Annual and perennial flowers that thrive even in a drought are
already out there — hundreds of them — in Georgia nurseries and
garden centers.

Several Georgia landscape and greenhouse experts recently listed
more than 200 mainstream plants that, if you get them established
properly, need precious little water in hot, dry conditions.

Most of these plants are truly prolific bloomers. For example,
Lantana ‘New Gold’ loves 100-degree heat and needs watering only
once every two weeks to bloom solidly through the summer.

We often don’t use these drought-resistant wonders because we’re
more drawn to the many exciting new annuals that, unfortunately,
are water hogs.

Native Woodland Flowers

Who waters our native woodland flowers? These plants have lived
in Georgia droughts for eons with no water fairies caring for
them.

Native plants can take the heat, and they’re adapted to drought.
Hundreds of native flowers and flowering bulbs can brighten your
garden. And many garden centers and nurseries carry natives.

You can learn more about native plants and where to buy them from
the Georgia Native Plant
Society Web site.

Don’t like bed preparation and all the fuss? Natives are the best
way to responsibly landscape and garden without the extra
effort.

The Good, the Bad

Here are just a few plants we recommend and a few you need to
avoid.

• Perennials for Sun: Lantana ‘Miss Huff’ (Miss
  Huff Lantana), Helianthus angustifolia (Swamp Sunflower),
  Salvia guaranitica (Hummingbird Sage), Salvia
  leucantha (Mexican Sage), Ruellia brittoniana (Mexican
  Sunflower), Rudbeckia triloba (Black Eyed Susan),
  Stachys byzantina (Lambs ears), Artemesia ‘Silver
  King’ (Silver King) and Kniphofia uvaria (Red Hot
  Poker).




• Perennials for Shade: Helebor hybrids (Lenten Rose),
  Japanese autumn ferns, Aspidistra eliator (Parlor Plant),
  Monarda didyma (Bee Balm: wilts but comes back), Iris
  tectorum (Roof Iris), Iris barbata (Bearded Iris),
  Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ (Autumn Joy), Iris siberica
  (Siberia Iris) and Hosta hybrids.




• Annuals: Lantana camara hybrids (Lantana),
  Catharanthus roseus (Vinca), Amaranthus caudatus
  (Amaranths), Celosia cristata (Cocks Comb), Portulaca
  hybrids (Moss Rose), Melampodium paludosum (Golg
  Button Plant), Petunias (especially old-timey and “Wave”
  petunias), Passiflora ‘Byron’s Beauty’ (Passiflora),
  Cosmos bipinnatus (Cosmos), Cosmos sulfureus
  (Cosmos), Tithonia rotundifolia (Mexican Sunflower),
  Verbena tenuisecta (Moss Verbena), Salvia
  farinaceae hybrids (Blue Salvia) and Zinnia elegans
  (Zinnias).




• Perennial Natives: Lilium hybrids (Lilies), Amsonia
  tabernaemontana (Blue Stars), Daucus carota (Queen
  Ann’s Lace), Physostegia virginiana (Obedient Plant),
  Lonicera sempervirens (Red Honeysuckle), Achillea
  millifolium (Yellow Yarrow), Clematis paniculata
  (Clematis), Oenothera speciosa (Pink Sundrops),
  Bellamcanda chinensis (Blackberry Lily), Boltonia
  asteroides (White Boltonia), asters (native species),
  Echinaceae purpurea (Purple Cone Flower), Tradescantia
  virginiana (Spiderwort), Eupatorium coelestinum
  (Woodland Ageratum), Eupatorium fistulosum (Joe Pye Weed),
  Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly weed) and Bignonia
  capreolata (Cross Vine).




• Annuals to Avoid: Impatiens, marigolds, begonias,
  Scaevola, New Guinea Impatiens, Osteospermums, Ageratum
  houstonianum, caladiums, coleus (shade type) and
  Nicotiana.




• Perennials to avoid: Phlox paniculata, Veronica
  hybrids, Centranthus roseus, Coreopsis grandiflora,
  standard petunias and non-native asters.