Drought Resistant Plants

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

A very disease resistant and free-blooming antique climbing rose producing lightly fragrant 2" cherry red blooms for up to 10 months of the year here in zone 8B once it is well established. A great rose for arbors, fences,and trellises. Item# 1016.

The dainty rounded foliage of this tight clinging evergreen vine creates a striking rich green tapestry on any wall and is common in gardens across the south. Very tough, vigorous, and easy to grow. Item # 364.

This perennial, succulent, tropical bulb from Africa is very unique. The bulb grows on top of the soil and sends up a long twining vine with small, dark green leaves and small, star-shaped white blooms in summer. It is easy to grow in well-drained soil and good light. Item # 846.

Climbing Pinkie is our favorite repeat flowering pink climber and it produces large clusters of loosely double 2" medium to light pink flowers in continuous cycles from spring to fall. A very free-flowering, disease resistant, and nearly thornless climbing rose well suited to covering an arbor, fence, or sturdy trellis. Provide a full to mostly sunny location and moderate fertility for optimum growth and flowering. Item # 567.

The 3" wide, cornflower-like daisies open white, slowly work their way through shades of lavender, and finally deepen to a violet blue creating a rainbow of cool-colored flowers even on the same flower stalk. Colorwheel Stokesia is just as tough and reliable as its brethren creating a mound of foliage on a durable and dense clump forming native perennial. Stokesia Daisy is one of those plant it and forget it perennials, once they become established in nearly any garden or landscape they require almost no additional care. Image courtesy of North Creek Nurseries. Item# 10928.

A vigorous tropical vine which produces huge clusters of soft pink wax-like blooms in summer. Interestingly enough this is considered to be the first Hoya species to be described. An excellent choice for hanging baskets where it can hang and climb as it is wont to do. Item# 9309. 

Huge rosettes of extremely soft fuzzy evergreen gray-green foliage subtends the tall spikes of yellow flowers in summer. Considered to be one of the very first plants introduced into the US and was used herbally by Native American Indians and settlers as well as in its homeland of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Item# 9950.

Conadria produces large green, thin-skinned figs that ripen to light greenish yellow and droop when ripe. The flesh is white and the pulp can range from red to amber with a rich, sweet, and distinctive flavor. The large figs are good for fresh eating, drying, and preserves. The trees grow to average size and are considered to be long lived and are highly productive.  Caterpillar host: Ruddy Daggerwing. NEW  ITEM # 11219.  

Loose clusters of sweetly fragrant white, star shaped blooms are born in mass in late spring and early summer on this vigorous and durable evergreen twining climber. Well established plants can provide intermittent flowering through summer. An excellent choice for arbors. Can be grown as a deep dense groundcover. Item # 10364.

The large creamy white flowers emerge from loose purple-black tinged spikes and calyxes from spring to fall attracting hummingbirds and other garden beneficials. Cool Cream Salvia, a selection or hybrid of the Little Leaf or Mountain Sage, Salvia microphylla, boasts excellent vigor and flower power with flowering beginning early and continuing reliably through summer and into fall. In areas where hard freezes do not occur, The Mountain Sages may develop a shrubby semi-woody base, while in zone 8 and colder, established plants act more like herbaceous perennials dying back to near ground level and returning in early spring. Enjoy these colorful pollinator attractors in the garden and landscape or as rewarding and forgiving container specimens. Provide full sun to partly shaded sites in well-drained, fertile soils for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Jadelty Plant Propagation Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 13146

The large violet colored flowers emerge from loose purple tinged spikes and calyxes from spring to fall attracting hummingbirds and other garden beneficials. Cool Violet Salvia, a selection or hybrid of the Little Leaf or Mountain Sage, Salvia microphylla, boasts excellent vigor and flower power with flowering beginning early and continuing reliably through summer and into fall. In areas where hard freezes do not occur, The Mountain Sages may develop a shrubby semi-woody base, while in zone 8 and colder, established plants act more like herbaceous perennials dying back to near ground level and returning in early spring. Enjoy these colorful pollinator attractors in the garden and landscape or as rewarding and forgiving container specimens. Provide full sun to partly shaded sites in well-drained, fertile soils for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Jadelty Plant Propagation Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 13148

The stiff ferny fronds are adorned with numerous thick leathery medium to deep green leaflets often with a bronze tinge and emerge from what becomes an underground trunk. The Coontie, Zamia integrifolia (a.k.a Z. pumila), is a small tough southeastern native Cycad that eventually develops an underground trunk that will branch with age creating a dense 24-36" high cover of the soft to medium textured fronds. It is resistant to drought, tolerates high heat and humidity, sun or shade, and is a very low maintainence addition to the landscape. In areas that experience hard freezes, like zone 8, the foliage may freeze back but a new flush readily returns in spring. Makes an easy bonsai and a low maintenance container plant. Item# 12729

Coming again for 2022! The Coral Firecracker Fern produces loads of 1" salmon tubular flowers that are born in large loose clusters along the arching ferny stems throughout the warmer months of the year or nearly year round where winters are mild. Excellent for Hummingbirds! Plant it with the red and yellow for a colorful combination. This is a durable and long-lived, clump forming perennial that requires little additional care once well-established. The Firecracker Fern has excellent heat and sun tolerance as well as moderate drought resistance once well-established. It is even listed as being suitable for xeriscaping. Firecracker Fern, Russelia equisetiformis, is listed as a Texas A&M Outstanding Coastal Plant as it has excellent resistance to soil and wind born salts, though it could use some protection from harsh, drying winds. It is also an RHS Award of Garden Merit selection. It can be used as a low informal hedge, allow it to spill over walls, enjoy it as a hanging basket, window box, or container specimen, as well as in mixed container gardens. Item# 992

Beautiful deep red to coral, yellow throated tubular blooms are born from spring to fall. Attracts hummingbirds and occasional butterflies. Its tame habit and long blooming season make this manageable Honeysuckle an choice for covering a fence, arbor or trellis. Caterpillar host: Chalcedon Checkerspot. Item# 1171.

The true demand  is for the VIGNA  Caracalla, a favorite of Thomas Jefferson's, the Corskscrew Vine, Snail Vine, or Caracalla Bean produces large clusters of fragrant white and lavender coiling buds and flowers that fade to a creamy yellow just before dropping. The Corkscrew Vine is a vigorous climber that grows from a tuberous, somewhat potato-like, root that it can return from in mild winter climates. The intricate late summer and fall blooming flowers attract a variety of pollinators, particularly larger bees. Item# 373.

There exists a "Corkscrew vine, a.k.a. Snail vine" that looks very similar to the V. caracallas vine, but has no fragrance, and can become a pest.  It is more hardy  of the two.   We do not grow it.  

Crushed Coral Mamou Bean produces tall spikes of dark coral pink, 2-3" tubular flowers in late spring and early summer atop sturdy stems that are held well above the foliage of this tough native perennial. The Mamou Bean is a drought tolerant and hardy shrublet that freezes back to the ground to return in spring. The flowers are followed by dark colored bean pods that split open to display their brilliant red-orange beans that can remain on the plant all winter. Excellent for Hummingbirds.  Crushed Coral Mamou Bean is an Almost Eden exclusive introduction. Caterpillar host: Holly Blue. Item# 10751

Huge 18-24" long spikes of deep coral-red to red-orange, 2" long pea-like flowers are produced in cycles throughout the warmer months of the year on new growth. The specialized flowers are designed for hummingbird pollination but may also be visited by larger bees and occasional butterflies. The Crybaby or Cockspur Coral Tree, Erythrina crista-galli, is considered to be one of the most cold hardy and free flowering of the Coral Trees. This is a rarely available and highly desirable fast-growing, heat and sunloving, deciduous tropical tropical tree to large shrub growing to about 15-20' high in zones 9B-10 but is typically closer to 10' high in zones 8B-9A. Once well-established, the plants are somewhat drought resistant and are slightly salt tolerant. Provide a full sun to mostly sunny site in an average moist to moist , fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Protect young plants from harsh freezing temperatures until the trunk becomes woody and has grown to about 5-6" diameter if planting out in zone 8B-9A. Young plants can be overwintered indoors in a warm sunny window until they get to an appropriate size for planting out. The huge flower clusters are utilized as cutflowers in its native range and it is also the national tree of Argentina, the national flower of both Uruguay and Argentina, and is the city tree of Los Angeles as it makes a fantastic, low-maintenance street tree. A Royal Horticulture Society Award of Garden Merit Award winner for its reliablity and flower power. Item# 9137

1" long tubular fiery orange flowers are produced throughout the growing season on compact well-branched plants attracting low flying hummingbirds, larger butterflies and especially Sulphurs, and potentially bees. Cubano™ Presidente Cigar Plant, a hybrid Cuphea similar to the perennially popular David Verity, was selected for its more refined compact 10-12"H habit making it an excellent filler in mixed container gardens or use it in specimen containers, as well as a colorful addition to the sunny garden and landscape. Cupheas are heat and sunloving tropicals with excellent flower power and will perform best in a full to mostly sunny, average moist, fertile soil. Images courtesy of Danziger, all rights reserved. Item# 13313

The deep green 4-angled succulent stems are tipped with deep green fuzzy palmate grape or cucumber-like foliage that soon becomes deciduous. The Cucumber Cactus, Cissus quadrangularis, is an easy to succulent herbaceous vining to trailing plant whose stems can potentially grow to 5-15' long if a support is provided but is easily kept as a smaller hanging basket or container plant. In spring it may produce clusters of small green to yellowish flowers that may be followed by grape-like clusters of red to black berries. This unusual succulent is drought resistant and is quite adaptable to growing conditions from full sun to light shade as well as very acidic to very alkaline soils, although, it does require good to excellent drainage and should never be soggy wet. The Cucumber Cactus has been used medicinally,as food, and as fiber in its native tropical Asia and Africa. If stems happen to break off they will readily root. Item# 12438

New for 2023! The large flowers are composed of deep fuschia hoods and tubes that are subtended by large creamy apricot colored lower lips providing a sweet contrast. Cuello Cream Pink Salvia, a hybrid developed by the UK's Salvia guru David Dyson of Dyson's Nurseries, was selected for its profusion of sweetly colored flowers, reliability, and bushy habit making it a useful container specimen as well as a colorful addition to a sunny garden or landscape. The flowers attract hummingbirds, larger bees, and the occasional butterfly. In areas where hard freezes do not occur, this sage may develop a shrubby semi-woody base, while in zone 8 and colder, established plants act more like herbaceous perennials dying back to near ground level and returning in early spring. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in well-drained, average moist, fertile soils for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Jadelty Plant Propagation Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 13168