Dry conditions - Plant Encyclopedia Results

Grewia villosa, commonly known as mallow raisin, is a drought-tolerant large shrub-like plant native to tropical Africa and Arabia. It can grow to a height of 5-10 feet tall, making it an excellent choice for a hedge or a backdrop for a garden. Grewia villosa is quite easy to care for and will do well in full sun with moderate irrigation. It can also tolerate dry conditions, making it quite a hardy plant.

Grewia villosa has beautiful red and vinous flowers that attract and bring lots of pollinators and wildlife to your garden. It blooms in summer and can continue to bloom throughout the year, depending on the climate and the amount of water it receives.

Grewia villosa is a very hardy plant and has been known to survive even in cold regions as low as 30s Fahrenheit, for a short period of time. It is thus grown in USDA Zone 9-11 and can be grown in a pot if care is taken to protect it from chilly temperatures. It can tolerate cold temperatures if planted outdoors and should be provided with winter mulching and protection from strong winds and frost. When planting in cold regions, it is much better to pick a small shrub variant of Grewia villosa that is 2-5 feet tall and can be moved to a sheltered place if needed.

Grewia villosa is an attractive, low maintenance, and hardy shrub, and there are very few plants like it - it is an endangered species and is on the brink of extinction. Its natural habitat, however, can still be found in areas like Shimba Hills in Kenya and Ein Gedi oasis in Israel.

This native of Southern California and Arizona has large white flower clusters in March-May, large leathery leaves and reddish berries used to make lemonade-like drink. Sugar bush likes sun and little or no water after established.

Propagation: Seeds, heeled semihardwood cuttings in summer, root cuttings in December, suckers.

These species are leafy succulents, in that they store large amounts of water in their leaves (as opposed to stems as do the cacti) and can withstand long periods of drought. Gooseberry leaves are football shaped and about 3/8 inch long. The unique shapes of the fleshy leaves greatly reduce the surface area exposed to the hot and dry environment, so they lose a bare minimum of the precious water extracted from the soil. The reduced surface area, however, limits the amount of the sun's energy the plants can absorb for photosynthesis. Nature's way of compensating for this limited external surface area is to have a 'window' or slit of transparent tissue in each leaf that allows light to enter and be absorbed by the photosynthetic cells lining the inside. Therefore, light absorption occurs on the outer surface as well as the inner surface. This allows the plant to produce a sufficient amount of food by photosynthesis while conserving its water. The central core of each leaf is composed of clear, non-pigmented water storage cells. See Senecio rowleyanus.

Cynanchum viminale is a leafless succulent plant with cylindrical, green photosynthetic stems. The plant may grow as a shrub or a scandent vine. The stems produce copious amounts of milky exudate when broken. This exudate is caustic in nature and can cause burns if it contacts human skin. The plant produces small white flowers in clusters.

Toxicity appears to be variable, even locally.

An interesting plant for succulent, cactus and rock/cliff gardens and spilling over dry walls. It also does well in hanging containers.

The species can be found on many hillsides where it usually grows at the base of rocks and often manages to survive in tiny pockets of soil in the crevices. It can withstand seasonal droughts remarkably well and is therefore found even in exceptionally dry places.

A very colorful tropical shrub grown for its attractive reddish leaves. Beautiful foliage of mixed shades of red, yellow and green. Leaves, much smaller than ordinary copper leafs, they are orange/red in the full sun and mostly variegated/green in the shade. The more sun the more colorful the leaves will get. Fast growing, a native of the East Indies and the Pacific, this is one of the most striking foliage shrubs and is widely used by tropical gardeners. The leaves also vary in form, some being flat and others undulating, while the flowers are inconspicuous. In a garden, where they are often used as informal hedges or in massed beds, all Acalypha species require full sun, well-drained soil, and careful pruning to prevent them from becoming leggy. They are easily propagated by cuttings.

Carnegiea gigantea are typically 10-20 feet high and live for 150-200 years. Although these plants can tolerate some shade, they prefer full sun and well-draining, dry soil conditions. The green fleshy trunks are studded with spines, have reddish-brown spots, and covered with a waxy bluish-white layer for protection. During the spring, off-white flowers bloom on the sides of the stems and attract hummingbirds and butterflies. These flowers are also edible and a traditional food source for Native Americans.

The saguaro is also valued for its edible fruit, which ripen in late spring or summer. These fruits are covered with a thick leathery skin and filled with juicy pulp and several large seeds. The fruit has a sweet, sugary taste and is high in vitamin C and dietary fiber. Saguaro fruits can be made into jams, jellies, and syrups and are a popular treat in the Southwest United States.

In addition to its culinary uses, Saguaro has numerous cultural significance. It is a symbol of the Sonoran Desert and has been featured prominently in films and television series. The saguaro is considered an important medicinal plant and its fruits are used in traditional medicine for various treatments. The fruit also has a long history of being used for its healing properties.

Saguaro can be grown in USDA Zone 9-11 and is easily grown in a pot in cold regions. It requires well-draining soil and full sun in order to thrive. If planted in too much shade, the plant will not flower and may suffer from fungal diseases. To ensure that your saguaro continues to grow and thrive, water it deeply once a month and fertilize it in spring and summer. Make sure to provide a sturdy support for the cactus, as the older specimens can become top-heavy.

This species is drought and sun tolerant, even when young. It reaches a height of 5 to 10 feet tall as a large shrub, while some specimens can grow up to 20 feet tall when trained to be a small tree. Euphorbia fiherenensis (Pencil Tree) prefers full sun and dry conditions which can make it a suitable plant for rock gardens and desert gardens in USDA Zones 9-11. It does best when planted outside in the open and away from other plants to prevent competition for the much needed water and sun. The plant should be fertilized lightly in the early spring with a balanced fertilizer and watered deeply, but sparingly during the growing season. It should be kept on the dry side in the winter months. In regions with cold winters, this plant should be grown in a pot and kept indoors to avoid frost damage.

Euphorbia fiherenensis may irritate some individuals when touched due to its sap containing latex molecules, so extra care should be taken when planting and handling the plant. Despite this, it is a beautiful evergreen or semi-evergreen succulent that makes a great addition to any outdoor space. Overall, Euphorbia fiherenensis is an easy-care plant that is perfect for outdoor spaces in dry climates or for container gardening indoors in cold climates.

Retama sphaerocarpa is a xerophytic, leafless leguminous shrub.