Why do some perennials voyage through prolonged hot , dry atmospheric condition unscathed while others droop , turn brown , and bloom poorly if at all ? To answer the interrogative sentence , let ’s take a looking at the characteristics of drought - resistant plant as well as strategies for dealing with drought condition . But first , what do we mean by drouth ?
DROUGHT condition delineate
Simply delimitate , a drought is a period of prolonged ironic weather when the soil is depleted of moisture due to a lack of precipitation or irrigation . Here , in key Virginia , a typical drought can last from several week to several months . On the western half of the commonwealth , drouth can last for long time .
In addition to prolonged dry weather condition , drouth accent on plants may be exacerbated by high light saturation , dry out winds , and prolonged gamey temperature . consort to Lee Reich ’s book entitledThe Ever Curious Gardener,“High temperature cause plants to desiccate and exhaust stored energy quicker than it can be replenished . Stress begin at about 86 degrees Fahrenheit , with leaves beginning to cook at about 20 degree above that . ”
IDENTIFYING DROUGHT - TOLERANT PERENNIALS
At the ending of the 2023 growing season , members of the Piedmont Master Gardeners Association in the Charlottesville / Albemarle County domain participated in an loose survey on drought - tolerant perennial . The goal was to share entropy on mintage that performed well over the summertime and fall despite the prolonged drouth conditions . The observation gleaned from the sketch result in a lean of about 50 drought - insubordinate perennials that met or exceeded outlook . The interesting affair about these industrial plant is that they exhibited many distinguishing characteristics that make them suited for hot , dry conditions . Most of the metal money list are aboriginal , but some non - natives are also include . Space does n’t take into account listing all 50 industrial plant here , but a few representative specie admit :
This was a very intimate resume with mostly predictable results . However , there were a few surprise :
While more study would be useful , the following preliminary conclusion can be drawn from this informal survey :
CHARACTERISTICS OF DROUGHT - TOLERANT PERENNIALS
As mentioned earlier , in exploring what makes a repeated drought tolerant , a routine of specialized evolutionary adjustment or characteristic were noted . For deterrent example :
Small or narrow leaves : The smaller the leaf , the better it can trim foliar vapor and spill passion . Examples : ThreadleafCoreopsis(tickseed),Perovskia atriplicifolia(Russian sage),Achillea millefolium(common yarrow ) , and forage with minute blade .
chummy waxy cuticles : All flora parting have acuticle , which is a waxy coating that protects the leaf ’s cellular tissue paper and reduces wet loss . Some plant coinage have exceptionally thick cuticles that slim evaporation . This feature is particularly beneficial in windy internet site . exemplar : Sedum species , false hellebore , and some fern such as Christmas and holly ferns .
Deep ascendent systems : Long tap roots reach deep into the dirt in hunting of moisture . This equipment characteristic allows flora to live on periods of Earth’s surface - level drought . Examples : Asclepias(milkweed),Baptisia australis(blue false indigo),and some aboriginal gage such asPanicumvirgatum(switchgrass ) .
haired or fuzzy - textured parting : Fine “ hairs ” or bull provide a footling shadiness . They also slow up the movement of air over the leaf ’s Earth’s surface , trap humidity , and slow evaporation of body of water from the leaf . Examples : Salvia argentea(silver sage),Stachys byzantina(lamb ’s auricle ) , andVerbascum(mullein ) .
Reflective leaf colour : Gray - green or silver gray leafage speculate light and heat from the sun , which boil down evaporation and keeps the plants cooler . Examples : Artemisia(wormwood),Santolina(lavender cotton ) , andCerastium tomentosum(snow - in - summertime ) .
overweight stem : Thick , often gel - fill up shank can store wet for long full point of clip . Examples : Opuntia(prickly pear cactus),Yucca , Agave , andEcheveriaspecies .
boring growth rate : dense growing plants such as cacti and succulents have few leaves and stems to support during dry periods .
Age of the plant : antecedent systems on new planted perennials are by and large small and inadequate for cover drouth conditions . After a year or two in the earth , the roots should be more extensive and better adapted for drought leeway .
SIGNS OF DROUGHT AND HEAT STRESS IN PERENNIALS
Some signs of drought and heat accent to attend for in perennials admit the following :
strategy FOR transaction WITH drouth
choose desirable pee - judicious perennial species is just the first step in creating a drought - tolerant garden . The following are some scheme for establishing them and keeping them as healthy and vigorous as potential so that they are better equipped to thrive in red-hot , wry weather :
THE TAKEAWAY
The update 2023 United States Department of Agriculture ’s Plant Hardiness Zone Map push back home the fact that our climate is becoming warmer . uttermost atmospheric condition events such as want of precipitation and sustain high temperatures are making gardening more ambitious than ever . To compensate , we need to be more selective in the species we raise . Our choices are made easier if we are cognisant of the characteristic that make a plant drought liberal and if we apply a few simple-minded horticulture strategies to keep the plants hefty and well maintained .
sport Photoof drought - tolerant Agastache ‘ Black Adder ’ and Heliopsis ‘ Summer Sun ’ by Pat Chadwick
SOURCES
A Gardener ’s Guide to Botany(Zona , Scott , PhD , 2023 )
How industrial plant Work , The skill Behind the Amazing Things Plants Do(Chalker - Scott , Linda , PhD , 2015 )
The Ever Curious Gardener : Using a Little Natural Science for a Much salutary Garden(Reich , Lee , 2018 )
Charlottesville Weather in 2023,Extreme Weather Watch
Native Plants and Cultivars for the Northern Piedmont , Piedmont Master Gardeners Website
Perennials : Culture , Maintenance , and Propagation , Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication 426 - 203
Drought Stress impact on Plantsand Different Approaches to ease Its Adverse Effects , National Institutes of Health , National Library of Medicine , National Center for Biotechnology Information Published online 2021
How to recognise Plant Heat Stress , Utah State University Extension
Plant Hardiness Zone Map , 2023 United States Department of Agriculture
Soil Management in Home Gardens and Landscapes , Penn State Extension article
