Tip of the Week: Camels of the Plant World
Posted in Gardening Tips on August 2nd, 2010 by Sonia Uyterhoeven – Be the first to comment |
Sonia Uyterhoeven is Gardener for Public Education. Join her each weekend for home gardening demonstrations on a variety of topics in the Home Gardening Center. |
What makes a plant drought tolerant? Plants have evolved some clever ways of adapting to dry conditions, and you can easily identify these plants if you know what to look for.
Plants such as stonecrop (Sedum) and hens and chicks (Sempervivum) have evolved fleshy leaves (the same strategy as cacti) to help them retain water during periods of drought. They are the camels of the plant world. Other plants have leaves that are thick and leathery or finely cut to help prevent water loss.
Some plants have evolved a waxy, whitish coating (glaucous) on the leaves. Other plants such as lamb’s ear (Stachys, pictured) have evolved hairy or woolly surfaces to help conserve moisture. Plants with fine hairs are easy to identify in the garden; they have gray or silver foliage that reflects light and heat. Many of these plants contain fragrant oils in their foliage that serves a dual purpose of protecting the plant by repelling predators as well as helping to slow down the rate of water evaporation. read more »