are some of the best drought-tolerant plants to consider.
Wild Lilac
This species is as fragrant as it is colorful. Plus, you can use this plant in a variety of ways. Feature it as ground cover or incorporate it in your hedges and borders. You can even use it as a screen.
Wild Lilac is an evergreen plant that can grow upright, low and spreading, or compact and bushy. You have a lot of options.
On top of all of that, the average shrub has a lifespan of 10 to 25 years. And it needs no fertilizer, except in the poorest of soil.
Wild Lilac produces purple, blue or white blooms. It’s fine with full sun exposure. It can also thrive in average soil with dry to medium moisture. You won’t have to water it once it’s established except during prolonged dry spells.
Trumpet Vines
Trumpet vines only need lean to average soil with dry to average moisture to grow. They produce red or orange blooms in summer, making them as attractive as they are resilient. Plus, their flowers tend to attract hummingbirds.
Although they die every winter, they typically grow back in the spring. They flower best with full sun exposure, though a little shade is just fine in the hottest climates.
A word of caution, though: Trumpet vines grow aggressively and can choke out nearby plants. You’ll want to prune them regularly to prevent damage to nearby plants.
Once these vines are established, you won’t have to water them at all unless it gets extremely hot or it’s been a long while since the last rainfall.
New Zealand Tea Tree
New Zealand tea tree is actually a shrub, but it can easily be pruned so that it looks more like a small tree. Unlike the other plants mentioned here, it needs rich, acidic soil with medium moisture to do well. Be sure to take that into account.
However, while you will need to water it regularly during the first year to keep it consistently moist, it does have some drought tolerance. It will only require a moderate amount of moisture once it’s established.
New Zealand tea trees can handle full sun exposure, and the eye-catching flowers in red, pink or white can bring bees to your garden during the summer months. Plus, its bark is used for various preparations in alternative medicine, and its leaves provide essential oils.
More Drought-Tolerant Plants to Consider
In addition to the varieties mentioned above, you may also want to consider some other drought-friendly plants.
Lavender
The stunning bluish-purple flowers bloom through the entire growing season. Plus, they can be dried and used in sachets and potpourris.
Aloe
Aloe needs dry, sandy soil. However, thrives in dry, hot climates with full sun exposure.
Pride of Madeira
Pride of Madeira grows five to six feet tall, spreading six to ten feet. It will stand out in your yard, producing white or blue-violet blooms.
Wrapping Up
Remember, you can have beautiful landscaping even in the most arid climate. You just need to do a little planning before you head to the nursery. As the list above shows, there are plenty of dry-climate plants that will look beautiful.
And if you want the end result without having to do all the work, take this list to your landscaper and ask them to keep the climate in mind when picking plants for your yard.
