Every month this year has been the hottest respectively in recorded history. This may get you and certainly us here at Sweetwater thinking about what this means for our water supplies. We love to use low-water use plants here for your benefit (by having to water less) and nature’s benefit. Here are 6 of our favorite low-water use plants.

 

Low-Water Use Plants

1. Munstead Lavender

  • This is our favorite!
  • Munstead Lavender trumps other variations of lavender because it stays nicely compact.
  • It attracts bees to your garden.
  • It is easy to maintain by pruning once or twice a year depending on if you like spent stocks or not.
  • It brings a beautiful color to your garden.

 

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-Our local source: Emerisa Gardens

2. Succulents

  • What is awesome about succulents is that they come in so many different variations and colors.
  • Succulents are one of the easiest plants to maintain! They love sun and only need to be watered once a week.
  • Cool fact: They pull moisture from the air as their water source which is why you don’t have to water them as often.
  • They can live almost anywhere you can imagine like: hanging plants, tea cups, birdcages, and our favorite place-in between your waterfall’s rocks.
  • You can use their cuttings to grow more succulents if some of your yard needs a little sprucing.

 

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3. Sedums

  • Sedums are a perennial (lives for over two years) that has clusters of star-shaped flowers.
  • These little plants are great if you need some ground cover.
  • Sedums come in a large variety of colors and shapes allowing you to create variety in your garden with one simple species!
  • Cool fact: Like succulents, sedums pull moisture from the air as their water source which is why you don’t have to water them as often.
  • They have beautiful blooms in the summer but continue you have green foliage throughout the rest of the year.

 

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4. Penstemons

  • This species is native to the dessert, but you would not know it due to its beauty.
  • Depending on the sub-species, this plant is a hummingbird paradise.
  • It is a compact size: can work in large and small gardens.
  • They are a long blooming flower which means you’ll continuously  have color in your garden!
  • Our favorite to use: Margarita Bop

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5. Verbena

  • These are an easy plant to grow because they tolerate full sun and enjoy average soil.
  • They attract hummingbirds depending on the type of verbena.
  • They bring a lot of color to your garden (Spring-Fall) and look great against stones.
  • Cool fact: Verbena is used to make medicine and are used for a flavoring agent in alcohol.

 

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6. Grasses

  • Grasses can be compact and drought resistant.
  • But…they can also be large such as the Purple Fountain Grass.
  • They can be used to help control erosion issues in your landscape.
  • Some grasses such as Armeria are compact, spread like a ground cover, and bloom most of the year.

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  • Grasses are great depending on what you are trying to do in your landscape, whether it be filling in holes or hiding objects.

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Planting low-water use plants in your garden is a great way to keep your garden beautiful. These plants are low maintenance yet come in spectacular colors and varieties. If you are looking to spruce up your garden but live a busy life, these are the plants for you.