Tag Archives: Drought Tolerant

Horticulture Report: Spaeralcea ambigua (Apricot Mallow)

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Plant Name: Spaeralcea ambigua
Common name:  Apricot Mallow, Desert Globemallow
Plant Type:  Perennial Shrub
Plant Height:  3’ – 5’
Plant Width:  2’ – 4’
Bloom Time:  Spring
Flower Color:  Apricot or Dark Orange
Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Requirements:  Grows well in most well-draining soils.
Water Needs: Extremely Low
Attributes: Attracts Bees and Butterflies. Adored by Hummingbirds!
Note:  Good Pruning after bloom keeps plant from becoming woody; Easily Reseeds.
Uses: Xeriscape “Gardens; Cottage & Mediterranean Gardens; Rock Gardens.
Native to:  Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah
Oregon Native:   NO
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 – 10

Report: Viki Ashford, AGC member

Oregon Native Plant: Rudbeckia hirta

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Plant Name:  Rudbeckia hirta
Common name:  Black-eyed Susan
Plant Type:  Annual or Short-Lived Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height: 2’ – 3’
Spread:  1’ – 2’
Bloom Time: June to September
Flower Color: Yellow to Orange-Yellow Rays with Dark Brown Centers
Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Requirements:  Well Drained; Moist & Organically Rich.
Water Needs: Medium;
Attributes:  Showy Flowers; Attracts Butterflies; Deer Tolerant; Drought Tolerant; Birds enjoy Ripe Seeds; Pollen & Nectar Source for Bees & Butterflies. 
Note: Usually a short lived perennial; deadhead to encourage additional blooms; at end of season let freely self seed; Susceptible to Powdery Mildew. 
Uses: Borders; Cottage Gardens; Wild Gardens; Mass Plantings.
Native to:  Most of North America
Oregon Native:   YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 – 7

Report Viki Ashford

Photo by: Carlotta Lucas

Horticulture Report: Phacelia tanacetifolia

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Plant Name:  Phacelia tanacetifolia
Common name: Lacy Phacelia, Fiddleneck
Plant Type:  Annual
Plant Height: 1’ -3’
Spread: 1.5’
Bloom Time: March – May
Flower Color:  Lavender Blue
Exposure:  Sun
Soil Requirements:  Rocky, Sandy, Dry Soil.
Water Needs:  Medium
Attributes: Value to Bumble, Honey, & Native Bees; Good Insectary Plant; Deer Resistant; Drought Tolerant; Attracts Butterflies
Note:  May produce skin irritation.
Uses: Bee & Butterfly Gardens; Cover Crop & Nitrogen Fixer; Water-wise gardens; Mediterranean-style Gardens, Cottage Garden, Container Gardening, Wildflower Gardens, Natural areas, Pollinator gardens
Native to: California & Southwest US
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  1 – 10

Report by: Viki Ashford

Photo Credit: Zanchetta Fabio (faxstaff) / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)

Oregon Native Plant: Western Sword Fern

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Plant Name:  Polystichum munitum
Common name: Western Sword Fern
Plant Type:  Evergreen Fern
Plant Height: 1.5’ – 5.5’
Spread: 2’ – 3’
Bloom Time: N/A
Flower Color:  N/A
Exposure: Full Shade to Part Shade
Soil Requirements:  Tolerates variety of soils with adequate moisture.
Water Needs: Weekly deep watering; drought tolerant once established.
Attributes:  Fronds live 1.5 – 2.5 years; hosts butterflies & moths; Deer Resistant.
Note: Cut back dead fronds.
Uses: Ground Cover; Beds & Borders; Woodland Garden.
Native to: Western North America
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  6 – 8

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC member, Master Gardener

Photo Credit: brewbooks from near Seattle, USA / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Western_sword_fern_(Polystichum_munitum)-_Flickr-_brewbooks.jpg

Horticulture Report: Mountain Mint

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Plant Name: Pycnanthemum muticum
Common name: Mountain Mint
Plant Type: Perennial
Plant Height: 1’ – 3’
Spread: 1’ – 3’
Bloom Time: July – September
Flower Color:  Pink, White, Red, Purple, Blue
Exposure:  Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements:  Fertile, Well-Drained.
Water Needs: Medium
Attributes: Attracts Butterflies & Bees, Wasps; Drought Tolerant; Spearmint Aroma.
Note:  Aggressively Spreads by Rhizomes.
Uses: Naturalize in Native Plant Gardens, Cottage Gardens; Border Perimeter’ Vertical Structure in Winter Garden.
Native to: Midwest to South to Eastern North America & California
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  4 – 8

Report by: Viki Ashford

Photo from: The Day –Green and Growing: Some native plants get aggressive, and that’s why we love them Author: Kathy Connolly https://www.theday.com/storyimage/NL/20190718/NWS01/190719660/EP/1/1/EP-190719660.jpg&MaxW=800&q=62