Melting Plants

It's never a good sight when you walk out into your garden and see sad-looking plants with droopy leaves. Often times in summer, this can happen to even the most wilt-resistant plants in our gardens; sometimes it is just too hot! Increasing water does not always help the situation; some plants will wilt regardless of how much water they are getting in high temperatures, and other plants will wilt if they are getting over-watered. The trick is being able to determine who is thirsty, who needs less water, and who is just too darn hot. 

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Who's Thirsty?

When evaluating droopy plants, it is critical to determine the wetness of soil at the root ball level. Begin by removing the mulch from underneath your plant, and find a place where you can stick your finger into the soil close to the root ball. If it is wet an inch or two down, the plant has enough water and is probably drooping due to the heat from the sun. In this situation, see if you can give plants some much-needed shade during the warmest parts of the day (which is usually between 2:00 and 3:00 PM). If plants are in containers, you can physically move them underneath overhangs or to shaded sides of your home. If they are in the ground, shade can be provided with a strategically-placed umbrella or shade screen.

If your soil feels dry under your drooping plant, it is a clear sign that it needs more water. Evaluate how you are watering your plant, how the soil is absorbing that water, and whether your plant can even be saved. Drip systems are considered the best for watering most landscape plants because they provide water slowly enough for the soil to have time to absorb moisture. If water is applied at to fast of a rate (via a hose or sprinkler system), water will simply run off the soil surface to lower areas of the landscape, and not be absorbed by the soil that your plant is pulling its water from. In some situations, water corrections may be made too late to save the plant and it will need to be removed and replaced with something a little more tolerant of heat and drought. Thankfully, you can find a replacement plant in the list below.

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Droop-Proof Plants

The following plants were chosen for their resistances to drought and heat stress. These plants are beautiful, hardy, easy to care for, and are great choices for western landscapes.

Salvia
These versatile, beautiful perennial plants are attractive to local pollinators, easy to care for, and are drought tolerant once established. There are many flower colors available, and they shine in mass plantings or in rock gardens. Deadheading regularly can ensure that blooms continue to open through the end of summertime.

Lantana
These are showy, heat-tolerant small shrubs and groundcovers that produce brightly-colored small flowers which attract bees and other pollinators. These are tidy plants that do not require much care or maintenance, and are useful in pots, borders, or massed plantings as a groundcover.

Foxtail Fern
These evergreen perennials are fantastic for adding interest and texture to mixed beds, grown in containers (or hanging baskets), or used in borders. Although these plants are drought-tolerant and relatively droop-proof, they will sunburn if they receive too much sun, especially in the warmest part of the day.

Lomandra
​These grassy-foliaged plants are perfect for mass plantings, and can add texture to dry border areas and containers. These are drought-tolerant plants that are commonly used in place of other thirsty low-growing shrubs. 

Phormium
These plants produce long, arching flat leaves and are great at adding color and texture to landscapes. Phormiums can be grown in-ground or in containers, and foliage adds a tropical look to gardens and cut flower arrangements. They are available in a wide variety of colors and patterns.

Coleonema
These shrubs have a wispy habit and produce many small pink flowers over a long blooming season. They are perfect plants for bordering pathways, and can be used as low hedge plants.

Loropetalum
These plants are great for adding color contrast to borders and mixed beds, and can even be trained into small trees. Flowers are commonly pink and look like little feather dusters. Foliage can be green or purple.

Agapanthus
These recognizable relatively drought-tolerant superstars create a lush, tropical effect in gardens and support local pollinators. Foliage is strappy and evergreen, and flowers are white to varying shades of blue and purple. Blooming season can be elongated with deadheading.

Barberry
These ornamental evergreens provide colorful foliage and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Barberry plants can be used along fences or foundations, as screening or hedge plants, or as groundcovers. There's a Barberry for practically every landscape need.

Cacti and Succulents
These fleshy garden architectural plants are easy to care for and can be grown in the ground, containers, terrariums, mixed beds, rock gardens, and along pathways. They are versatile, drought-tolerant, and interesting additions to sunny gardens.

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Even though gardening in the summer months can be a bit frustrating, using the plants above can go a long way in creating a landscape that is both beautiful and low-maintenance over the warmer months of the year. Monitoring your garden for signs of water stress is critical to keeping plants healthy and happy, and thankfully cooler temperatures will come around again in just a few months' time.

Happy gardening!