Water wise/drought resistant plants for Rustenburg
With recent drought conditions in South Africa, and also in Rustenburg, and increased awareness of the scarcity of water, many of us thought that green gardens were something of the past. Fortunately, with a few changes in gardening habits and the use of water wise plants we can still nurture, love and enjoy our garden sanctuaries.
We have a look at some of the modifications that plants may exhibit to adapt to their environment and give examples of these.
Plants with reduced leaf size have less surface area for transpiration, thereby losing less water e.g. Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
Some plants close their leaves to reduce the leaf surface exposed to the sun and thereby reduce water loss e.g. Jerusalem sage (Phlomis fruticosa) and rock rose (Cistus crispus)
Plants can be adapted to store water in specific parts e.g. Aloes, crasullas and vygies store water in their leaves while agapanthus and clivias have succulent roots for water storage.
Impala lilies (Adenium multiflorum) store water in their swollen stems.
A waxy coating on the leaves also reduces moisture loss from plants e.g. Kalanchoe species, wild figs (Ficus spp.) and Indian hawthorn (Raphiolepis indica)
Bulbous plants become dormant underground during dry seasons and have deciduous leaves e.g. Watsonia spp. Crinums spp. and Amaryllis spp.
Silvery, greyish or blue-green foliage reflect the rays of the sun to keep plants cool and reduce water loss e.g. Helichrysums, Echeverias and lavender.
Hairs on plants with hairy leaves slow down the air flow, reducing water loss e.g. everlastings (Helicrysum spp.) , silver tree (Leucadendron arenteum), lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantine) and ouhout or old wood (Leucosidea sericea)
Water wise plants have strong internal or external structures to prevent wilting e.g. mother-in-law’s tongue (Sanseveria trifasciata), wild iris (Dietes bicolor) and bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae)
Aromatic oils in leaves are common in plants that are found in climates with hot, dry summers. The oils form a protective layer around leaves and decreases the rate of evaporation e.g. lavender, sage and rosemary.
Save water by planting water wise plants. Succulents are most tolerant of dry conditions and a great variety in various colors are available from Rustenburg nurseries.
By implementing a few extra steps in your gardening routine, you can still have a lovely garden during dryer seasons.
Source: Leaflet – Rand Water, Environmental Management Services Department.
Related article: Top tips for your water wise garden