8 Tough Plants for a Changing Climate
Echinacea purpurea, a native of the Midwest, is a plant that wonderfully adjusts to changing weather circumstances. In droughty conditions, it grows shorter, and in more favorable situations, it grows higher. Its purple blossoms attract pollinators, and birds adore the seedheads.
Perennial sage, or salvias (Salvia nemorosa), put on a show in the middle of spring with their lavender to violet blue flowers and vibrant bracts that create visual appeal even in between blooms. These perennials often rebloom in the fall and grow well in full sun to partial shade.
Pycnanthemum, a 3-foot perennial, gets its name from the word "densely packed flowers." Pollinators love the little white flowers that cover these plants. Plant them widely in moist places with full to partial sun. Their gray-green foliage complements lamb's ear, another hardy plant, well.
For shady woodlands, Pachysandra procumbens is a wonderful semi-evergreen groundcover. It aids in weed suppression and spreads slowly to create a dense carpet 8 to 10" tall. Fragrant white bottlebrush blooms appear in the spring to encourage early pollinators.
Hardy geraniums (Geranium) are a garden workhorse with saucer-shaped flowers over mounds of green foliage. Late spring and early summer are when the blossoms start. Utilize these quick-growing plants to design a visually appealing border. Favorite varieties are "Biokovo" (white blooms), "Rozanne" (long-flowering purple blooms), and "Karmina" (pink blooms).
Within the mint family, catmint (Nepeta) is a dependable perennial with a long lifespan. It bears fragrant gray-green foliage as well as erect spikes of white, pink, or lavender-blue flowers. Because it tolerates drought well and grows best when left alone, mint is a great plant for novice gardeners, low-maintenance landscapes, and arid regions.
The ecological superstar, goldenrod (Solidago), is an extremely forgiving plant. A variety of insects, including bumblebees, wasps, flies, butterflies, moths, beetles, spiders, and long- and short-tongued bees, can find food, a place to nest, and winter refuge from the arching stems and sprays of golden blooms.
These hardy native perennials, called Penstemon, are rainbow-colored and drought-tolerant. Hummingbirds and butterflies are drawn to their enchanting tubular blooms. In the fall and winter, birds gorge on their seeds. Any additional seeds that fall will self-sow the next spring.