(Backyard Gardener - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

Hello Mid-Ohio Valley gardeners and farmers! It is hard to believe Mother’s Day is this Sunday! It seems summer has started early with all the warm weather, not to mention thunderstorms.

Hanging baskets always make a great gift for Mom or Grandma. Selecting hanging baskets with plants that are naturally drought-tolerant is a big plus when out shopping this weekend. Begonias tend to be very drought tolerant and have many colors to choose from with their beautiful blooms and bright green foliage.

Spreading begonias are best for containers or hanging baskets. Very few varieties will tolerate full sun, so place them in a shady location. They can tolerate morning sun but avoid putting them in a location that receives afternoon sun.

Make sure that the soil is well drained as begonias are susceptible to root rot. Once established, they can go almost a full week or so in between watering.

The last thing on everyone’s mind now is dry weather, considering all the rain we have experienced lately. However, this is the perfect time to plan ahead.

I know many readers have beautiful flower gardens, so I want to discuss choosing drought-resistant perennials. The plants I will be discussing this week are drought tolerant once established.

Let me be clear: once they are established.

All plants need water while establishing their root system. Young plants and seedlings need plenty of moisture when getting started, and even when they are mature they may need some help during periods of extended drought. Root establishment can take from one to several years, depending on the original size of the plant.

Taking the time to plan a well-designed and managed landscape with drought-tolerant plants can reduce the amount of water you need at home. Drought-resistant perennials have several other advantages including attracting bees and other pollinators and eliminating the need to purchase plants every year like we do with annual flowers.

Conserving water also helps the environment and eliminates some chores around the house and yard. Choosing appropriate plants and using efficient watering methods such as soaker hoses or drip irrigation makes good sense and makes our homes more sustainable.

No matter what type of gardening you love, including growing vegetables and flowers, mulch is always a welcome summertime companion. Mulch aids in keeping soils cool and

retaining water (some research suggests mulch reduces evaporation 70% compared to bare soil).

Don’t forget about improving the soil, which will result in making all of our flowers and vegetables more drought tolerant. Adding compost, aged manure or peat moss will increase the organic matter of the soil. The higher the percentage of organic matter we have, the higher the moisture-holding capacity of the soil.

Raised beds and landscape areas with rich and fertile soils allow plants to set deep roots, and a plant with deep, extensive roots will withstand periods of drought better than plants with shallow roots.

When selecting plants using this list, remember that many factors can determine if a plant is suitable for a particular location. Light requirements, blooming times, colors, adaptation to soil types, hardiness and other factors must be considered, as well as heat tolerance.

Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a perennial, cool-season forb that is common throughout North America and has been used as a medicinal. A member of the Asteraceae (sunflower) plant family, yarrow’s disc-shaped white flowers are blooming from June to September and attract bees and butterflies on a regular basis.

This plant has soft, ferny foliage and grows 2 feet tall by 2 feet wide. Many hybrid varieties are available, most common in yellow and pink.

Catmint (Nepeta) is a perennial that is long blooming, heat tolerant, resistant to pests and diseases and easy to grow. This member of the mint family will fill the area with free-blooming lavender-blue flowers on upright, 2-foot stems from spring until fall.

Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is the perfect answer for those hot, dry sites. This high-performance, slightly woody perennial needs little water yet looks fresh in the heat and humidity of summer. Russian sage begins flowering in mid-summer, when its scented soft gray narrow stems are covered with masses of sky-blue florets that go on for weeks. These gorgeous blooms also make long lasting cut flowers.

Common daylilies (Hemerocallis sp.) have always been popular and are common in many perennial gardens. Daylilies are loved because of their toughness and long-lasting color. They are very adaptable to most surroundings and once established are drought tolerant with few pest and disease problems.

They bloom in the summer and multiple times each season and are available in a variety of colors and hues. Daylilies grow from a thick root system where they store food while dormant in the winter months. Their roots also act as an energy source when stressful situations such as drought, extreme heat and other weather problems occur throughout the year.

Lamb’s-Ear (Stachys byzantine) is drought resistant and easy to care for. This popular silver-leaved perennial is used widely for edging along pathways and borders. Plants form a dense clump of soft, felty silver-grey leaves.

Upright spikes of magenta-pink flowers form in early summer (and attract bees), but these should be clipped off to maintain a tight, compact habit. Clumps are easily divided in spring or early fall.

Don’t ignore the simple beauty of Sedum (Sedum) because they offer amazing diversity and durability in the landscape. Sedum’s alternate name of “stonecrop” is indicative of their toughness as they shine during hot, dry weather was a test for many plants.

They are not only drought proof but deer resistant as well. Their thick, sturdy, wilt-proof leaves give way to massive heads of clustered mauve-red flowers in late summer that serve as a magnet to butterflies.

The purple cone-flower and black eyed susan are two hardy plants are very resilient. The purple cone flower (Echinacea purpurea) blooms in mid-summer and continues to flower sporadically until frost. This native wildflower is not only beautiful but the flower and roots have been used in herbal medicine for hundreds of years.

The flowers hold up well and can be used for arrangements. As a bonus they attract butterflies and many commercial varieties are available, including plants with flowers of red and lime green.

Finally, my mother and grandmother’s favorite flower, the Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia compositae). These native plants are a member of the sunflower family, Asteraceae, and are famous for their long bloom period and survivability in hot, dry conditions. The great thing about them is they bloom from mid-July till frost, as well as provide cut flowers and attract butterflies.

Rudbeckia’s common name describes the flower’s center, which is typically dark and raised in a cone or beehive shape. Wild varieties can be found growing along county roads and uncut meadows. It is considered America’s favorite wildflower. The flower heads remain attractive even after the petals fall and the seeds provide food for birds.

These are just a few of the perennial flower choices you have for heat tolerance. Many other flowers, shrubs, ground covers and trees which are drought tolerant are available.

Give me a call and I can make variety recommendations for these and other drought-resistant plants. Enjoy! Contact me at the Wood County WVU Extension Office 304-424-1960 or e-mail me at jj.barrett@mail.wvu.edu with questions. Good Luck and Happy Gardening!