Water-Wise Perennials
“Water-wise” plants will usually thrive in their preferred soil and light conditions with minimal supplemental water after they become established - after two years of consistent deep watering and fertilization. They are also sometimes referred to as “low water use” or “drought-tolerant” (although very few plants can go without any water for a long time).
The first two growing seasons after planting are the most critical to insure that your plant develops a sufficiently deep root system to withstand future drought conditions. With adequate care during this initial period, the plant should withstand minimal watering during typical dry spells.
For more detailed information, please refer to individual cultivar signs, or consult one of Swanson’s nursery professionals. Also pick up our handout, “Water-Wise Gardening Tips.”
ARTEMISIA Artemisia spp. (S) denotes shade tolerant
BABY'S BREATH Gypsophila paniculata
BACHELOR BUTTON Centaurea spp.
BARRENWORT Epimedium spp. (S)
BELLFLOWER Campanula ‘Birch’s Hybrid’(S)
BLACKEYED SUSAN Rudbeckia spp.
BLANKET FLOWER Gaillardia spp.
BLUE FESCUE Festuca spp. and cultivars
BLUE OAT GRASS Helictotrichon sempervirens
BLUE-EYED GRASS Sisyrinchium spp.
BUTTERFLY WEED Asclepias tuberosa
CALIFORNIA FUCHSIA Zauschneria spp.
CANDYTUFT Iberis sempervirens
CARNATION Dianthus spp.
COLUMBINE Aquilegia spp. (S)
CUPID'S DART Catanache caerulea
DAYLILY Hemerocallis spp.
EDELWEISS Leontopodium alpinum
EVENING PRIMROSE Oenothera spp.
FALSE INDIGO Baptisia spp.
FLAX Linum spp.
FLEABANE Erigeron spp.
FOUNTAIN GRASS Pennisetum spp.
GAURA Gaura lindheimeri
GAYFEATHER Liatris spp.
GERMANDER Teucrium spp.
GOLDENROD Solidago spp.
HARDY ICE PLANT Delosperma spp.
IRIS I. germanica, I. douglasiana (S)
LADY'S MANTLE Alchemilla spp. (S)
LAMB'S EARS Stachys byzantina
LAVENDER Lavender spp.
LILYTURF Liriope spp. (S)
MONKSHOOD Aconitum spp. (S)
OREGANO Origanum spp.
PAMPAS GRASS Cortaderia selloana
PENSTEMON Penstemon spp.
POKER PLANT Kniphofia spp.
POPPY Papaver spp.
CONEFLOWER Echinacea purpurea
ROSE CAMPION Lychnis spp.
ROSEMARY Rosmarinus officinalis
RUSSIAN SAGE Perovskia atriplicifolia
SALVIA Salvia spp.
SANTOLINA Santolina incana
SEA HOLLY Eryngium spp.
SHASTA DAISY Leucanthemum spp.
SPURGE Euphorbia spp.
STATICE Limonium spp.
STONECROP Sedum spp.
SUNROSE Helianthemum nummularium
TICKSEED Coreopsis spp.
VERBASCUM Verbascum spp.
VERBENA Verbena spp.
WALLFLOWER Erysimum spp.
