Drought Resistant Plants

The small, 1½-2" wide iris-like flowers are produced in varying pastel shades of lavender, purple, orange, yellow, pink, to red and the flowers may be solid colored (or clear) or may have varying degrees of contrasting darker flecking, blotches, etc. The plants flower over an extended season in summer and into fall and may be followed by fruits that burst open to reveal the blackberry-like clusters of shiny BB-sized fruit. The Candy Lily, xPardancanda norrisii now Iris x norrisii, is a clump-forming member of the iris family that readily multiplies and where allowed to, may also reseed. Provide an average moist soil in average to well-drained soils in a sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 349

Clusters of light pink, nicely fragrant, somewhat funnel-shaped to tubular flowers are held against a foil of coppery pink, long-lasting bracts and bright golden yellow foliage beginning in late spring to early summer and continuing into fall. Canyon Creek Glossy Abelia, an open pollinated seedling of Abelia chinense that was selected through Dr. Michael Dirr's breeding program at UGA, is a vigorous growing cultivar with some of the best yellow foliage of any shrub on the market today. The glossy, medium to fine-textured foliage starts out a contrasting coppery red and matures to bright sunny to golden yellow and finally to green in summer providing interest throughout the year and will have the best color where it receives at least a half a day or more of direct sunlight in a moderately fertile to rich soil. Utilize this tough and easy, evergreen to semi-evergreen medium to large shrub in the garden or landscape as a specimen plant or formal to informal hedge. The fragrance of the flowers in a bouquet can be enough to fill a room. Highly recommended. Item# 3073

Medium to large somewhat spidery trumpets are white with a glowing pink stripe down the center of each petal. The large clusters of flowers are held on sturdy stalks above the medium green strap-like foliage. This beautiful Crinum hybrid is suspected to be a Thad Howard cross. Item# 3142.

Like a midnight sky Carolina Midnight Loropetalum is definitely one of the darkest that we have come across. Dark burgundy rounded foliage contrasts with the near red frilly flowers in spring. New growth emerges a light reddish maroon. Chinese Witch Hazel is a nearly indestructible evergreen and can be pruned to form or allowed to grow into a large rounded shrub. These are well-rooted, and nicely branched.  Item# 9947.

Masses of bright yellow, 1" long trumpets herald the coming of spring and have a strong Jasmine-like fragrance that is produced in early evening and at night suggesting that they are pollinated by hummingbird or sphinx moths as well as by native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. *It is not a suitable nectar plant for honeybees. Carolina Yellow Jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens, is a native, twining, evergreen to semi-evergreen vine with glossy, dark green, narrow foliage that can climb up to 20' high but is just as happy on a 6' fence or other sturdy support. It is native to the southeastern US from eastern Texas, all along the Gulf Coast, north to Virginia, as well as in the southern half of Arkansas and about 3 counties in southcentral Tennessee. Provide Carolina Jasmine with a full sun to mostly sunny site in an average to well-drained, fertile soil for optimum growth and to maximize flowering. Although, it is shade tolerant it doesn't flower as profusely. Tough and easy as well as drought, deer, and rabbit resistant. Its fragrance is enough to stop you in your tracks on an evening stroll! Item# 1208

Sweetly fragrant, 6" wide, clusters of deep pink flowers with deep magenta throats are held atop the dark glossy green heart-shaped foliage. The fragrant flowers attract mainly butterflies but other pollinators may show up as well. Cashmere Bouquet, Clerodendrum bungei, is an upright typically single stemmed perennial growing to about 2-4' high, occassionally to 6-8' high under freeze free conditions, and will spread vigorously if grown in the ground via underground runners creating a dense groundcover. Planted outdoors in areas where hard freezes occur, like in zones 7-9, the stems of the plant typically freeze to the ground and at the very least are typcially deciduous anywhere hard frosts occur. Cashmere Bouquet can also be enjoyed as a low maintenance container plant where it will remain more confined, click here to learn more. Item# 11316

Celeste is the standard by which all other figs are judged on sweetness and flavor. If you've ever eaten one you know why it is also called the Honey or Sugar fig. It produces small to medium sized pear shaped violet to light violet fruit with red pulp and white to amber flesh. Very reliable for the South and Southeastern US and excellent cold tolerance. Small productive and hardy trees for the home orchard. Caterpillar host: Ruddy Daggerwing. Item# 355

A dwarf Loropetalum! The deep burgundy, purple, to near black foliage is accented by frilly bright cerise pink flowers in spring flowering a few weeks later than most Loropetalums and are so the flowers are less likely to get burned by a late freeze or frost. Cerise Charm™ Loropetalum, a.k.a Chinese Witch Hazel, is a new dwarf and compact selection that naturally develops into a dense rounded mound of dark foliage making this a great low-maintenance choice for small hedges, as accent plants, and even as a container specimens. Chinese Witch Hazel has few pests or disease problems when grown in an average to well-drained, acidic to neutral soil with average fertility in a full sun to partly shaded site. Images courtesy of Star Roses and Plants®, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12747

Not just another yellow Lantana, Chapel Hill Yellow is a superior selection that has the habit of New Gold but with the cold hardiness of Miss Huff. It produces clusters of primrose yellow flowers from spring to frost on a low and spreading plant and like all Lantana the flowers attract loads of butterflies and other pollinators. It is sure to brighten up gardens throughout zone 7 and easily lends itself to use as a groundcover in the garden and landscape or spilling from large containers. Item# 10808.

Although this vine produces the typical pale pink trumpets with darker pink throats that are common to this species, flowering is just a bonus as the beautifully variegated foliage steals the show! The dark green glossy foliage is heavily edged, splashed, and flecked with soft yellow on new growth that ages to a creamy white at maturity. Charisma Variegated Pink Bower Vine is a naturally evergreen, twining, tropical vine that makes a fantastic statement on a trellis or other support and unlike some variegated plants it can handle full hot summer sun without burning. Where not hardy it can be easily maintained on a small 3' high or larger trellis but it is vigorous enough to cover a 12-15'H arbor or can spread to 30' across on a 6'H fence. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average to well-drained, fertile soil. Item# 12372

Large 3" wide dark reddish-purple trumpet shaped flowers are borne throughout summer to year-round under warm tropical conditions adorn the vine-like stems of this tropical. Cherries Jubilee Allamanda, a selection of Allamanda blanchetii, is a naturally evergreen, scandent (a.k.a. vine-like) large arching to shrub to vine-like shrub that revels in the heat and sun of summer. The flowers may be visited by butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. It can be trained as an espalier, trellis, or even as a tree form and can be allowed to trail along fences and up arbors in freeze free climates. Cool winter temperatures and frosts may cause some leaf drop. Provide Cherries Jubiliee Alllamanda with a full to partly sunny site in an average moist but never soggy wet, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Where not hardy it is easily overwintered in a warm sunny window.  Item# 356

As sexy as Hot Lips but in an all new shade! The spikes of two-lipped tubular bright white flowers are tipped with a broad band of deep cherry red at the tips of the petals creating a stunning contrast. Flowers may be solid cherry red when the weather is cool and dreary but quickly revert to their two-toned splendor with a little sunshine. Cherry Lips Salvia begins flowering in late spring or early summer and continues into fall, all the while attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. A hybrid of the two native species S. greggii and S. microphylla, a.k.a S. x jamensis, this sunloving Sage develops into a naturally rounded, shrub-like perennial that may remain evergreen in mild winter climates, like zones 9B-10, but acts like a die-back perennial where temperatures fall much below about 30^oF. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in well-drained, average moist, fertile soils for maximum flower power. Item# 12471

Spikes of deep red, 1" long tubular flowers are produced throughout the growing season on this low growing, semi-spreading Salvia greggii hybrid making it an excellent addition near the front of the garden or landscape. Cherry Queen begins flowering earlier and over a longer period than its parents Salvia greggii and Salvia blepharophylla. Add Cherry Queen Salvia to the garden or enjoy it as a low maintenance container plant in any sunny location. Good drainage and ample sunlight are key and the hummingbirds will surely thank you. Item# 11401

2013 AAS Perennial of the Year! This award winning seed grown Purple Cone Flower produces 3-4" wide daisies in brilliant colors ranging from red, orange, yellow, pink, purple, and cream. Sturdy and winter hardy compact plants with excellent flower power. The Purple Coneflower is an excellent plant for pollinators with its nectar rich flowers. Provide ample sunlight and good drainage. Flowers the first year! Image courtesy of Kieft Seed. Item# 10525.

Chicago Hardy produces large crops of medium to small nearly black to brown or violet, pear shaped to turbinate figs with amber to strawberry flesh with a rich sweet flavor. Very similar to Brown Turkey. The eye is small minimizing spoilage. Hardy Chicago was found growing in the Chicago, Illinois area although it may have originated in Sicily, Italy. It has exceptional cold hardiness and is known to fruit in the same season even if frozen to the ground. Caterpillar host: Ruddy Daggerwing. Item# 9546.

Bronze new growth on red stems quickly matures into large, dark green, glossy foliage with a serrated edge. Spring brings large clusters of white flowers that are followed by large red berries. A close kin of Red-Tip Photinia but with a more disease resistant disposition. Chinese Photinia has a moderate rate of growth and develops into a large evergreen shrub or small tree. Grow it as a specimen or as a hedge. Item# 10319.

Masses of beautiful soft orange, 2" Camellia-like blossoms adorn this Quince in late-winter and early spring. Flowering Quince are easy to grow and long-lived deciduous shrubs with good drought tolerance once established. Cut stems of quince with well developed flower buds that are showing color can be brought indoors as cut flowers. Prune after flowering as Quince flower on old wood. Item# 9811.

Rounded clusters of medium purple tubular flowers are produced in late spring to early summer atop sturdy stems. The flowers attract hummingbirds and larger butterflies. Claire Grace Beebalm was selected not only for its long-lasting masses of darker purple flowers but also for its glossy green healthy foliage with good resistance to powdery mildew. This was one of the top 3 performing Monardas in trials that included over 40 cultivars at Mt. Cuba Center near Wilmington Delaware. Discovered in Mississippi by Barb and Michael Bridges of the now defunct Southern Perennials and Herbs and named for their daughter. Beebalm makes an easy and reliable addition to the garden and landscape as well as in naturalized areas. Provide a full to mostly sunny position in well-drained soils for optimum health and flowering. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 11946