Top 10 Plants for the Ultimate Easy Xeriscape Garden

As water conservation becomes increasingly important, gardeners are looking for waterthrifty plants for their landscapes. The concept of xeriscaping, which originated in the dry states of the Western U.S., is now becoming more popular throughout the country. The term "xersicape" is derived from the Greek word xeros, which means dry. The goal of xeriscaping is to create a visually attractive landscape that uses plants selected for their water efficiency. Properly maintained, a xeriscape can easily use less than one-half the water of a traditional, bluegrass lawn-dominated landscape.

Santa Fe Greenhouses/High Country Gardens (PRWEB) December 15, 2004 -- As water conservation becomes increasingly important, gardeners are looking for waterthrifty plants for their landscapes. The concept of xeriscaping, which originated in the dry states of the Western U.S., is now becoming more popular throughout the country. The term "xersicape" is derived from the Greek word xeros, which means dry. The goal of xeriscaping is to create a visually attractive landscape that uses plants selected for their water efficiency. Properly maintained, a xeriscape can easily use less than one-half the water of a traditional, bluegrass lawn-dominated landscape.

David Salman-chief horticulturist for Santa Fe Greenhouses and its mailorder catalog division, High Country Gardens-says the question he is asked most frequently at his horticultural speaking engagements is, "What are the best plants for a xeriscape?" In response to popular demand, Salman has compiled the following list of his favorite easy-to-grow xeric plants. These plants made the Top 10 list because of their beauty, hardiness, adaptability to different gardening conditions, and their ability to thrive with little or no supplemental water. All of these plants are available from the High Country Gardens catalog and website. To receive a free catalog, call High Country Gardens at 1-800-925-9387, or order a catalog and/or view the entire catalog online at www.highcountrygardens.com.

David Salman's Top 10 Xeriscape Perennial Plants
1. Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage)
Named the Perennial Plant of the Year for 1995 by the Perennial Plant Association, Russian Sage is one of the easiest plants to grow and one of the longest-flowering plants in the xeric garden. Native to the harsh high deserts of Afghanistan, Perovskia atriplicifolia has white stems and aromatic silver-gray foliage crowned with smoky blue flower spikes. Deep rooted, heat loving and drought tolerant, Russian Sage thrives in almost any sunny location. It's not the least bit picky about soils, and it thrives throughout USDA zones 4-9. This wonderful plant grows to four feet tall by three feet wide at maturity.

2. Penstemon pinifolius (Pineleaf Beardtongue or Pineleaf Penstemon)
Penstemon pinifolius is an outstanding but often overlooked species from southern New Mexico and Arizona. Pineleaf Penstemon is long-lived and grows easily in both xeric and traditional perennial gardens. Blooming profusely for six to eight weeks in midsummer, this plant's tubular orange flowers are irresistible for hummingbirds. As the plant matures, its stems become woody, forming an attractive evergreen shrublet with bright green, needlelike foliage. Pineleaf Penstemon grows well in full sun, and it's deer and rabbit resistant. It will reach 15 inches tall and about 24 inches wide. Zones 4-9.

3. Lavandula x intermedia 'Grosso' ('Grosso' French Lavender)
Wherever you travel in the French countryside, lavender is grown for its oil and showy flowers. 'Grosso' French Lavender is a hybrid that offers the beauty and resilience that lavenders are known for-plus darker-than-normal blossoms. 'Grosso' is very showy when the blooming plants are covered with 3- to 4-inch-long deep purple flower spikes, which are held high over the compact foliage. It blooms throughout the summer, reaching 30 inches tall and 24 inches wide. This plant grows well in xeric conditions in zones 5-10.

4. Agastache x Desert Sunrise® (Hybrid Hummingbird Mint)
Agastache is a showy, fragrant group of perennial herbs that make excellent companions to lavender. David Salman, chief horticulturist for Santa Fe Greenhouses and High Country Gardens, discovered the original Desert Sunrise plant in his garden a few years ago, when two of the best southwestern species of this genus (Agastache rupestris and A. cana) cross pollinated. This new perennial introduction is a sturdy, vigorous grower that blooms nonstop from midsummer through fall. The flower spikes are large, and the trumpet-shaped blossoms of orange and pink draw hummingbirds by the score. When in bloom, the flower spikes reach as tall as 48 inches and 24 inches wide in zones 5-10.

5. Nepeta x faassenii 'Select Blue' (Select Blue Catmint)
Catmint has become a cornerstone of many Santa Fe xeriscapes because of its hardiness, longevity and long blooming period. The first flush of purple flowers comes in late spring and is followed by a second bloom in late summer if the old flowers have been "deadheaded." When out of flower, the neat mound of foliage, about 15 inches tall and 18 inches wide, has a pleasing fragrance. This particular variety is a sterile hybrid that will not reseed and make a weed of itself. Zones 4-9.

6. Hymenoxys acaulis (Giant Thrift-Leaf Perky Sue)
A bigger, stronger and faster grower than its sister, Hymenoxys scaposa, Giant Perky Sue blooms through the heat of summer with hundreds of bright yellow daisies. Occasional deadheading will keep this tough little plant in color. Giant Thrift-Leaf Perky Sue is a perfect companion plant for lavender, Nepeta and just about any other xeric perennial. Plant in well drained soil in full, hot sun and mulch with crushed gravel to encourage re-seeding. Giant Thrift-Leaf Perky Sue will reach 15 to 18 inches tall and 18 inches wide in zones 5-10.

7. Hesperaloe parviflora (Texas Red Yucca)
Hesperaloe parviflora has become a mainstay in the xeric garden because it's very low maintenance and remarkably cold tolerant for a "desert" plant. The foliage is striking-long, bluish grey-green spear-like leaves grow from a massive base. But Texas Red Yucca gets its common name from the five-foot-tall flower spikes that shoot upwards in late summer. Hummingbirds flock to the orange-red flowers-and the flowers seem to last forever. In most climates Texas Red Yucca needs no supplemental water once established, and it thrives in lean, sandy soil. When it's not flowering, the plant grows to about three feet tall and three feet wide. Hesperaloe parviflora grows throughout zones 5-10, but it should only be spring planted in the colder zones.

8. Salvia 'May Night' (May Night Sage)
Salvia May Night was honored as 1997 Perennial Plant of the Year by the Perennial Plant Association. This wonderful plant is known for its compact growth habit, profuse deep purple flower spikes and vigorous reblooming nature. 'May Night' thrives in hot, sunny sites and grows in any well-drained soil. Its first flush of flowers comes in late spring. Deadheading and a little extra watering ensures heavy reblooming for several weeks. Salvia May Night will reach 18 inches tall and 18 inches wide. It grows well throughout zones 4-9.

9. Echinocereus triglochidiatus (Claret Cup Hedgehog)
Cacti and succulents are right at home in a xeric garden, but many species can't tolerate cold winters. Claret Cup Hedgehog is a tough cactus that can handle zone 5 winters. The plant stays small-just 6 inches tall and 8 inches wide-with large clusters of thick, spined stems. In early summer, Echinocereus triglochidiatus is covered with orange cup-shaped flowers that makes it the star of the garden. As the only true cactus on this Top 10 list, it needs no supplemental water once established. In fact, Claret Cup's worst enemy is too much water!

10. Artemisia versicolor 'Seafoam' (Curlicue Sage)
'Seafoam' is a textural dream come true, with its frothy, curled silver foliage. Plant it in hot, sunny areas under taller perennials such as yarrow and lavender. It occasionally blooms with attractive silver and yellow flower spikes, but Curlicue Sage is grown almost exclusively for its attractive foliage. The compact plant grows just 8 inches tall (18 inches when in flower) and 24 inches wide. 'Seafoam' loves well-drained, low-fertility soils in zones 4-10. High Country Gardens is an award-winning source for native and adapted plants. The nationally recognized catalog specializes in varieties that grow particularly well in the climates of the western United States. High Country Gardens offers a wide range of perennials, ornamental grasses and shrubs including many water-wise ("xeric") plants that need little or no extra water once established.

To receive a free catalog, call High Country Gardens at 1-800-925-9387, or order a catalog and/or view the entire catalog online at www.highcountrygardens.com.

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