Drought Tolerant Plants That Are Super Easy To Grow
A deluge in the Autumn does not make up for a drought in spring. With the unprecedented climatic changes and global warming, drought hits hard for most gardeners. Growing drought-tolerant plants and trees is the surest way of sprucing your yard's mien. Follow along as we dissect four drought-resistant plants that are trouble-free to grow. Drought tolerant plants are the way to go if you want plants with low maintenance.
Maple Trees are Drought Tolerant Plants
Maple Trees provide an excellent source of shade as well as specimen samples. Maples are a symbol of longevity, balance, generosity, and intelligence.
Maple trees consist of up to 10 distinctive species. They include;
Big Leaf Maple -Acer macrophyllum
Sugar Maple-Acer Saccharum
Japanese Maple -Acer palmatum
Red Maple -Acer rubrum
Paperbark Maple -Acer griseum
Silver Maple -Acer saccharinum
Vine Maple -Acer cissifolium
Norway Maple -Acer platonizes
Hedge Maple-Acer Campestre
Hornbeam Maple -Acer carpinifolium
Maples have similar characteristics that make them stand out from other tree species. The maple leaves are divided into sections and resemble the human hand. Botanically, these sections are known as palmately lobed. Maples are deciduous plants. They shed their leaves at the end of each season in brilliant colors. Different maple species have different lobes. The red and sugar maples are three-lobed, while the silver maple has five lobes. Maples grow up to 75 feet at maturity, forming a round canopy at the apex. Their barks are smooth while young and darken as they grow. All maple species yield seed pod fruits. All maple leaves are generally small—the smaller the leaves, the lower the surface area for water loss. The canopy of the maples helps to shade the tree. A shady surface promotes water retention.
In addition to tolerating drought, the maple leaves produce medicinal maple syrup. The red maples add beauty to the landscape and provide shade.
Oak Trees
Oaks are prevalent drought-resistant trees. The oak tree originated from Southern America. Due to its slow but sure growth, the oak is an epitome of resilience, honor, and strength. Oaks are in the Quercus genus.
Oak trees largely diversify into Red Oak and White Oak. The white oak wood is denser and thus more expensive than red oak wood. The white oak is more resistant to decay and porosity. The red oak (Quercus rubra) has several distinct species. They include;
Cherry bark Oak
Scarlet Oak
Southern Red Oak
Shumard Oak
Willow Oak
Chestnut Oak
Bur Oak
Water Oak
As a drought counter tact, oaks have an extensive taproot system. The lengthy taproot network traps water from deep underneath sources. Trees are 36 feet in circumference with a canopy crown spread of 140 feet. Similar to most arid plants, oaks are deciduous and evergreen. They shed their leaves at the culmination of each season; Their leaves are simple and alternately arranged with lobes. Oakwood is a hardwood extensively used for construction purposes. Red oak is used in wooden flooring and cabinet fixtures. It is also used in beds and couches. The white oak's resistance to rotting makes it favorable for use in boat making. The oak bark is very medicinal. It is widely used to treat eczema, arthritis, varicose veins, fever, bleeding gums, etc. The oaks' entire canopy and branch network act as a windbreaker during storms. Privet Shrubs
The private shrub takes pride in its use as a hedge plant. Privets are under the Ligustrum genus. There are three predominant species of private shrubs; The Border privet is a Japanese native privet shrub. This Ligustrum obtusifolium grows up to 11 feet high. The Border privet has dark green leaves and produces fruits during Summer.
The European privet, Ligustrum vulgare, grows up to 13 feet. This private species is commonly used as a hedge. Its leaves are oval, oily, and dark green. The stem of the European privet supports the long, leafy branches. This private species is fully evergreen and deciduous.
The Chinese privet, Ligustrum variegate, is generally short. This species grows to a height of 10 feet. The leaves are small and yellow.
All the private species have small leaves with thick waxy cuticles. The small leaves truncate the surface area for loss of moisture. The smaller the leaves, the lesser the number of stomata per unit area. The stomata on the leaves are responsible for transpiration. The thick waxy cuticle insulates the leaf surface against excessive loss of water. The private plants have a deep taproot system. The taproots consistently tap water deep below the earth's strata.
Besides, to use as a hedge, the private plants have medicinal value. The juice extract from their leaves maintains osmoregulation in the body and relieves pain, arthritis, and the common cold.
Forsythia Plants
The forsythia is an exceptional drought tolerant plant; the Forsythia plant belongs to the Oleaceae family and Forsythia genus. The Forsythia plant is native to East Asia.
The Forsythia plants thrive in hot sunny conditions. They have narrow leaves with a thick waxy cuticle. The leaf narrowness decreases the rate of water loss during transpiration; The forsythias have long and thin stems. Their slender stems make them spread out.
The Forsythias grow up to eight feet tall and spread out to 10 feet horizontally. Their flowers grow in bell-shaped clusters and bud entirely in Autumn. The Forsythias require regular pruning for vibrant growth.
Forsythias are renowned for their use as hedges. They offer excellent sound filtering and privacy. Forsythia plants also have a wide array of health benefits. The oleanolic acid in the Forsythia shrubs boosts the cardiac muscles. The Forsythia leaves relieve sore throats, frequent colds, and arthritis; They offer great nutrients mixed with gravy or tea. The forsythia flowers produce excellent salad toppings. These flowers also provide lotion and jelly.
