Looking for plants that thrive in dry hot conditions that don't require routine H2O.?

Question

especially a good shade tree, some flowering hedges (or w/great foliage color), and flowering plants, any veggies. thanks!

Answer 1

Xeric shade trees with flowers;
Goldenrain tree Koelreuteria paniculata has yellow pea-like flowers in July followed by lantern-like pods in late http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/k/koepan/koepan1.htmlsummer. Mid sized tree at 30 feet.
Nurseries selling this tree http://davesgarden.com/ps/search.php?search_text=Koelreuteria+paniculata

Western catalpa Catalpa speciosa is native from southern Illinois to Arkansas. Grown for it's showy flowers.
http://www.hort.uconn.edu/Plants/c/catspe/catspe1.html
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/trees-new/catalpa_speciosa.html
5 nurseries list this tree
http://davesgarden.com/ps/search.php?search_text=Catalpa+speciosa&submit=Search

Most garden catalogs will tell you if a plant is "drought resistant" or "drought tolerant," although most expect you to have enough water for whatever they sell. Seeds of Change is one of the few plant catalogs which uses Xeric water symbols for crop plants.
Seeds of Change
http://www.seedsofchange.com/garden_center/browse_category.asp?category_id=3

For full xeric gardening High Country gardens offers a broad selection of drought tolerant plants.
For hedging a budleia will flower mid summer. http://www.highcountrygardens.com/catalog/product/27140/
Fern bush Chamaebatiera millifolium http://www.highcountrygardens.com/catalog/product/35240/
I saw this growing in Sedona and hoped I could have it but I live in the great North wet so can't grow it. This is a goreous plant http://www.highcountrygardens.com/catalog/product/69435/
However I have managed one of these planted in sand so it never drowns. Ceanothus, California lilac http://www.laspilitas.com/garden/California_native_hedges.html

Answer 2

Hi. I live in Australia and we are in water restrictions where I live. I have discovered the best plants over the last 4 years that have survived with little or no water are the Mediterannean types (geranium, pelargonium, potato vine, rosemary, lavendar), the Australian natives (murraya - it's like a soft green hedge with white flowers that smell like honey - it grows so well in the heat and I never water it. It trims nicely and thickly for a hedge) and African natives (agapanthus, ground cover daisies). I have some Japanese Sasanqua Camellias that seem to tolerate the hot Australian summers amazingly. They are glossy leafy green and their winter flowers beautiful. I also have hedges along my fencelines of gardenias (lovely fragrant summer flowers) and hebes with purple flowers. I have a flowering plum, but I do have to water it with a bucket at least once a week in the really hot weather. It's worth it for the summer blossoms though.

Answer 3

certainly Cacti have eye-catching vegetation interior the spring, and after the 1st frost interior the autumn, the berries are a handle! (a minimum of on the wild cactus that grows right here in southern Alberta - different types may be poisonous or some thing.) besides, i will plant some interior the aspects that get overlooked via the sprinkler. "Bulb vegetation" seem to do properly in my warm spots. Onions, garlic, sage, etc. There are some tulips right here that the final human beings planted and that they are actually becoming wild. (even with the undeniable fact that they do get water once I water the backyard) additionally peonies have extensive vegetation and that i do no longer something in any respect to shield them different than reducing them off on the floor interior the autumn. I had a similar undertaking you do - warm dry belongings that appeared to be suited for weeds and not lots else... so I planted some wood and trees for shade to relax the soil and positioned down deep mulch to maintain moisture interior the soil. The wood/trees are lilac, cedar, juniper, dogwood, a blue spruce, a nanking cherry and choke cherry (to pollinate the nanking), and many Irish moss for floor cover. preserving the soil cool is 0.5 the conflict, and irish moss is floor cover that grows hundreds of tiny vegetation as quickly because it establishes. Now i will enhance tremendously much something that would stay via wintry climate, and that's certainly beginning as much as seem tremendously good. a pair greater years and that i could be tremendously lots accomplished. Oh yeah, don't be afraid to pass to a backyard centre or green abode and ask questions. that's greater desirable than Canadian Tire or Wal-mart. The backyard centre helped me out lots. good success, wish this facilitates.

Answer 4

You should look into native plants for your area. They are best adapted to your climatic zone. For instance, in California, there are beautiful shrubs called Ceanothus (California wild lilac) which actually do not do well if they have too much water. Check with your nearest Native Plant society. Also look at foothill Palo Verde trees.

Answer 5

Lavendar is a great low-water plant. There are tons of different varieties with different foliage and blossom color, they're bush-like, they flower prolificly, and they're fragrant!

Answer 6

Any variety of sedum works well in dry conditions. They come in all sizes and colors. I planted a south facing slope with them and zebra grass it looks great.

Answer 7

Lantana, anything with the word "Texas" in the title, and for the tree-- try a non-fruiting gum.