Hot Climate Cool Design
Drought-tolerant plants pack a Texas garden with color.
Neighbors and passersby often stop to admire the lush border along the street in front of Cherry Richardson’s home in Fort Worth, Texas. Bursting with blooms in the summer heat, the garden thrives, even on thirsty days. Three years ago, landscape designer Elizabeth Anna Samudio created the 10-foot-deep border garden—designed to withstand the heat of nearby asphalt and the dry wind of traffic. Since then, Cherry has been enjoying zinnias, hibiscus, verbena, and lavender. Elizabeth designed a garden style that is loose, natural, and packed with color from perennials and shrubs that can stand up to the area’s limited rainfall. “This is Texas,” says Elizabeth, who uses loads of native perennials. “If you don’t make something drought resistant, you will kill it. Rainwater is different than irrigation water.” Although this garden has an irrigation system, Cherry uses as little water as possible thanks to Elizabeth’s wise plant selection and good soil preparation.
During a consultation in Cherry’s home, Elizabeth saw lots of colorful décor, which inspired the garden’s design. Leaving intact a few Possumhaw holly trees (native to the Southeast), Elizabeth layered in color and texture. “Cherry is a really fun person, so it was all about liveliness and fun,” she says.
Big red double blooms cover a ‘Dynamite’ crepe myrtle during summer’s hottest days, and the giant flowers of the hardy red hibiscus ‘Crimson Wonder’ add more punch.
Knock Out roses bring a steady parade of cherry red blooms from spring until frost. The garden also has a variety of heirloom roses, noted for their adaptation to the local climate. Shrubs of hummingbird mint add spikes of raspberry pink flowers in late summer, drawing tiny hummingbirds to their nectar. Lantana and the lemon yellow centers of white daisies attract butterflies; pink blooms of ‘Apple Blossom’ verbena and the hibiscus-like flowers of the Texas rock rose broaden the palette. Artemisia, gray salvia, blue sage, Texas sage, and sedum fill in the background with a variety of shapes and colors. The air has a spicy sweetness from fragrant lavender and rosemary.
Waiting for the new plants to fill out took patience. “When it was installed, it was not the way I had hoped,” admits Cherry. She had to trust Elizabeth’s advice to give the garden time. “Native plants grow fast,” Elizabeth says. “You want to make sure you leave room.” In the meantime, Cherry filled in with annuals, often making excuses to stop by Lowe’s. “I say I’m just going in to look,” she confesses, laughing, “but then I come out with something!” Much of the success of a drought-tolerant garden depends on soil preparation, so Elizabeth removed the top 6 inches of clay and brought in 12 inches of good soil that had plenty of organic matter, including worms. After everything was planted, she added a thick carpet of shredded mulch. “Mulch can bring the temperature in the soil down 10 to 20º Fahrenheit,” she says.
Cherry heads outside most mornings with a pair of clippers in hand. “I hate housework,” she says with a grin. Even in the Texas heat, she’d rather be outside.
Check out this video on how to plan a waterwise landscape.
Plant Wisely
Too often, we buy plants because we love them, not because they are right for our soil or climate. Elizabeth advises clients to avoid those that will fold in a drought. Stick to what works, and educate yourself by paying attention to your neighbors’ yards. “Drive around your area to see what is looking good,” she advises. Another safe bet—choose drought-tolerant plants with the Water Wise label.
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Low Water Zennia
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Autumn sage
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Purple Texas sage
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Autumn Joy’ sedum
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‘Apple Blossom’ verbena
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Look for this label on plant tags at your local Lowe’s. And for more water-saving solutions, check out www.Lowes.com/SaveWater.
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