With water becoming too precious to waste we should be seeking out plants that can not only perform well in the garden but also are drought tolerant.
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Among the sun-loving annuals petunias, portulacas, livingstone daisies and vincasn, alyssum, zinnias, marigolds and lobelia are ideal selections.
The choices in the longer-lived perennial plants include the Kniphofias, red hot pokers, which grow in dry shade.
They come in tall and dwarf cultivars and a variety of colours such as yellows, reds, pinks and the bi-colours which gave the originals their common name.
Eryngium, sea holly, has deep fleshy roots that enable it to take very dry conditions providing it receives shade from the hot afternoon sun.
It has unusually beautiful blue stems and young leaves.
Another deep-rooted plant is the globe thistle, Echinops, with its attractive globular drumstick flowerheads. It too, flourishes without much moisture during the dry times.
The bearded iris is dormant during this time of year, but needs the sun to bake its tubers to produce its best blooms.
A plant I admire greatly because of its toughness, leaf shape and iris-like flowers is the Dietes.
Its creamy white flowers are borne above grassy leaves on stems 1m to 1.5m tall for months at a time during summer.
Dietes are suitable for wild gardens or areas where children play due to their resilience. Councils use them to great effect when landscaping public areas.
The vividly-coloured gazanias love a position that gets full sun and is well drained.
They prefer sandy soils but are known to grow on clay as well as saline soils.
These African natives thrive in coastal areas.
The flowers are mostly yellow with black dots at the base of the petals but there is also a range of colours in yellow to red shades.
Many Australian natives make wonderful garden perennials. A couple that come to mind, and are capable of standing dry conditions, are the kangaroo paws, Anigozanthos, and the flax lily, Dianella tasmanica.
Kangaroo paws are easy to grow and their spectacularly beautiful flower stems will enhance most water features or rockeries.
They grow best in a well-drained position that receives full sun. A little watering during flowering helps prolong the flowering period but apart from that they are drought resistant.
The flax lily likes shade, but will survive dry periods in the summer and bears long sprays of blue flowers followed by blue berries.
These plants give their best under dry conditions but won’t do well without good soil preparation before planting.
Don’t expect them to grow on hot clay banks.
Less frequent, deep watering encourages plants to send their roots well down into the soil in search of water.
DIARY
January 28 and 29: The North-West Lilium Society’s Lilium Show at the Latrobe Town Hall from 1pm to 4pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.
February 11: The Westbury Garden Club will hold its Summer Flower Show at the Westbury Town Hall, Lyall Street, Westbury from 1.30pm to 4pm. Afternoon Teas available for $5. Entry $2.
February 15: The Launceston Horticultural Society meets at the Windmill Hill Hall, High Street, Launceston at 8pm. Visitors are welcome.
February 16: The Launceston Orchid Society will meet at the Newnham Uniting Church Hall, George Town Road, Launceston at 7pm.
February 21: The Australian Plant Society meets at the Max Fry Hall on Gorge Rd, Trevallyn, Launceston at 7.30pm
Daily: The Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden at 55 Breffay Road, Romaine, Burnie open 9am to 5pm. Visit this tourist attraction and be amazed by its natural beauty.