This year, spring cleanup started before season arrived. Many people are wondering what the growing season will be like this year. Will there be abundant rain, or drought, hot temperatures, or seasonable. When planting a garden, it’s best to think the weather will be the worst, and be pleasantly surprised when it turns out nice.
No matter what vegetables you plant, they all need more care and water than flowers. If you are interested in planting flowers, be a little pickier this year. Choose ones that can still grow during a drought and still provide you with flowers. This is a wonderful, carefree way to garden. Whatever water you save on the flowers, you can use for your vegetable garden. Here is a list of some drought-resistant flowers that you may want to try to get started. There are many drought-hardy flowers to choose from, so always read the planting label for other ideas.
Calendula
Calendula, Calendula officinalis, is an annual flower and an herb. The common name is pot marigold. The flowers resemble those of a daisy blooming in red, gold, or yellow colored flowers. The blooming period begins in the summer and lasts through the fall until they are killed by frost. Grow these flowers in full sun to partial shade. Grow calendula as an edging plant or grow it in containers. Depending on the variety, they can grow from one to three feet tall.
California Poppy
California poppies, Eschscholzia californica, are spring blooming or early summer flowering plants. The flower come in a variety of colors like orange, red, rose, salmon, white, and yellow. The average height varies between one to two feet. The foliage is dark green and they grow well in almost any soil. Grow the California poppies in beds, containers, or as a ground cover that receives the full sun.
Cockscomb
I remember growing this flower in the greenhouse when I worked there and it was one of my favorite flowers. It grows well in drought conditions. Cockscomb, also known as wool flowers or celosia, blooms in the summer and continues into the fall. The flowers resemble a rooster’s comb and they come in a variety of colors. They prefer to grow in sunny areas. The height of this plant grows from 12 to 36 inches. Cockscomb is a wonderful container plant, or in any flowerbed.
Cosmos
These old-fashioned flowers have the name that reminds me of the solar system, Cosmos. This plant begins blooming in the spring and continues until the frost takes them out. Cosmos can attain heights of 36 to 72 inches. They grow in full sun exposure and are perfect to grow in beds and borders. If you want to encourage butterflies to visit your garden, plant some cosmos flowers.
Dusty Miller
Dusty miller is another old-fashioned plant. The yellow flower is insignificant when compared to the attractive, silver-gray foliage. Dusty miller grows to heights of 10 to 18 inches, depending on the variety chosen. Dusty miller grows in beds that have full sun, although it can grow in places with partial shade. Dusty miller is a great border plant or accent plant in a moonlight themed garden. The lacy foliage works in fresh-cut or dried flower arrangements, because the leaves retain their silver color.
Sources:
“American Horticultural Society A to Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants”; Christopher Brickell; 2004
“National Garden Book”; Sunset Books; 1997
