Green Rosette-There’s a rumor going around. It’s that going low water means going without flowers. Luckily for those of us who love color, it’s only a rumor! We have hundreds of gorgeous, colorful, low water flowers to choose from.
Here is a very, very small sampling, including some of my faves:
Daylilies. These are real stars. Not fussy about soil. Easy to establish. Need only limited water. Thrive in the sun. Also light shade. Mine bloom for 6 to 8 months, then die back, then pow, they’re back next spring, bigger and better than before. Daylilies come in colors up the kazoo and in different sizes. The only downside is that the blossoms last only a day. But the upside is that new flowers greet you every morning.
Buddleia, or Butterfly Bush. In late summer, just when many spring and summer plants fade, buddleia blooms burst onto the scene. Their long graceful flower heads attract hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. They need moist well-draining soil to get started, but once established, water needs are low. Most buddleias come in shades of fuchsia or purple, though you can also find them in white, apricot or deep red.
Bougainvillea – L.A. is a paradise for this plant. Give it lots of sun. And very little water. Too much water and they won’t produce color. The bright, colorful ‘flowers’ (called “bracts”) come and go all year around in southern California. Watch out – thorns tell you this plant wants to be left alone. Put on some gloves and trim occasionally. Extremely hardy in our climate.
Tall Bearded Iris. Contrary to popular belief, tall bearded irises are no fuss, moderate to low water beauties. They love sun – a good 6 hours or more a day results in the most flowers. However, dappled sunlight is just fine. They prefer not to get their ‘feet’ very wet, so best use well-draining soil and don’t soak them. Thanks to all the hybridizing done over the years, color combinations abound and include yellows, orange tones, purples, blues and white. They bloom in late spring to early summer. Once they’re spent for the year, they’re not dead. Come spring, they’ll be back.
Lavender. There’s nothing like brushing your hands against a lavender bush for a fragrance both relaxing and invigorating. Lavender needs almost no care and very, very little water. In fact, it prefers to be left alone in full sun. It doesn’t seem to care what kind of soil you have, as long as you keep it on the dry side. Lavender mounds into a shrub of 2 to 4 feet. In Southern California, lavender-blue or lavender-pink flowers bloom several times a year. Bees love them.
So you see, you’re not limited to gravel and cactus. Plant low water flowers and still save water, save money and look great.
Are you already growing a low water flower or flowering bush? I’d love to know how it’s working for you and will share your story here.
(Rickie Avrutin is a sustainable garden consultant, a smart garden columnist and the Executive Director at green rosette. She can be reached at [email protected])
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 13 Issue 70
Pub: Aug 28, 2015
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