It is a given that plants need water to thrive well and survive, but several plants can live perfectly well without being watered now and then. Growing and nurturing such plants with high tolerance to drought is a great choice if you are a resident of an arid region with harsh weather conditions and a lack of water.
Drought-tolerant plants are hardy and tough while being resilient survivors.
They are less demanding of regular pampering and can easily survive in arid soil. Here is a list of plants that can grow in dry areas for you to choose from here!
Plants that Grow in Dry Areas
Agave
Little trivia- a certain variety of agaves (blue agaves) can produce tequila, a popular alcoholic beverage. Agaves are xerophytic plants that possess a thick leafage where they store ample water, which they use to sustain prolonged periods of drought.
The quirky shape of their foliage is one of the key reasons they are such popular plants in terms of being decorative.
They come in several different breeds, each with the unique foliage that makes them look extremely cool.
Some of its varieties can be grown as small and adorable houseplants, while others can be grown as outdoor plants. They can grow up to a height of 10-20 feet, depending on their breed.
Lithops
These are one-of-a-kind, succulent plants that have a unique and peculiar stone-like appearance. This feature of their looks makes them an ideal fit for tiny displays.
These plants require very few amounts of water to survive. Their tiny pebble-like demeanor makes them unobtrusive. They are also called living stones and pebble plants.
No points for guessing where they get these names from here! They also happen to be colorful succulents.
Lithops have developed their unique exterior to be inconspicuous to animals and are their survival mechanism in the wild.
They have short underground stems. These plants can tolerate extreme drought conditions as they store water in their stems and leaves that grow low.
They can be very easily grown from either seeds or cuttings. Lithops desire a lot of sunlight, so make sure you provide them with this requirement. These plants also flower.
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Desert Rose
These are tropical succulent plants that desire very little watering to survive. They thrive the best when exposed to direct and full sunlight and can easily grow as a houseplant in colder regions.
These plants blossom wonderfully and have a very attractive structure. Desert roses have a thick trunk and are quite easy to cultivate. Growing them in clay or terracotta pots is advisable to ensure good air circulation for its roots.
Make sure you provide the plant with ample structural stability by growing it in a low stature container and wide.
Place the plant in a location that receives a minimum of 5 to 7 hours daily, direct and bright sunlight. Do not water the plant very frequently as it has a low thirst for water. The ideal time to water the plant is when its soil is dry to touch.
Succulents
These plants flaunt thick and juicy green leaves and thrive ideally under full to partial sunlight. They desire a warm environment to grow in and thrive the best in loamy and poor-quality soil.
Cacti
Cacti have various breeds and come in different shapes and sizes. They are the most popular of all xerophytes and do excellently well in low levels of watering.
They are ideal for desert-like arid environments and can also be grown indoors in pots or glass jars. Indoor cacti can thrive in moderate to low-light environments. Some breeds of cacti even bear flowers and fruits.
Bougainvillea
These plants are proficient survivors of drought phases and can thrive perfectly well in extremely dry weather conditions and even under the influence of insufficient care. Bougainvilleas blossom throughout the year.
They can be grown in various sizes depending upon their breed.
Bougainvilleas can be grown in containers, as ground covers, and into trees. They ideally love to be exposed to five to six hours of daily direct sunlight.
Lantana
Lantanas are plants of tropical origin and produce flowers that are bright and colorful and infused with fragrance. These plants survive ideally in a substantial amount of heat and enjoy aridity in the environment.
They are low-maintenance plants and can easily survive without a lot of pampering. Its growth is rather extensive and meddlesome, so make sure to grow them in pots. Lantanas also attract butterflies and bees due to their fragrant blossoms.
They can be perennial plants as they survive throughout the year. Even though they are drought-resistant plants, make sure you water them enough when they are young and also during the hottest months of summer.
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Wallflower
Wallflowers are very popular for the gorgeous colors they exude and their delightful scent.
They blossom brilliantly in the months of spring and summer, and their flowers come in clumps and exhibit vivid hues. They do not require regular watering excessively attentive care.
Oleander
These plants are of tropical origin and are shrubs. Oleanders blossom relentlessly and exhibit wonderfully scented flowers of different hues of pink. Red, yellow, and purple and are resplendent.
But make sure you keep your pets and kids away from these plants.
Their beautiful colors are bound to attract children and pets towards them, and ingesting them can be very harmful to both humans and animals. All of the parts of these plants are properly toxic.
Poppy
These plants are well-known for their attractive flowers and look magnificent when they blossom. Poppies provide their owners with a hassle-free nurturing experience as they are extremely low-maintenance.
They only desire consistent exposure to sunlight and minimal amounts of watering.
The ideal soil for poppy plants to grow in has a good mix of humus and loamy soil with good drainage properties. Make sure you keep the pH of the soil acidic or neutral. Only water the plant when the top inch of the soil feels dry.
Lavender Cotton
These shrubs form a heap-like appearance and possess grayish-green foliage and produce flowers that look like buttons. They thrive proficiently with low amounts of watering and love the full sunlight.
Lavenders
Lavenders are one of the most remarkable flowering plants. They can be grown with relative ease and are adequately tolerant to drought. These plants can be grown outdoors and indoors and are famous for the rejuvenating fragrance they emit.
Lavender flowers produce a powerful fragrance and come in wonderful hues of purple, blue, light pink, and white. They usually blossom in the months of spring on long, lean stalks.
On windy days their beautifully pleasant scent disperses around brilliantly.
Alongside bearing wonderful flowers, lavenders also produce beautiful leaves that exude a subtle brand of beauty as they look mildly moss-like and carry a hint of silver on them.
Globe Thistles
Globe thistles are one of the most resiliently drought-resistant perennial plants.
Once they are properly grown, they are hardy and tough enough to withstand harsh climates and make your garden look beautiful with their characteristic spherical flower heads that carry a subtle and bluish-violet hue.
Rose Campion
These plants are famous for their silvery-green leafage and tiny but pretty flowers.
Rose campions do not require a lot of care to grow and sustain themselves. They need to water on a fairly regular basis during extended dry periods. Other than that, water them intermittently, and they will be good to go!
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Conclusion:
Gardening in terms of a hobby offers a diverse domain of exploration. There are many kinds of plants to choose from, and it can leave you in a state of confusion.
Suppose you reside in a place with a lot of aridity in the climate and looking for appropriate plants to decorate your surroundings with, or someone looking forward to expanding your gardening collection.
In that case, this article is sure to help! Do consider growing a few xerophytic or drought-resistant plants in your backyard or indoors.