According to NASA Earth Observatory, one-third of the United States experienced some level of drought in 2020, and 2021 was much the same. This pattern of extended dry weather is sadly becoming more and more of the norm. We recently did a feature in Fine Gardening magazine highlighting a series of drought-tolerant woody plants from around the country in our regional pages, and that got Carol and Danielle thinking about which trees and shrubs are their favorite water-wise selections. Listen to today’s episode for ideas on these backbone plants that won’t require much, if any, intervention from the hose.

Special guest: Amy Galloway is a horticulturist at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas.

Carol’s Plants

‘Blue Star’ juniper (Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’, Zones 4–8)

New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus, Zones 4–8)

Sassafras (Sassafras albidum, Zones 4–9)

Peegee hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’, Zones 3–8)

Patrick’s blog post about the peegee hydrangea: Patrick’s Barn: The Hydrangea is on Life Support

Danielle’s Plants

‘Sprite’ sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides ‘Sprite’, Zones 3–7)

‘Magicien’ deutzia (Deutzia × hybrida ‘Magicien’, Zones 5–8)

‘White Surprise’ bluebeard (Caryopteris × clandonensis ‘White Surprise’, Zones 5–9)

‘Golden Spring’ winter hazel (Corylopsis spicata ‘Golden Spring’, Zones 6–9)

Expert’s Plants

Flame acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii, Zones 7–10)

Texas kidneywood (Eysenhardtia texana, Zones 8–11)

Evergreen sumac (Rhus virens, Zones 8–11)

Skeleton-leaf goldeneye (Viguiera stenoloba, Zones 6–10)