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| Photo Credit: Mary Moore |
| Tall bearded Irises love direct sun and prefer dry to moist, but well-drained, soil. |
With our busy lives, who has time to pamper plants? Certainly not me! And with increased concerns of drought, there’s more reason than ever to add drought-resistant, self-reliant flowering shrubs, bulbs and rhizomes to the garden. I’ve got a few recommendations for you based on what’s worked in my landscape. These plants have not only added beauty to my garden, they’ve survived everything from late frost to severe drought (as well as the occasional neglect)!
Irises: There are lots of Iris species out there, and you can get the rhizomes from just about any garden center, as well as a variety of specialty companies. One of my favorite species is the tall bearded Iris (I. germanica). The key to growing this beauty is to pick a sunny spot with good drainage. It tends to like it dry, so be careful where you put it in your garden – even planting it in the path of water drainage can result in root rot. When it comes getting the rhizomes in the ground, plant them at ground level – with the top of the root showing. Give them 2-3 feet of space each, unless you want to dig up and divide the rhizomes yearly. Then sit back and wait for the show! | Add Photo to Journal |  | | Photo Credit: Mary Moore | | The original Knock Out® rose is a tough, sun-loving shrub with pink to rose-colored blooms. |
Knock Out® roses: These hardy landscape shrubs can be used as a striking stand-alone accent or as a stunning hedge. The original Knock Out rose (Rosa ‘Radrazz’) is covered with rich red to pink flowers that are almost florescent in color. But there’s more to this amazing series of wonderful shrubs: All Knock Out roses are drought-resistant, mildew-tolerant and resistant to black spot!
To plant them, pick a spot with at least 5 hours of direct sun each day and good drainage. Dig the hole at least twice the size of the root-ball, and mix in compost to encourage the roots to grow. When planting, the root-ball should be 1-2 inches above ground level to prevent it from settling in below that. (‘Radrazz’ needs room to grow aggressively, so even if you’re trying to build a rose hedge, plant them at least 2 feet apart.) | Add Photo to Journal |  | | Photo Credit: Mary Moore | | The sweet fragrance of gardenias will fill your garden – especially in morning and evening, when it’s a bit cooler. |
Gardenias: Common gardenia (Gardenia augusta) is an evergreen shrub with glossy, green leaves and fragrant, white flowers that will just fill your yard with summer fragrance. Native to China, Taiwan and Japan, this shrub grows in sizes ranging from the 1- to 2-foot-tall ‘Radicans’ to several larger varieties that can reach up to 8 feet high!
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| Tips |
- Don’t pick a fertilizer that’s high in nitrogen for bulbs and rhizomes – this could lead to root rot. There are several brands of bulb fertilizers that are low in nitrogen but still provide all the nutrients these plants need to grow healthy roots and beautiful flowers.
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| Definitions |
- Rhizome: A stem that grows horizontally underground, producing buds that sprout and grow aboveground, generating new plants.
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| Faqs |
- Q: When should I plant rhizomes?
A: Irises can be planted between July and November for blooms the next season. They can also be planted in late spring, but don’t be surprised if they don’t bloom until the following year. Canna lilies, on the other hand, do better if they’re planted in spring.
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| Resources |
- We’d love to see how your garden is growing! Share your green thumb accomplishments with our Learn2Grow community, and post pictures of your garden in our forums.
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