Dorothy – 27/2/98
Hardy plants that cope with dryness This season’s drought and the clear indications of climatic change have
made me think that gardeners need
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Jocelyn Thorpe at the Merivale Garden Centre holds a mixed bowl of hardy plants. |
guidance in choosing plants so that their
gardens are less susceptible to the damaging effect of long dry spells.
For advice on what would survive I went to plant enthusiast, Jocelyn
Thorpe, at the Merivale Garden Centre.
Life has been difficult for Jocelyn because she was born deaf. This has
meant that whatever she has done she has had to put in more effort and
concentration than most of the rest of us. She grew up with what Jocelyn
describes as “green fingers in the family”. Her knowledge of plants and of
gardening has been developed since 1982 through experience in a market
garden and then a garden centre in Otaki. Since 1993 she has been in her
own business in Merivale and the business has grown as customers have come
to appreciate Jocelyn’s quality of service, knowledge of plants and
practical gardening advice.
Jocelyn gave me a list of plants that cope with dryness. The list is
divided according to plant size. This week we have low growing plants.
| Name | Description | Flower Colour |
| Arctotis | Grey. Spreading habit with large daisy-like flowers. Grows to 25 cm. | Several colours available |
| Campanula Resholdt’s Variety | Extremely adaptable, long flowering, mid-green groundcover. Bell shaped flowers. Full sun or part shade. Grows to 15 cm. | Violet blue |
| Convolvulus Mauritanicus | Not the noxious weed and not invasive. Tough in dry conditions. Extremely profuse and long flowering groundcover. | Mid blue |
| Convolvulus (Blue Lake) | Deeper blue form. Same habit as above. | Deep blue |
| Corydalis lutea & alba | Spreading, mid-green fern leaves with long tubular flowers. For dry shade. Grows to 30 cm. | Yellow and white |
| Dianthus | A big family of old favourites. Grey leaves, sprawling habit near path edge. Cuttings take easily. Grows to 25 cm. | Many colours available |
| Galium odoratum | Groundcover, dark green foliage with small star-shaped flowers. For dry shade. Grows to 25 cm. | White |
| Geranium incanum | Hardy in frost. Long flowering, mid-green fern-like foliage. Sunny situation. Grows to 20 cm. | Magenta |
| Lamium (various) | Shade to part-sun. Some mid-green, others variegated in green and silver. Grows to 15 cm. Ground cover. | White, pink, mauve and yellow |
| Nemesia fruticans | Tough mid-green leaves. Trim regularly for continuous flowering. Cuttings take easily.Grows to 30 cm. | Available in white, pink, or grey-blue |
| Nepeta faassenii (Catmint) | Tough, grey leaves, always flowering, Grows to 30cm. | Lavender |
| Origanum rotundifolium | Spreading groundcover, green/cream leaves with flowers at tips.Sun to part shade. Grows to 15 cm. | Blush pink |
| Pachysandra terminalis | Groundcover with lush green leaves. For dry shade. Grows to 20 cm. | White |
| Roman Chamomile | Small plant, with flatish habit, fine green leaves, sweetly-scented daisy-like flowers. Extremely tough. Grows to 8 cms. | White |
| Sedum | Several varieties available. Succulent foliage of different colours. Sunny situation. Grows to 20 cm. (Also taller types) | Assorted colours |
| Stachys lanata | Very tough, furry, grey leaves. Spreading. Grows to 25 cm plus flower spikes. | Pinkish |
Ring Jocelyn at the Merivale Garden Centre or call in or write if you want
further advice or wish to purchase any of these plants. If she does not
have them in stock she will order them for you.
You will find that there are no problems communicating with her.
Merivale Garden Centre 158 Leinster Road Christchurch 1. Telephone 355-8507
Do use the Backchat facility to add your ideas to these.
Go to Part 2…
