Low Water Needing Plants

Graph of Plant Survival vs. Water Supply

The problem with water management is fundamentally one of matching water supply available with water needs of the desired plants or crop. Few plant species have very wide tolerances for variations in water situations to live over a major part of the earth's surface.

Simply by selecting the proper plants relative to your areas average water supply, water demands can be reduced. Plant A's water demand is greater than the available water supply, and thus would need additional water in order to survive. Orchids are plants which typically fit this description.

Plant type B has a demand which is far less than the amount of water than the region provides. When supply far outweighs the demand, potential harm from too much water could result. For example, a cactus plant probably would not prosper as well in a tropical rain forest as in an arid climate.

Plant C's water demand is in balance with its environment's water supply, and could live without having any additional water, other than that supplied by precipitation, under average condition. These are the ideal plants for any given region, and will prosper most of the time.

In general, native species of grasses and plants require much less water than luscious imported species. There are also many drought-resistant trees, shrubs, and plants which can be planted.

In many parts of the country, it may be possible to landscape entirely with drought-resistant native plants that require no watering at all. This practice is called Xeriscaping.

For more information on native Midwestern plants that need little watering:

http://www.epa.gov/greenacres/index1.html
and
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/greenacres/wildones/

For a discussion of laws impeding natural landscaping, see http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/greenacres/weedlaws/index.html

Back ArrowReturn to Outdoors Water Conservation Techniques Menu © Copyright