Xeriscaping: Gardening with Drought
Just a few years ago, terms like “heat dome” and “atmospheric river” would have been unknown to most of us. As climate change continues to bring more extremes in weather, we’re having to adapt to new language and new environmental realities.
With careful plant selection and changing garden management methods, we can still have healthy and thriving gardens. Our local climate pattern is having wet winters and long, dry spells from spring into summer that end in early fall. This long dry spell is when plants need the most water and must adapt to coping with drought.
Lawns are heavy users of water requiring about 1” irrigation per week to stay lush. Fortunately, grass is adapted to going dormant and brown during dry spells. During this period, grass needs little mowing and recovers easily when moisture returns. Brown lawns will be the new norm during our summers.
Alternatives to lawns should be considered. For seating and living spaces, consider hard surfaces such as pavers, flat stones, concrete, or gravel. For ground covers, consider bark or rock such as river rock, white marble, or lava pebbles. Each material has unique properties, such as bark breaking down into useful organic matter for the soil and requiring regular replacement. While rock is permanent, it needs to be cleaned up from falling debris and will often heat up the root zones of surrounding plants during the summer. Permeable fabric can help under mulch, but do not use impermeable plastic film. A natural alternative to lawns could be seeding to a natural meadow with a mixture of grass and self-seeding and perennial flowers. This would require little maintenance and benefit pollinating insects.
Reduce water loss by creating shade and wind barriers. This is achieved by planting shade trees and hedges. Trees should be positioned for shade from the afternoon and evening sun. Beside creating privacy, hedges will create shelter from the prevailing winds. A common direction for local prevailing winds is from the south-east. Make sure to select a drought tolerant hedge such as Leyland Cypress. On a smaller scale, elegant shade areas can be created by building an arbor.
The most drought tolerant garden still requires irrigation and this must be done in the most efficient way possible. Summer water restrictions are common, so one must make the best use of what is available. Shut off your lawn irrigation and use a drip system that places water where the plant needs it. Hand watering with a can or a hose with an attached shutoff is desirable for planters, vegetable gardens, and annuals. Overhead sprinklers are the least efficient in hot weather. Mornings are the best times for watering; plants that start the day with moisture see a reduction in leaf disease.
Mulching is the most effective way to conserve soil moisture. It reduces evaporation, suppresses weeds that remove water, and breaks down into useful organic matter. The most common mulch used locally is bark mulch, with the finer grinds breaking down quickly into useful organic material that improves soil structure. Other materials include sawdust and straw, which are not as attractive looking. Compost made on site or purchased as products—like fish compost—work well to enrich the soil. Do not discount using garden refuse such as fall leaves and garden debris placed on garden beds. They all replenish the organic matter that healthy soils require.
All plants, even the most drought-tolerant ones, require irrigation and proper planting to become established to cope with dry and stressful conditions. This is usually in the second or third season after planting. Plants can get a head start by being planted in fall when natural moisture is available, giving the root system more time to penetrate the native subsoils before the dry season arrives. When planting, add plenty of organic material to improve soil structure and water retention. The addition of a balanced fertilizer increases the vigour of the plant to establish itself. Water new plants deeply but not too frequently to help draw the root system down deep. Frequent, light watering creates shallow roots that stress the plant in dry conditions.
We have some excellent native plants that are well-adapted to local conditions. Some of these have specific requirements for soil and light. Many ornamental plants are suited to a wide variety of conditions and can bring more diversity to your garden. As our plant lists show, there are a large number of attractive plants available for increasingly challenging growing conditions. They will create the diversity needed for an attractive looking and ecologically diverse garden.
Drought-Tolerant Plant Lists
Read on for examples of hardy drought-tolerant plants for your garden!
Prefer to print out a list? Download our PDF version here.
Shrubs
| Botanical Name | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Buddleia | Butterfly Bush |
| Berberis | Barberry |
| Buxus | Boxwood |
| Ceanothus | California Lilac |
| Caryopteris | Bluebeard |
| Cistus | Rock Rose |
| Cotinus | Smoke Bush |
| Cortaderia | Pampas Grass |
| Euonymus | Burning Bush |
| Forsythia | |
| Genista | |
| Hippophae | Sea Buckthorn |
| Juniperus | Juniper |
| Kerria japonica | |
| Kolkwitzia | Beauty Bush |
| Lonicera | Honeysuckle |
| Mahonia | Oregon Grape |
| Philadelphus | Mock Orange |
| Physocarpus | Ninebark |
| Pinus | Pine |
| Potentilla | Cinquefoil |
| Pyracantha | Firethorn |
| Ribes | Currant |
| Rhus | Sumac |
| Rosa | Rose |
| Rosmarinus | Rosemary |
| Sarcococca | Sweet Box |
| Senecio greyi | |
| Spiraea | |
| Symphoricarpos | Snowberry |
| Syringa | Lilac |
| Tamarix | Tamarisk |
| Taxus | Yew |
| Viburnum | |
| Yucca |
Perennials
| Botanical Name | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Achillea | Yarrow |
| Ajuga reptans | Bugleweed |
| Alcea rosea | Hollyhock |
| Alchemilla mollis | Lady’s Mantle |
| Alyssum | Alyssum |
| Aquilegia | Columbine |
| Arabis | Rock Cress |
| Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | Kinnikinnick |
| Armeria | Thrift or Sea Pink |
| Artemisia schmidtiana | Silver Mound |
| Aubrieta | Rock Cress |
| Cerastium | Snow-in-Summer |
| Convallaria majalis | Lily-of-the-Valley |
| Coreopsis | |
| Epimedium | |
| Eryngium | Sea Holly |
| E. californica | California Poppy |
| Gaillardia | Blanket Flower |
| Geranium | Cranesbill |
| Gypsophila | Baby's Breath |
| Helleborus orientalis | Lenten Rose |
| Helianthemum | Rock Rose |
| Hemerocallis | Daylilies |
| lberis | Candytuft |
| Iris | |
| Kniphofia uvaria | Red Hot Poker |
| Lavandula | Lavender |
| Lewisia | |
| Lupinus | Lupin |
| Papaver | Poppy |
| Perovskia | Russian Sage |
| Polygonatum | Solomon's Seal |
| Polystichum munitum | Sword Fern |
| Pulsatilla | Prairie Crocus |
| Romneya | California Tree Poppy |
| Rudbeckia | Black-eyed Susan |
| Salvia | Sage |
| Santolina | Lavender Cotton |
| Sedum | Stonecrop |
| Sempervivum | Hens and Chicks |
| Stachys | Lamb's-ear |
| T. serpyllum | Thyme |
Trees
| Botanical Name | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Albizia julibrissin | Silk Tree |
| Aralia elata | Japanese Angelica |
| Arbutus menziesii | Arbutus Tree |
| Catalpa speciosa | Indian Bean |
| Cedrus atlantica | Atlas Cedar |
| Cedrus deodara | Himalayan Cedar |
| Crataegus | Hawthorn |
| Elaeagnus angustifolia | Russian Olive |
| Eucalyptus | |
| Fraxinus | Ash |
| Ginkgo biloba | Maidenhair |
| Gleditsia triacanthos | Honey Locust |
| Juglans | Walnut |
| Koelreuteria paniculata | Golden Rain |
| Morus | Mulberry |
| Pinus | Pine |
| Platanus x acerifolia | London Plane |
| Prunus laurocerasus | English Laurel |
| Prunus lusitanica | Portuguese Laurel |
| Pseudotsuga menziesii | Douglas Fir |
| Quercus | Oak |
| Robinia pseudoacacia | Black Locust |
| Sequoiadendron giganteum | Giant Sequoia |
Annuals
| Botanical Name | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Celosia | |
| Cleome | |
| Cosmos | |
| Gazania | African Daisies |
| Lantana | |
| Mesembryanthemum | Ice Plant |
| Osteospermum | |
| Portulaca | Rose Moss |
| Verbena |
Bulbs
| Botanical Name | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Allium | Ornamental Onion |
| Anemone | Windflower |
| Autumn | Crocus |
| Lilium | Lily |
| Muscari | Grape Hyacinths |
| Narcissus | Daffodil |
| Ranunculus | Persian Buttercup |
| Tulips |
Herbs
| Botanical Name | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Borage | |
| Catnip | |
| Chamomile | |
| Chives | |
| Cilantro | |
| Comfrey | |
| Garlic | |
| Horseradish | |
| Lovage | |
| Mint | |
| Oregano | |
| Rosemary | |
| Sage | |
| Savory | |
| Tarragon | |
| Thyme |