Word to the water-wise

Over Mother’s Day weekend, my mother told me it reached 86°F in Tonawanda, N.Y. The same day in Portland, Ore., we hit 81°F. Usually Mother’s Day weekend is cold, wet and rainy on both East and West coasts. When my mother mentions that they are in a drought situation after a blistering winter, I take notice.

Plants nationwide are responding to these changing temperatures with earlier bloom times than ever. Mature lilacs in the Portland area were finished blooming at the end of April. In the Pacific Northwest, they generally are still in full glory through Mother’s Day. My rain barrel that usually lasts through the end of July is 90 percent used.

In 2014, Ball Horticultural Co. surveyed landscape tradesmen, and more than 64 percent reported their customers are asking for lower maintenance landscapes with 57 percent asking about drought tolerance. In their perennial grower survey, more than 74 percent of their customer base is looking for native plant species with water-wise and drought-tolerant qualities.

We need to be forward thinking and listen to our customers. By working together, our industry can create beautiful water-wise gardens and increase future revenue streams at the same time. To assist growers in meeting the demands of retailers, landscape professionals and ultimately gardeners nationwide, here are tried and true alongside new plant introductions to consider adding to your inventory portfolio for 2016 and beyond.

Dawn Hummel is president of BeeDazzled Media and a 20-year veteran in the horticulture industry. For more information: dhummel@beedazzledmedia.com

Perennials

Agastache ‘Kudos Yellow’

Not only is this drought tolerant, it is deer resistant and a magnet for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. Perfect for mixed borders. 
Hardiness: Zones 5-10 
Mature Size: 24 inches high and wide 
Blooms: Summer through fall 
Flower color: Yellow 
Landscape uses: Perennial borders, container plant 
www.terranovanurseries.com

Allium Lavender Lollipop

Drought tolerant and pollinator friendly. 
Hardiness: Zones 4-9 
Mature Size: 15-18 inches high 
Blooms: Late summer 
Flower color: Purple 
Landscape uses: Provides a pop of color in a mixed perennial and shrub border. 
http://hgtvhomeplants.com

Delosperma Jewel of Desert Garnet

Rich red outer petals fade into bright magenta hubs around yellow stamens. 
Hardiness: Zones 5-10 
Mature size: 4-6 inches high 
Blooms: Late spring to fall 
Flower color: Multicolored 
Landscape uses: Rock gardens. Pairs well with Euphorbia myrsinites in containers for a stunning spring show. 
www.ecgrowers.com

Hypericum Sunny Boulevard

Bright, pollinator attracting flowers are followed by attractive red berries. 
Hardiness: Zones 4-8 
Mature Size: 24 inches high by 36 inches wide 
Blooms: Summer 
Flower color: Bright yellow 
Landscape uses: Perennial borders 
www.fisherfarms.com; www.provenwinners.com

Shrubs

Baby Blue rabbitbrush

Also known as dwarf blue rabbitbrush, this late blooming dryland shrub native has multiple season interest. It is deer resistant, sweetly fragrant and provides a source of nectar for native bee populations. Found in isolated areas in the Colorado Front Range, it is grown in select nurseries in the Western states. 
Hardiness: Zones 4-9 
Mature Size: 16-24 inches high by 20-30 inches wide 
Blooms: Late summer through fall 
Flower color: Golden 
Landscape uses: Wildscaping 
http://plantselect.org

Caryopteris × clandonensis ‘Dark Knight’

Bluebeards attract pollinators to their flowers and aromatic foliage. Shrubs can be trimmed into a deciduous flowering hedging plant. 
Hardiness: Zones 5-9 
Mature Size: 2-3 feet high and wide 
Blooms: Late summer to fall 
Flower color: Deep purple-blue
Landscape uses: Perennial or shrub borders 
Retailer tip: Drought tolerant plants are easy to spot in a retail garden setting when grouped together in a display showcasing shades of green, gray and glaucous blue foliage mixed together. 
www.littleprinceoforegon.com

Geauga Gray dogwood

A fast-growing hedge that can be pruned for a more formal look. A tough ‘nativar’ that thrives in the harshest conditions with the ability to tolerate dry, wet and poor soils. Multi-seasonal interest with changing foliage, flowers and white berries. Part of the American Beauties Native Plants Program. 
Hardiness: Zone 4 
Mature Size: 6-8 feet high by 4 feet wide 
Foliage: Mahogany-red new growth followed by glossy black-green leaves 
Blooms: Spring 
Flower color: Creamy-white 
Landscape uses: Hedging or specimen planting 
www.upshoot.com; www.lakecountynursery.com

Persian Spire upright ironwood

Leaves emerge with a strong purple cast morph into a purple halo margin followed by dark emerald green foliage in summer. Provides a long-lasting, elaborate autumn color display of ever-changing yellow, orange, burgundy and red hues. 
Hardiness: Zone 5 
Mature Size: 25 feet high by 10 feet wide
Landscape uses: Specimen tree, containers 
Landscape design tip: In a container, mixes well with Scallywag holly, Nepeta faassenii‘Blue Ice’ and Hebe ‘Red Edge.’ 
www.jlpnliners.com

Russian sage ‘Denim ‘n Lace’

Tightly spaced colorful calyxes make ‘Denim ‘n Lace’ look like it is still in bloom even when it is past peak. ‘Denim ‘n Lace’ loves full sun, tolerates low to average moisture levels, is deer resistant and attracts hummingbirds. 
Hardiness: Zones 4-9 
Mature Size: 28-32 inches high by 34-38 inches wide 
Flower color: Bright sky blue 
Landscape uses: Mixed shrub and perennial borders 
Retailer and florist tip: Makes a good cut flower with foliage and flowers that can be easily dried. 
www.waltersgardens.com

Black Tower Elderberry

Narrow upright shrub/small tree with dark burgundy foliage. Big blooms all summer are followed by black berries in fall. The foliage covers the plant right to the base resulting in no bare stems at the base. 
Hardiness: Zones 3-9 
Mature Size: 6-8 feet high by 3-4 feet wide 
Blooms: Summer 
Flower color: Dark pink 
Landscape uses: Hedge, mixed borders, container, specimen 
Landscape design tip: Mix with Sedum makinoi ‘Ogon’ or Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’ at the base for a stunning combination in the ground or in a container. 
www.ballhort.com

Photos courtesy of growers unless otherwise specified