Tag Archives: Drought Tolerant

Oregon Native: Black Hawthorn

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Plant Name:  Crataegus douglasii
Common Name:  Black Hawthorn
Plant Type:  Much-Branched Shrub or Small Tree
Plant Height:  6’ – 30’
Spread:  10’ – 25’
Bloom Time: May – June
Flower Color:  White followed by Blue-Black Berries
Exposure:  Sun – Part Shade – Shade
Soil Requirements: Moist
Water Needs: High
Attributes: Showy Fruits,  A few Birds consume Berries; Attracts Butterflies; Fragrant Flowers; Autumn Foliage; Drought Tolerant.
Note:   Prune in winter or early spring; Susceptible to: Rust, Fireblight, Powdery Mildew, Borers, Leafminers, & Scale.  Cons: Has Prickles & Thorns; Messy Fruits; Suckers Form Thickets. 
Uses: Hedge
Native to:  Alaska to Northern California, Rockies
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  3 – 9

Report by: Viki Ashford

Photo from: Oregon State University Department of Horticulture https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/crataegus-douglasii

Horticulture Report: Diabolo® Ninebark

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Plant Name:  Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diabolo®’
Common name: Ninebark ‘Diabolo®’
Plant Type: Deciduous Shrub
Plant Height: 4’ – 8’
Spread: 4’ – 8’
Bloom Time: May – June
Flower Color:  Pinkish White with Purple Leaves and Reddish Fruit.
Exposure:  Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements:  Tolerates many soil types.
Water Needs: Dry to Medium
Attributes:  Drought Tolerant; Bird Friendly
Note:  Prune immediately after bloom.
Uses: Hedge; Exfoliating Bark provides Winter Interest; Shrub Border.
Native to: North America
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  2 – 7

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member & Master Gardener

Photo from: Monrovia  https://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/1926/diabolo-ninebark/

Oregon Native: Helianthus annnuus

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Plant Name: Helianthus annnuus
Common name: Common Sunflower
Plant Type:  Annual
Plant Height:  1.5’ – 8’
Spread:  1.5’ – 3’
Bloom Time: July – October
Flower Color:  Yellow with Bicolor Rays & Brown to Purple Center Disk.
Exposure:  Sun
Soil Requirements:  Average Moist, Well-Drained; Tolerates Poor Soil.
Water Needs:  Medium
Attributes: Birds seek seeds; Deer & Drought Tolerant; Nectar Plant for some Insects.
Note:  Spread rapidly by seed; Extensive crossing & hybridizing results in large number of cultivars; rust, leaf fungal spot, & powdery mildew can be a problem.
Uses: Back Borders, Cottage Gardens; Bird Gardens; Wildflower & Native Plant Gardens.
Native to:  Manitoba to Minnesota to Texas & westward.
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  2 – 11

Report by: Viki Ashford

Photo by: Carlotta Lucas

Sisyrinchium palmifolium (Palm-Leaf Yellow-Eyed Grass)

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Plant Name: Sisyrinchium palmifolium
Common name: Palm-Leaf Yellow-Eyed Grass
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Height: Floral Stem 18-24” with 3-5 Flowers each, Leaf 20-24”
Spread: 8-12” Clump  
Bloom Time: May- June 
Flower Color: Bright yellow with a tinge of orange in the throat.
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Soil Requirements: Well-drained; Rich
Water Needs:  Moist in the spring; Tolerates dry Conditions summer & fall.  
Attributes:  Bright Yellow Flowers; Hardy Perennial; Deer Resistant; Attracts Bees; Carefree; Blue-green Semi-Evergreen Foliage; Siberian Iris-like leaves
Note: Similar to West coast Native: Blue-eyed Grass (sisyrinchium augustiifolium) and California Native Yellow-Eyed Grass (sisyrinchium californicum).
Uses:  Cut Flowers; Deer Resistant Gardens; Perennial Gardens; Borders, Low-water gardens.       
Native to: South America: Argentina, Brazil, And Uruguay
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone: 7a-9b

Report and Photo by: Gena Goddard, AGC Member & Oregon State Flower Judge

Horticulture Report: Agastache foeniculum

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Plant Name:  Agastache foeniculum
Common name: Anise Hyssop
Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height:  2’ – 4’
Spread:  1.5’ – 3’
Bloom Time: June – September
Flower Color:  Lavender to Purple
Exposure:  Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Well-Drained
Water Needs:  Dry to Medium
Attributes:  Deer Resistant; Drought Tolerant; Attracts Butterflies & Hummingbirds; Fragrant; Good Nectar Plant for Bees
Note:  Deadhead spent flowers to promote additional bloom.  Spreads by rhizomes & easily self-seeds.
Watch for Rust, Powdery Mildew, & Leaf Spot.
Uses: Herb; Naturalized Gardens; Good Cut or Dried Flower; Back of the Border Gardens.
Native to:  Northern North America
Oregon Native:  Native to Washington, but NOT Oregon
USDA Hardiness Zone:  4 -8

Report Submitted by: Viki Ashford

Horticulture Report: Threadleaf Coreopsis ‘Zagreb’

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Plant Name:  Coreopsis verticullata ‘Zagreb’
Common name: Threadleaf Coreopsis ‘Zagreb’
Plant Type:  Herbaceous Perennial
Height:  18 – 24 inches
Spread:  12 – 18 inches
Bloom Time: May – June
Flower Color:  Bright Yellow
Exposure:  Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Tolerates Dry, Shallow, Rocky Soil;
Water Needs: Dry to Medium

Attributes: Showy Flower; Deer Tolerant; Drought Tolerant; No Serious Disease or Insect Problems; Attracts Butterflies

Note:  Deadheading encourages additional bloom & prevents unwanted self-seeding. Plants may be sheared in mid to late summer to promote fall re-bloom & remove sprawling foliage. Can spread aggressively by rhizomes & self-seeding. Crown Rot may occur in poor draining soils.

Uses: Native Plant Gardens; Cottage Gardens; Borders; Containers; Cut Flowers; Naturalizing, Butterfly Gardens, 
Native to:  Eastern USA
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  3 – 9

Report by: Viki Ashford