COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL July 29, 2015
Extension Service recommends 10 low-water,
high-impact perennials to beat the heat
BY KYM POKORNY
OSU Extension Service
P
acifi c Northwest garden-
ers are faced with the
pleasant dilemma of choosing
from an encyclopedia-length
list of perennials that grow in
our friendly climate, and many
of those thrive in low-water sit-
uations.
“This year has shined a spot-
light on the need to incorporate
more drought-tolerant plants in
the garden,” said Gail Langel-
lotto, a horticulturist with Or-
egon State University’s Exten-
sion Service. “I think that’s a
trend that’s going to continue.”
Even low-water plants need
regular irrigation for the fi rst
two years while roots get es-
tablished, Langellotto said. Af-
ter that, a good soak every two
weeks, less in milder weather, is
suffi cient.
Before planting, consider in-
stalling a drip system or soaker
hoses, which direct-water most
effi ciently. If using a sprinkler,
Langellotto said it’s a good idea
to periodically check to make
sure they’re delivering the cor-
rect amount of water to the
proper areas. Use a rain gauge
or other container to measure.
“A lot of drought-tolerant
plants have a double benefi t,”
Langellotto said. “They’re great
for water conservation but also
for attracting all kinds of bees.”
To get ideas of how to garden
with water-wise plants, visit one
of the OSU Master Gardener
demonstration gardens around
the state. To fi nd the closest, call
a Master Gardener hotline or
your county Extension offi ce.
Here are Langellotto’s recom-
mendations for drought-tolerant
perennials:
Bisphop’s hat (Epimedium):
Typically, it’s diffi cult to fi nd
an exciting plant for dry shade
situations, but this evergreen pe-
rennial fi ts the bill. The plants
come in various sizes from very
short ground covers to two-foot
mounds. Heart-shaped leaves set
off the dainty fl owers that look
like tiny, upside-down bishops’
hats, hence the name. Hardy to
Zone 5.
Catmint (Nepeta): A plant
consistently rated in the top
three for attracting bees, catmint
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is just as beloved by people.
And why not? This free-bloom-
ing beauty cranks out lavender-
blue fl owers on upright, two-
foot stems from spring until fall.
Hardy to Zone 4.
Hellebore (Helleborus): A
good candidate for the diffi cult
situation of dry shade, though
this evergreen perennial will
also enjoy some morning sun.
Even before the snowdrops of
spring, hellebores put forth their
fl owers. The blooms traditional-
ly were greenish-white, but now
come in purple, rose, yellow,
some lined, spotted or speckled
with darker colors. Most recent-
ly doubles have hit the market.
Hardy to Zone 6.
Hummingbird mint
(Agastache): Flowers climb up
spires that average anywhere
from 18 inches to three feet and
appear summer to frost. Deer
are usually uninterested in the
fragrant foliage, but pollinators
and hummingbirds can’t resist
the fl owers that come in an im-
pressive array of colors, includ-
ing lavender, pink, rose, orange
and white. Hardy to Zone 5.
Oregano ‘Kent Beauty’
(Origanum): A great choice for
cascading over a wall or in a pot,
this ornamental oregano takes
full, hot sun with aplomb. White
blooms tinged with purple look
like rose-and-cream hop fl ow-
ers on a silvery blue plant that
only gets 6 inches tall. Hardy to
Zone 4.
Penstemon hybrids: Draw
hummingbirds and the admira-
tion of visitors with the showy,
long-blooming fl owers of this
semi-evergreen perennial that
grows to two to four feet tall.
Hummingbirds and bees cannot
pass up the spikes of blooms in
shades of purple, red and pink,
often with white throats. Needs
very good drainage. Most hardy
to Zone 7.
Pineapple sage (Salvia el-
egans): Pineapple sage comes
by its name honestly with un-
mistakably scented foliage. A
handy plant for the pure red
fl owers that bloom in late sum-
mer and fall when many other
perennials have fi nished and the
hummingbirds that love it need
some added sustenance. Grows
three to four feet tall. Hardy to
Zone 8.
Sea holly (Eryngium am-
ethystinum): If you’re looking
for drama in the garden, try this
perennial with spiky, thistle-
like, ice blue fl owers that stand
up to about twp feet. Deer tend
to stay away from sea holly,
which pairs well with small or-
namental grasses. Great as a cut
fl ower. Hardy to Zone 3.
Stonecrop (Sedum ‘Autumn
Joy’): A stalwart, fall-blooming
perennial with dense, dome-
shaped clusters of fl owers that
start out pink, darken to rose
and then to russet red. Succulent
foliage grows about two feet tall
and wide. Attracts bees and but-
terfl ies.
Yarrow (Achillea millefo-
lium): Disc-shaped white fl ow-
ers from June to September are
like runways for bees and but-
terfl ies that land on a regular
basis. Soft, ferny foliage grows
two feet tall by two feet wide.
Hybrids are available mostly
commonly in yellow and pink.
Summer Reading Program
highlights heroes
photo by Bruce Kelsh
Braxton Robinson recently attended one of the
Cottage Grove Library’s Summer Reading Special
Guests programs on Wednesday, July 22. This
program featured Lane County Search and Rescue
Explorers, and Robinson is shown here getting to
talk over the radio to the group in the background.
The groups practiced using the radios to communi-
cate coordinates to each other, just like the Search
and Rescue teams need to do when they are out on
a search.
The library is featuring different “heroes” each
Wednesday from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. during the sum-
mer. The theme for Summer Reading this year is
“Every Hero Has a Story”. Today, July 29, Lane
County Search and Rescue is returning with its Dog
Search group.
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