Drought-tolerant container plants

By Kelly Schroeder | Image: Stuart McCall
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1. Sedum spurium 'Summer Glory' (stonecrop; 13 x 25 cm/5 in. x 10 in.; rosy-red; July to August; zone 2)
2. Achillea ptarmica 'Nana Compacta' (common name: yarrow; 25 x 35 cm/10 in. x 14 in.; white; blooms June to August; zone 1)
3. Anaphalis triplinervis (pearly everlasting; 30 x 45 cm/12 in. x 18 in.; white; July to September; zone 2)
4. Arabis ferdinandi-coburgi 'Old Gold' (rock cress or wall cress; 10 x 30 cm/4 in. x 12 in.; white blooms over evergreen gold-variegated leaf; April to June; zone 3)
5. Sempervivum 'Gray Lady' (hens and chicks; 15 x 25 cm/6 in. x 10 in.; pink; evergreen; July to August; zone 1)
6. Linaria alpina (alpine toadflax; 15 x 20 cm/6 in. x 8 in.; purple with orange eye; June to July; zone 4)
7. Acinos alpinus (alpine calamint; 13 x 25 cm/5 in. x 10 in.; purple; evergreen; June to August; zone 5)
8. Ballota pseudodictamnus (false dittany; 35 x 30 cm/14 in. x 12 in.; white and pink; evergreen; May to July; zone 8)
9. Teucrium 'Summer Sunshine' (golden germander; 20 x 25 cm/8 in. x 10 in.; deep-pink with gold-tinged evergreen foliage; July to August; zone 4)
10. Lupinus nootkatensis (lupine; 30 x 25 cm/12 in. x 10 in.; deep-blue and white; June to July; zone 3)
11. Achillea sibirica var. camschatica 'Love Parade' (Siberian yarrow; 45 x 45 cm/18 in. x 18 in.; soft pink; June to September; zone 3) 12. Limonium 'Blue Diamond' (sea lavender or statice; 25 x 20 cm/10 in. x 8 in.; mauve-lilac; June to August; zone 2)

Drought Tolerant Container Plants
Drought Tolerant Container Plants

Alpine troughs are becoming increasingly popular because of their practicality. They take up a small amount of space and require little attention, as these kinds of plants thrive in lean, well-drained soil and don't need much water.

Many people don't realize that rock-garden plants are available in a great variety of textures and colours.

Look for a new line called Rock Stars, all alpine and rock garden plants, many of which are ideal for containers.

Care: This trough will give you several years of enjoyment if excellent drainage is provided. Be sure the container is raised off the deck to allow free drainage and tuck it under the eaves to protect it from winter rain. Cut back finished foliage of the deciduous plants. These plants become leggy with too rich a diet, so top-dress with controlled-release fertilizer very sparingly and only if the plants look yellow in spring.

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Comments

Will these containers with the drought tolerant plants survive a BC winter? I live in the South East Kootenays and am looking for something to plant in a large concrete container at the entrance to our 'adult living' complex.

June 11, 2008 at 16:00
Anonymous Says

General points about drought-tolerant plants:
- there are many species in this category, both native and non-native
- encompasses all plant types: groundcovers, annuals, perennials, ornamental grasses, shrubs, trees and even lawn seed!
- ALL plants need supplemental watering as they are established (usually 1-2 years for perennials; 3-5 years for shrubs and trees)
- many drought-tolerant plants also tolerate poor soils
- drought-tolerant plants require well-drained to sharply-drained soils
- much information on drought-tolerant plants can be found on the Internet
- if you're in the Okanagan, there are two nurseries that specialize in waterwise plants: Grasslands Nursery in Summerland (a member of BCLNA) and Dry Valley Nurseries in Kelowna

March 7, 2008 at 14:00
waterwise Says

i need info on drought tolerant plants not containers thank you very much.

March 7, 2008 at 07:44
Anonymous Says

The plants listed in the article are all drought-tolerant. There are also suggested guidelines for caring for these plants at the end of the article.

Please click here for further information on drought-tolerant plants or email us at gardenwiseonline@canadawide.com if you have a specific question; we will be happy to help you out with your query.

Sincerely,

Yau Bing Chong
Web Editorial Coordinator
GardenWise Online

March 10, 2008 at 12:10
ybc Says


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