5 drought-tolerant woody plants and how to plant them

Woody plants help make a garden look full and mature. As well, many are drought-resistant, meaning they will look great even when your garden doesn't get enough water. Here are a few examples:

• Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) is a small tree or large shrub with silvery foliage that makes a good accent plant.
• The bright yellow flowers scent the air in spring and give edible, though slightly mealy, yellowish fruits.
• It is a good choice for poor soils because the roots can obtain nitrogen from the air.
• On the downside, the wood is brittle, so exposed locations should be avoided.

• The closely related native silverberry (E. commutata) is equally hardy and has silvery fruits and just as fragrant flowers.
• It does not make as good a specimen plant because it spreads by suckers, but is a good choice for stabilizing sandy soils or banks.

• Another good choice for poor soils is the black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia).
• This tree is also able to fix atmospheric nitrogen and survive where others would perish.
• Long chains of fragrant white flowers garland the branches in spring and are sought by bees.
• The wood is very hard, resists rot and is a favourite for fence posts.
• This tree is prone to borers, but these don't seem to kill the tree.
• If cut down close to the ground, it will regrow from the base.
• The variety 'Frisia' is similar but with yellow foliage.

• Distinctive because it is the only maple with fragrant flowers, the Amur maple (Acer tataricum ssp. ginnala) comes from the Amur River basin in northern Russia.
• The pale cream flowers in early spring produce typical maple "helicopter" seeds in summer that are flushed with red and look like flowers from a distance.
• In fall, the leaves turn a flame red that lights the landscape until hard frost puts an end to the display.
• This is normally grown as a tall shrub reaching about seven metres (23 feet) and is useful as a windbreak, but can also be trained into a small tree with a single stem.

• With their snow-white blooms and fragrant flowers, mock orange (Philadelphus) deserves a place in every garden; the fact that it is drought-tolerant is a bonus.
• Most are hybrids, the results of crosses made between various species, that vary in size from 0.6 to 2.5 metres (two to eight feet), so be sure you purchase the right size for the location.

All these mock orange are hardy to Zone 3:

• 'Snowdwarf' grows 60 centimetres (25 inches) tall and has semi-double flowers.
• 'Buckleys Quill' is twice this height and has flowers with narrow, quill-like petals.
• 'Minnesota Snowflake' and 'Virginal' are popular varieties that grow to 2.5 metres (eight feet), both with double flowers, but are vigorous growers that need pruning immediately after flowering every third year.

There are two varieties of the common mock orange (P. coronarius) that are commonly grown:

• 'Variegatus' has white-edged leaves and 'Aureus' has golden leaves form that keeps its colour well.
• They only have single flowers, but the perfume still drifts across the garden to let you know they're blooming.

• All plants need water for the first little while after being planted, even these drought-tolerant ones.
• It makes sense to plant in early spring before watering bans are in place, so that you can give them a good start with sufficient water to get them established.
• The larger the plant, the longer it takes to produce a good root system and, therefore, the longer that watering is essential.
• Don't try and grow grass under woody plants; it only competes for the available moisture.
• Instead, cover the area out to the edge of the branches with a mulch of shredded bark or coarse compost, and extend the area each spring.

So there you have it -- 5 drought-resistant woody plants and how to plant them. Keep in mind that drought-resistant plants still need water when they are planted and growing, but will be safe when they mature. What a great way to fill out your garden!