Floral Drought Busters

Hot Kansas Summers - though we haven't seen that yet this year - does not mean the end to colorful flowers. Here are a few drought resistent plants to talk to your nursery about: 1) Agastache or licorice mint - attracts hummingbirds and buterflies 2) Artemisia - Noted for their aromatic and silvery gray or white foliage 3) coreopsis - shades of yellow, red and orange - this will bloor thru autumn and is one of my personal favorites 4) germander - great for edging, low clipped hedge or small groundcover 5) goldenrod - tough plants with yellow blooms which thrive in less than ideal soil 6) lady banks' rose - climbs to 20 feet with yellow and white flowers 7) lavendar - highly aromatic great for herb gardens 8) purple coneflower - despite its names comes in many shades attracting many species of birds 9) rudbeckia or coneflower or black-eyed susan - showy until frost 10) salvia - low maintenance with much appeal 11) sedum - one of my mothers favorites - wide range of colors and shapes with long blooms great for borders 12) yarrow - a daisy family member with cluters of tiny flowers from gold to bronze. (Excerpt from Kansas Country Living April 2008)