The Natural Gardener Survivor Plants

Kirk Alston’s list of survivor plants 2023 drought

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● Kidneywood
● Tecoma stans – ‘Lydia’ Yellow Bells
● Hibiscus syriacus – ‘Purple Pillar’ Rose of Sharon
● Salvia leucantha – Mexican Bush Sage (plus other salvias)
● Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii (didn’t mention, but great plant)
● ‘Adagio’ dwarf maiden grass (also native Lindheimer muhly, Gulf muhly)
● Agave ovatifolia – Whale’s Tongue Agave
● Agave victoriae-reginae – Queen Victoria Agave

More plants recommended by The Natural Gardener (and there are lots more!)

Shade trees
Cedar elm
Bur oak
Canby oak
Mexican sugar maple
Shantung maple
Lacey oak

Ornamental trees
Chitalpa Chilopsis x Catalpa hybrid
Desert Willow Chilopsis linearis Very flexible
Flameleaf Sumac Rhus lanceolata
Possumhaw Ilex decidua
Texas Persimmon Diospyros texana
Crape Myrtle Lagerstroemia spp.

Shrubs
Agarita Berberis trifoliata Edible berries
Bird of Paradise C. gilleesii, C. mexicana Might die back but returns
Boxwood Buxus spp. Deer resistant
Esperanza Tecoma spp. Might die back but returns
Evergreen Sumac Rhus virens Butterfly magnet
Kidneywood Eysenhardtia texana Pollinator magnet
Fragrant Mimosa Mimosa borealis
Pride of Barbados Caesalpinia pulcherrima Mulch heavily first winter
Rose of Sharon Hibiscus syriacus
Rusty Blackhaw Viburnum Viburnum rufidulum Great fall color
Texas Sage/Cenizo Leucophyllum spp.
Winter Honeysuckle Lonicera fragrantissima Great winter flowering

Perennials: some die back in winter but return in spring
Artemisia Artemisia spp. Powis Castle, A. ludoviciana
Blackfoot Daisy Melampodium leucanthum
Damianita Chrysactinia mexicana
Firebush Hamelia patens Mulch heavily first winter
Four Nerve Daisy Tetraneuris scaposa
Jerusalem Sage Phlomis fruticosa
Lavender Avoid fern leaf types, needs perfect drainage and sun
Mexican Oregano Poliomintha longiflora
Pink skullcap Scutellaria suffrutescens
Pyramid Bush Melochia tomentosa
Turk’s Cap Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
Salvia – various Salvia farinacea/guaranitica/greggii/leucantha

Vines
Butterfly vine Mascagnia macroptera Mulch heavily first winter
Trumpet vine Campsis radicans
Crossvine Bignonia capreolata Mulch heavily first winter

Xeric
Agave Whale’s Tongue/Artichoke/Q. Victoria
Green Sotol Dasylirion texana