Heuchera – Coral bell: 

Astounding foliage on evergreen, mounding plants make this perennial the darling of the decorator crowd. Heucheras complement so many other plants, especially in container combinations. Heucheras are relative to native woodland plants. They need an extra helping of compost or humus mixed into the planting hole if you want them to be drought resistant. Heucheras come in hundreds of varieties from the brightest red of “Fire Chief’ to the golden peach of ‘Amber waves’. The low growing Canyon series works well as a groundcover plant in areas of high shade such as under tall trees.

Tip: All heucheras appreciate protection from the hot afternoon sun. However, some varieties handle more sun than others. Plant heucheras where you want them. If the leaves turn brown and crispy from the sun move to a more shaded location. Alternatively, try a different heuchera that may have more sun tolerance. It’s easy to add or transplant this perennial any time of the year as long as the ground is not frozen. You can add heucheras plants to container gardens in the fall to replace summer annuals.

Lavender – Lavandula: 

The gray or silver foliage of this fragrant shrubby perennial is the tip-off that lavender thrives with very little water. This aromatic herb does best on mounds, slopes or in sandy soil. The only place it really struggles is where the humidity is high and the air circulation low. Don’t crowd your lavender plants. New varieties come in different leaf and flower shades. Lavender ‘Platinum Blonde’ has foliage that looks yellow – tipped with a bit of silver.

Tip: After your lavender blooms the first time in early summer, trim the plants into tidy balls by removing the spent flowers and stems. Don’t cut into the old wood of the plants.

Ornamental Grasses – Miscanthus, Festuca, Muhly Grass:

The slender leaf blades and spreading roots make the ornamental grasses popular for large landscaping projects that don’t need extra irrigation. Grasses do need to be established with a good root system before they can survive on rainfall alone. Some are more drought resistant than others. Plant in drifts of five to seven to create waves of texture in the landscape. Alternatively, use tall grasses like miscanthus to create walls and living screens.

Tip: Notice what type of grasses is planted near public buildings or along the highway in your area. These are the varieties that will do best in your region.

Sedums – Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ and Sedum Angelina: 

Thick, succulent leaves make all members of the large sedum and succulent family well known for their ability to store water during times of drought. The most common are winter hardy sempervirens or Hen’s and Chicks as they need very little soil to thrive so are used in vertical gardens and growing out of leather shoes and other novelty containers. For outstanding beauty and structure in the late summer and fall garden grow the upright Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ with the bee attracting flat panicles that start green, then bloom pink until fading to a rusty brown in the fall. To crowd out weeds and as a bright groundcover chose the sedum ‘Angelina’ with a low growing or trailing habit and bright yellow foliage.

Tip: Sedums are about the easiest perennials to multiply. Snip off a section of stem, remove some of the lowest leaves closest to the cut then poke the cut end into the soil. Sedums root even sooner if you allow the cut stem to dry a bit by having it sit in the shade for 24 hours before poking it into soil.