Plants of Merit
list for Dry Gardens

(These are “water-wise” plants that do not require supplemental water once established, except in extreme conditions. They are listed in order of bloom time.)

Annuals

-- Nierembergia scoparia 'Mont Blanc' - Cupflower (May, June, July, August, September, October to frost)

-- Verbena 'Imagination' – Verbena ( May, June, July, August, September, October to frost) 

-- Origanum 'Kent Beauty' - Ornamental oregano (June, July, August, September)

-- Asclepias curassavica - Blood flower (June, July, August, September, October)

-- Tradescantia pallida 'Purpurea' - Purple heart (“seasonal bloomer” June, July, August, September, October to frost)

-- Thymophylla tenuiloba - Dahlberg daisy (June, July, August, September, October to frost)

-- Verbena bonariensis - South America verbena (June, July, August, September, October to frost)

-- Zinnia angustifolia 'Classic' - Narrow-leaf zinnia (June, July, August, September, October to frost)

-- Melinis nerviglumis ‘Pink Crystals’ – Ruby grass (July, August)

[back to top]

Perennials

-- Helleborus orientalis - Lenten rose (Februrary, March, April)

-- Epimedium x versicolor 'Sulphureum' – Epimedium (April)

-- Amsonia hubrichtii – Bluestar (April, May)

-- Callirhoe involucrata - Purple poppy mallow (May, June)

-- Baptisia australis - Blue false indigo (May, June)

-- Dianthus ‘Feuerhexe’ FIREWITCH – Cheddar pink (May, June)

-- Stachys macrantha 'Superba' - Big betony (May, June)

-- Stachys byzantina 'Big Ears' - Lamb's ears (June, July, although rarely flowers)

-- Ceratostigma plumbaginoides – Hardy plumbago (July, August, September)

Perovskia atriplicifolia - Russian sage (July, August, September, October)

Sporobolus heterolepis - Prairie dropseed (August, September, October)

Polystichum acrostichoides - Christmas fern (non-flowering, evergreen)

[back to top]

Shrubs and Vines

Hamamelis vernalis - Ozark witch hazel (January, February, March, April)

Rhus aromatica 'Gro-Low' - Fragrant sumac (April, May)

Physocarpus opulifolius – Ninebark (May, June)

Lonicera sempervirens - Trumpet honeysuckle (May, June)

Lagerstroemia ‘Acoma’ – Crape myrtle (July, August, September)

Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Morris Midget' - Japanese boxwood (evergreen, rarely flowers)

Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Aurea' - Sawara cypress (non-flowering)

[back to top]

Trees

Heptacodium miconioides - Seven-son flower (September)

Thuja ‘Green Giant’ – Arborvitae (non-flowering, evergreen)

[back to top]