In Northeastern Massachusetts where I live and garden, we’re sadly experiencing a severe drought this summer. On a daily basis I check the extended 10 day weather forecast, searching for any showers or thunderstorms that may be heading our way, but every time rain is predicted it often fizzles out before reaching us. This lack of adequate rainfall, coupled with searing temperatures in the 80’s and 90’s, has created a harsh environment for our flower gardens.
Since drier summers and water restrictions have become the norm in many parts of the United States, it’s a good idea for flower gardeners to familiarize themselves with drought-tolerant perennials that will grow well in their particular hardiness zone – plants that can be counted on to perform reliably when the going gets tough!
If you’re thinking about adding sun perennials to your garden, planting in autumn is a great time to do it. Roots will benefit from more regular rainfall and plants will get a good headstart on growth for the following year. In this way, they’ll be more robust and better able to withstand whatever the dog days of summer throw at them!
Here are a few remarkably heat and drought-tolerant perennials you can plant in your garden this fall:
CONEFLOWERS
Modern varieties of Echinacea, also known as coneflowers, come in a rainbow of colors and heights so it’s easy to find one to fit any flower garden. The common Echinacea purpurea is a tall pink/purple native with dark golden centers that attact butterflies, beneficial wasps and bees. The large seed heads also provide nourishing food for birds come fall, so don’t be in a hurry to deadhead these beauties! Echinacea are prolific summer bloomers with some repeat bloom into early fall.
YARROW
Lacy-foliaged Yarrow is a native wildflower here but there are many modern cultivars now available in a variety of colors. These versatile plants have a long history of medicinal applications including use in the battlefield to staunch bleeding from wounds. In addition, yarrow is beneficial in the garden as it attracts a variety of pollinators and enriches the soil with nutrients making it a great addition to the compost pile. Yarrow grows well in poor soil and shrugs off the heat with ease; it’s also tolerant of both dry and wet conditions.
Each yarrow bloom is actually made up of many tiny flowers clustered together. The color of each cluster changes through the season as older flowers fade and new ones emerge bright-colored. This creates a lovely effect of many color shades being present on one plant at the same time. Here in Zone 6, yarrow begins to bloom in June with repeat bloom throughout the summer.
SHASTA DAISY
My favorite daisy is the cultivar known as ‘Becky’ whose pure white blooms with yellow centers bring classic cottage garden looks to any flower bed. Lovely with daylilies, catmint and roses, she also combines beautifully with native wildflowers.
Becky is one robust daisy with strong stems and a long bloom period that begins here in late June. She makes an excellent cut flower and regular deadheading will promote repeat blooming.
RUDBECKIA
Black-eyed Susans are native to North America and are as common on windswept prairies as they are at the edge of woodlands. Dark centers contrast boldly with their golden yellow flower petals, so bright that the eye is instantly drawn to them! They provide a long season of bloom from summer to early fall and are beloved by pollinators and birds.
PEROVSKIA
Native to high elevations and harsh environments, rugged Russian Sage tolerates a wide range of growing conditions. Blooming in the garden at a time when many flowers are flat or disc-shaped, Perovskia sports long, graceful wands of powdery blue, adding a desirable element of airy movement while also providing cooling contrast to hot summer colors such as yellow, orange or red. If you prefer softer colors, a lovely and simple pastel vignette can be created using blue Russian Sage with pink and white Echinacea!
Perovskia atriplicifolia tends to be a large, sprawling plant that is best placed in the back of the flower garden. More compact varieties include ‘Denim n Lace’ and ‘Little Spire.’
NEPETA
Nepeta or Catmint adds a softness to the garden with its gray-green foliage and blue, pink or white wands of flowers. Taller nepetas like ‘Six Hills Giant’ are great ‘filler’ plants for any open spaces and shorter varieties like ‘Little Titch’ make a lovely edging. The foliage of catmint is aromatic when brushed up against and repels aphids and Japanese beetles, thus making it a perfect companion for roses! Although most nepetas flower heavily in June, they repeat bloom over a long season.
‘Montrose White’ is a stunning summer blooming variety that will provide dainty sprays of cool white blooms through fall. An added bonus is that this catmint attracts honey bees and other pollinators like nothing else in the garden!
Of course, this is but a short plant list for there are many other heat and drought-tolerant perennials out there. Choose varieties and colors that appeal to you and fit into your garden space and look forward to enjoying their care-free beauty for many summers to come!
