Drought tolerant annuals

Since drought has been an issue for gardeners for some time, this week I would like to suggest some annual plants that perform well under the hot, dry conditions that we have grown so accustomed to here in middle Georgia. While most annuals require constant moisture during the growing season for best growth and flowering, these will flower profusely with less moisture, thus saving on the old water bill. All of these will require water initially to establish a good root system but once established will require infrequent watering. All perform best in full sun in well-drained soil.

Portulaca or Moss Rose (Portulaca grandiflora) is a succulent often used in pots and baskets or as a ground cover. Only a few inches tall, it can tolerate the severest of droughts. A native of Brazil, flowers come in a wide array of colors — red, white, pink, orange, yellow, bicolors-single or double.

Gomphrena (Gomphrena globosa) has flower heads like clover and are available in white, pink, lavender, yellow and red. This old-timer is a favorite of many due to its durability, its use as a cut and dried flower and its tolerance of poor soil. The dried flower heads retain their color for long periods. Height ranges from about 9 to 24 inches, depending on variety.

Dusty miller (Senecio cineraria) is grown for its foliage rather than its flowers. Its silvery-gray leaves are often used as accents in borders, edging and container plantings. They tend to bring out the best in presentations with red, blue and purple hues. Heights range from 8 to 16 inches. Compact and bushy, they prefer hot and dry conditions. Moist sites tend to cause them to rot.

Gazania (Gazania rigens) is a heat-loving daisy. Typical daisy flowers come in bright shades of yellow, orange, bronze, pink, white, red and various combinations. Flower heads are 2 to 4 inches in diameter. Foliage is dark green and dandelion-like in appearance with white, fuzzy undersides. Plants range from 6 to 12 inches tall. Flowers tend to close at night and reopen the next morning.

Melampodium (Melampodium paludosum) is an excellent heat and drought tolerant annual. Small, golden yellow flowers cover the 8 to 15 inch mounding plants all summer long. They tend to reseed themselves, too.

Vinca or Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) is a popular drought tolerant annual that has been grown for many years. Vinca has glossy green leaves with white midribs and comes in spreading types, which grow only a few inches in height to upright types that can get up to 15 inches tall. Flowers come in red, white, pink, blue, apricot, salmon, lavender and white and often have contrasting centers or “eyes.” Like dusty miller, vinca actually prefers to stay on the dry side or root rots will often result.

Try these heat-loving, drought tolerant annuals in your garden this summer. You’ll be glad you did!

Tim Lewis is a Georgia Green Industry Association certified plant professional, gardening writer, former Perry High School horticulture instructor and former horticulturalist at Henderson Village and Houston Springs. He and his wife, Susan, own and operate Lewis Farms Nursery located on Highway 26, two miles east of Elko, where he was born and raised. He can be reached at (478) 954-1507, timlewis1@windstream.net and at LewisFarmsNursery.com.

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