Drought-Tolerant Groundcovers

Rebecca's Garden : Episode REB-617 -- More Projects »
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If you have a rock garden and are looking for a groundcover that will thrive in the hottest of conditions, these plants might work well for you. For one thing, they live in Cave Creek, Arizona, and if they can survive there, they can grow anywhere.

  • Penstemon parryi, with its hot pink flowers and dark foliage, requires very little water and brings a refreshing, cool look to any garden.

  • The angelita daisy produces a dainty yellow flower above its fluffy grass base.
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  • By pairing certain groundcovers together, you can create an attractive area with contrasting textures. One captivating combination is verbena and ice plant. The verbena comes in a variety of different colors, like fuschsia pink with a cluster of flowers on top of a single stem. It has a very light and airy appearance, and it works well with the ice plant, which is a succulent, a very dense mat of green. When the sun comes out, bright flowers pop up, making these a perfect duo.

  • Hearts of flowers grows about two feet tall and blooms throughout the spring and summer. For evening flowers, try pink primrose; it thrives in hot summer weather.

    And remember, although these plants thrive in heat, some don't like cold, so in colder locations, you'll have to grow these as annuals.

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