Fall is drawing nearer, but summer temps are not gone yet. Your landscape can still look fabulous though. Check out heat and drought-tolerant plants that thrive in high temperatures and little rain.
Note: Drought-tolerant does not mean “do not water.” Young plants need time to root and get established before they can withstand hot and dry conditions.
Blue Jean Baby Russian Sage
‘Blue Jean Baby' is the answer to the gardeners' call for a shorter, more manageable Russian Sage that is still vigorous yet brilliant in the landscape.
This sun lover is the perfect choice for a hot, dry climate. Blooming earlier than most others, the vivid color holds well from mid-summer to mid-fall. It’s also deer-resistant.
Care tip: Plant in average, well-drained soil in full sun. Feed yearly with an organic fertilizer. If desired, prune when new growth appears to just above the lowest bud.
Pink Truffles False Indigo
Enjoy this perennial year after year. Soft pink flowers appear atop the compact clump of deep blue-green foliage in spring. The flowers lighten to lavender with age. Its smaller size makes it well-suited to urban landscapes.
Care tip: Grows best in full sun and average to poor, well-drained soil. Moderately drought tolerant once established. Very long-living perennial.
Moonshine Yarrow
This plant is a very popular variety with clusters of vivid yellow flowers and finely cut gray-green foliage. Tolerant of a wide range of conditions, this plant is virtually maintenance-free. It blooms June-September, and is compact enough for containers and smaller garden spaces.
Care tip: It is fully rooted in the soil and can be planted immediately upon arrival, weather permitting. We advise not to plant during frigid winter months or under drought conditions. Plant in groups in full sun.
New England Aster
What a fall beauty in the garden and what a wildlife magnet! Deep green, small, narrow foliage tightly packs multiple stems producing a dense mound that is coated with button-like flower buds by early August.
These buds open to reveal 1-2" diameter rose colored petaled, yellow centered daisies that completely obscure the foliage by late August and persist into late September. Butterflies can't resist the allure of its bloom and later in the fall, birds can't get enough of the seed left from the past bloom.
Care tip: Plant is delivered in a #2 size container. It is fully rooted in the soil and can be planted immediately upon arrival, weather permitting. 'Alma Potschke' loves full sun, tolerates some light shade, and is stunning when planted in groups in the landscape.
Jeana Garden Phlox
The Jeana Garden Phlox sports erect, stiff stems that blooms sweetly scented, lavender-pink flowers from midsummer through early autumn. The flowers are small but there are up to one hundred in each cluster, creating a unique tiered effect. It’s strongly mildew resistant. It also attracts hummingbirds and butterflies in huge numbers.
Care tip: Perfect for grouping in the back of a garden.
Choose Heat-Tolerant Plants
Keep your landscape looking beautiful, even when Connecticut temps soar. Look through Green Promise Farms’ many heat and drought-tolerant options and plant them today.