Even during the longer dry periods of recent summers, when bushes and trees shed their leaves prematurely and the lawn was withered yellow, if you look closely, there were numerous plants that thrived in these conditions. They have obviously adapted to the climatic conditions and ensure a diverse range of species in the garden, from which the insect world also benefits.
When is the soil considered “dry”?
Because climate and soil conditions vary from region to region, the term “drought” cannot be defined uniformly. In areas where summer temperatures often exceed 30 degrees, evaporation is naturally higher than in cool areas and sandy soils dry out more quickly than clay soils. Therefore, the pure precipitation value is only of limited significance as a measure of soil dryness.
You can recognize dry soil as follows: If you rub the soil between your fingers, it won't stick.
Flowering perennials for full sun locations
| German name | Latin name | Description | Flowering time | Growth height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camomile | Anthemis tinctoria | Old dye plant with pretty white, yellow or orange flowers that resemble those of the daisy. | June to September | 30 to 60 centimeters |
| Burning Bush (Diptam) | Dictamnus albus | Exudes a delicate lemon aroma. Attractive, whitish-pink flower spikes from which seeds develop that contain a lot of essential oil. It's a fascinating spectacle when it's hot, as it sometimes fizzles out into small flames. | June to July | 60 to 100 centimeters |
| Cornflower | Centaurea cyanus | It used to characterize the grain fields of entire regions with its bright blue. New varieties bloom white, pink, crimson or violet. | May to September | 40 to 80 centimeters |
| Perennial Flax | Linum perenne | One of our oldest cultivated plants, as linen fibers can be obtained from the stems of these wonderfully blue-flowering perennials. Willingly sows itself. | June to August | 50 to 60 centimeters |
| Pyrenean Aster | Aster pyrenaeus | Countless light purple-pink ray flowers sit on the slightly overhanging, branched shoots, which are visited by numerous insects. | August to October | 50 to 70 centimeters |
| Catnip | Nepeta | Forms attractive white, pink or violet-blue inflorescences that have a very pleasant scent. | April to July, with re-blooming in September and October when pruned | 80 to 140 centimeters |
Frugal wild perennials for natural locations
| German name | Latin name | Description | Flowering time | Growth height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mullein (torch flower) | Verbascum | Forms eye-catching inflorescences that attract everyone's attention because of their height. If the site conditions are right, these impressive perennials will bloom for several years in succession before they self-seed. | May to August | 50 – 200 centimeters, depending on the variety |
| Meadow sage | Salvia pratensis | – The white, pink, purple or blue lip-shaped flowers arranged in whorls provide plenty of food for insects. | June to August | 40 to 60 centimeters |
| Evening Primrose | Oenothera biennis | The naturalized neophyte only opens its yellow, aromatic-smelling flowers at night. Then numerous moths can be observed on the perennial. | June to September | 100 to 200 centimeters |
| Adderhead | Echium vulgare | Typical pioneer plant that seeds and reproduces itself. The nectar-rich, blue flowers are a real insect magnet. | May to October | 80 to 100 centimeters |
| Thorny hackle | Ononis spinosa | Ancient medicinal plant whose pink-white flowers provide honey bees with plenty of food. It enriches the soil with nitrogen formed in the root nodules. | July to October | 50 centimeters |
| Cypress spurge | Euphorbia cyparissias | Extremely undemanding, drought-resistant perennial with bright yellow bracts bearing small, pleasantly honey-scented flowers. | April to June | 20 to 40 centimeters |
Drought-tolerant grasses enrich dry locations
Attractive ornamental grasses brighten up natural perennial beds with their beautifully shaped leaves and pretty flower spikes.
- The feather grass is very sun-hungry and looks elegant and graceful with its fluffy fronds. It enhances steppe beds and fits wonderfully into barren open spaces with a heather character.
- The red pennisetum (Pennisetum setaceum rubrum) with its striking light reddish leaves and pink, soft spikes can even cope with stony soils.
- The horizontal inflorescences of mosquito grass (Bouteloua gracilis) look like swarms of mosquitoes dancing over the stems.
Tip
The drought artists also need to be watered occasionally. To ensure that the plants develop deep roots, you should not spoil them. It is enough to water thoroughly about once a week. Always use the watering can early in the morning or late in the afternoon, as the moisture is then better absorbed and does not evaporate straight away.
