We have had a lot of rain this year and are not having drought problems yet.  Last year was a different story, and some plants are still suffering drought stress.  As summers get hotter and drier, drought-hardy perennials will make your landscape use less water.  You can have a drought resistant garden that is beautiful.  You don’t have to choose one over the other. 

Why Native Matters 

Using native perennials that are adapted to the rainfall in our area does more than reduce your water bill.  Native plants feed and shelter an amazing number of insects, birds, and animals.  Everyone knows pollinators are in trouble.  Planting native trees, shrubs, and perennials gives them a place to live, reproduce, and feed.  As a quick example, an oak tree houses 532 species of caterpillars, 147 species of birds, 120 species of mammals, and 60 species of reptiles and amphibians.  In contrast, something imported like Bradford pear trees might feed a few birds, who like the fruit, but not much else. 

Native Perennials 

We have some suggestions for native drought-resistant perennials that will not need to be watered much once established. 

 Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) 

This attractive coneflower is native to both Kansas and Missouri.  It grows to be from two to four feet tall with vivid purple flowers on tall stems.  In the wild, it grows in well-drained limestone, sand, clay, loam, so it grows in a variety of soils.  As a bonus, this plant attracts butterflies and hummingbirds and is valuable to native bees. 

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) 

This cheerful flower can be an annual, biennial, or a short-lived perennial, depending on the growing conditions.  It grows to be three feet tall.  Black-eyed Susans grow easily and can sometimes spread aggressively if the conditions are too perfect for it.  Insects use the nectar and birds eat the seeds. 

Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) 

Milkweed or Butterfly Weed grows up to two feet tall.  It attracts butterflies and hosts monarch butterfly caterpillars.  The pollen and nectar attract other insects, as well.  The plant is often home to aphids, but it will attract predator insects like the ladybeetle.  Both the larvae and the adults love aphids.  This plant is a must for anyone who wants a true butterfly garden, as it is the best place for caterpillars to grow and thrive. 

• Bonus: If you crush the seed heads of these perennials in the fall and leave them around the base of the plants, you may get more of them to fill in for a very full-looking plant next season.   

While we don’t plant exclusively natives, as it would limit the combinations and creativity of our landscapes, we do like to incorporate them as much as possible along with other hardy plants for our area. 

Need More Help? 

Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping can come to your landscape and recommend the appropriate native plants for your location.  You can remove non-native plants or start filling in natives as other plants die.  Simply schedule a consultation and a garden care specialist will come suggest some native plants for your landscape.