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12 drought-tolerant perennials for an English cottage garden

Flower & Garden Magazine, Dec, 1995 by Lynda A. Pozel

THREE YEARS AGO I TURNED MY city lot into an English cottage garden brimming with droughttolerant perennials in muted shades of pinks and purples, accented with white. I chose plants that would thrive with little water because I didn't want to go to the trouble and expense of installing a sprinkler or drip-irrigation system, nor did I want to devote hours to watering. Yet I wanted a lush garden--one that flourished rather than merely survived.

Although I garden in a mild climate, the vegetation and soil are subjected to long rain-free periods and drying winds. Additional water is needed during the summer and fall to maintain a lawn and typical garden plants. With my garden of drought-tolerant shrubs and perennials, how ever, I water only enough to get them established and then once every couple of months, if no rain falls.

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In addition to selecting plants that don't require much water, I have found that mulching the beds is the most important thing I do. Mulching reduces evaporation and acts as a barrier to the drying effect of both sun and wind. In my garden I use a layer of bark 2 to 4 inches thick. The small 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces make an attractive mulch that complements the garden's delicate textures. An added bonus is that it suppresses weeds by smothering their seeds and providing a place inhospitable to germination. The few weeds that do sprout are easily pulled from the loose bark layer.

Plants cope with drought in ways that not only conserve water but also contribute to their aesthetic value. Silver- and gray-foliaged plants are an outstanding example. These plants have developed a coating of fine hairs on the leaf surfaces, producing felted, woolly or satiny textures that are delightful to see. More importantly, these surfaces help the plants conserve moisture because they reflect light, reduce transpiration and protect from the desiccating effect of wind. I have included several silvery plants in my garden, including Artemisia `Powis Castle,' lamb's ears, sunrose, catmint, yarrow and lavenders.

Other plants protect themselves with a waxy coating that gives a glaucous, bluish cast to the leaves; plants such as toadflax and wallflower `Bowles Mauve' are examples. Deep or extensive root systems protect Santa Barbara daisy, Mexican evening primrose and apple blossom grass. Still other plants, such as Spanish lavender, have small, needlelike leaves that reduce transpiration and protect them from the drying wind. All of these plants are suitable for a garden with an English cottage look.

So if you're like me and want to spend less time and money on watering but still want a lush cottagegarden feel, then give these 12 perennials a try. All are drought tolerant and thrive with full sun; a couple also do well in light shade (see accompanying chart for specifics).

The first two choices, apple blossom grass and yarrow, are excellent for the tough conditions of extreme heat and humidity experienced in southern Florida and the Gulf Coast. Native to Louisiana and Texas, apple blossom grass (Gaura lindheimeri) has arching, sinuous stems that lend a graceful quality to the garden. The small, delicate-looking white flowers start as pink buds, open white, then again take on a rosy blush as they fade. Apple blossom grass is durable, fares well with little attention, tolerates extreme heat and drought and is not fussy about soil as long as it drains readily. Its delicate appearance belies its hardiness.

Yarrow (Achillea) has a lot to offer as a garden plant. The many varieties available vary from low mat-formers to tall border plants blooming in a complete palette of colors, from delicate pastels to vibrant, hot hues. Easily grown and undemanding, yarrow blooms profusely throughout the summer, into fall and even winter in mild climates. The 3-to 4-inch, flat-topped flower clusters sit cheerfully atop sturdy stems decorated with finely cut, fernlike leaves of either green or gray-green. Yarrow spreads by under ground roots so it will pop up to mingle with its neighbors, giving the garden a casual, carefree appearance. If new shoots pop up where you don't want them they can be pulled or the clumps dug and replanted elsewhere in the garden. Yarrow needs a sunny spot and is intolerant of heavy, wet soils, but otherwise is amazingly durable.

For covering the ground around apple blossom grass and yarrow choose sunrose or Santa Barbara daisy. All four plants thrive under the same conditions and are easy to grow in dry areas. The bright and cheery sunroses (Helianthemum nummularium) are low growers, usually to only about 6 inches. Depending on the variety, the leaves may be glossy green or fuzzy gray. They provide year-round interest in mild climates but should be covered with evergreen branches in cold-winter areas to keep them from dehydrating. The dainty 1inch single or double flowers open in the morning sun and drop their tissue paper-thin petals to the ground by nightfall. Since each wiry stem is loaded with buds, the plant is a solid flush of blooms for a couple months. Shear the sinewy flower stems back after they've finished blooming and you'll get another display in late summer or autumn.

12 drought-tolerant perennials for an English cottage garden

Flower & Garden Magazine, Dec, 1995 by Lynda A. Pozel

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