In July, we camped in Southern Alberta for a couple of nights. This was in the middle of a heat wave, yet the native Gaillardia, Yellow Coneflowers, Beebalm, Phacelia, Goldenrod, wild Sunflower and Meadow Blazing Star seem unfazed by the extreme heat and drought. Good to know!
In my home garden, the following native pollinator plants also grew well, but I have to admit I watered the beds once or twice during the hottest period. Here is their status in mid-July:
Other drought tolerant plants:
In my home garden, the following native pollinator plants also grew well, but I have to admit I watered the beds once or twice during the hottest period. Here is their status in mid-July:
- Wild Blue Flax – finished blooming
- Bergamot / Beebalm – blooms fading
- Gaillardia / Blanketflower – mid- to late summer
- Yellow Coneflower – thrives on dry, poor soil
- Asters – purple flowers typically in late summer to fall
- Giant Hyssop – early summer to fall flowering
- Stiff Goldenrod – late summer to fall bloomer
- Early Blue Violet – flowers in April / May
- Pussytoes – finished flowering and has fluffy seed heads now
- Fireweed - not recommend due to it’s spreading / aggressive nature
- Yarrow – a fairly aggressive plant that is a bit difficult to remove
- Bearberry – very low native groundcover with small, glossy leaves
Other drought tolerant plants:
- Campion – old-fashioned red flower; finished earlier than usual in the heat
- Common Oregano – perennial that self-seeds and seeks out the driest spots
- Garden Hyssop – wonderful, purple pollinator plant for mid-summer to fall
- Daylily – reduced flowering in extreme heat
- Lady’s Mantle – survives dry shade
- Ostrich Fern – seems to be fine in fairly dry shade
- Bergenia – works in wet and dry spots
- Shasta Daisy – if you like white, this is a very tough plant
- Larkspur – cousin to Delphinium
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