Choose Water Wise Plants - Waterwise New Zealand
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CREATE A WATER WISE GARDEN Plant selection Choose Water Wise plants W ater Wise gardens focus on plant varieties that thrive with little water. However, no plant is ‘wrong’ in a Water Wise garden – it just needs to be in the right zone to use water most efficiently. You can select exotic as well as indigenous plants, as long as you plant them in the appropriate zone. Recognising Water Wise plants All Water Wise plants have certain characteristics that make them water efficient. By knowing these characteristics, you will be able to make a well informed decision as to whether a particular plant is suitable for the low water zone in your garden. Watch out for the following characteristics: • Small or needle-like leaves. This minimises the surface area from which water is lost by evaporation. Examples are ericas, most acacias, rosemary, origanum and thyme. • Reduced number of leaves. Some plants reduce moisture loss by dispensing with leaves altogether, or shedding their leaves during drought periods. Examples of the latter are There are many beautiful plants which are naturally drought resistant and require little watering once established New Zealand flaxes have sturdy internal structures.
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Transcript of Choose Water Wise Plants - Waterwise New Zealand
CREATE A WATER WISE GARDENPl
ant s
elec
tion Choose Water
Wise plants
Water Wise gardens focus onplant varieties that thrive with
little water. However, no plant is‘wrong’ in a Water Wise garden – itjust needs to be in the right zone touse water most efficiently. You canselect exotic as well as indigenousplants, as long as you plant them inthe appropriate zone.
Recognising Water Wise plantsAll Water Wise plants have certaincharacteristics that make them waterefficient. By knowing thesecharacteristics, you will be able to
make a well informed decision as towhether a particular plant is suitablefor the low water zone in your garden.Watch out for the followingcharacteristics:• Small or needle-like leaves. This
minimises the surface area fromwhich water is lost by evaporation.Examples are ericas, most acacias,rosemary, origanum and thyme.
• Reduced number of leaves.Some plants reduce moisture loss bydispensing with leaves altogether, orshedding their leaves during droughtperiods. Examples of the latter are
There are many beautiful plants which are naturally droughtresistant and require little watering once established
New Zealand flaxes havesturdy internal structures.
rand water 32-53 8/6/04 10:08 am Page 46
CREATE A WATER WISE GARDENPlant selection
the karee tree, acacias andbuffalo thorn.
• Grey foliage. The lightcolour reflects the sun’s raysaway from the plant,thereby keeping it cooler,which in turn reduces waterloss. Examples are lavender,artemesia, arctotis and gianthoney flower (Melianthusmajor).
• Hairy leaves. Hairs slow downair movement past the stomata,thereby reducing water loss.Examples are the silver tree(Leucadendron argenteum),lamb’s ear, beach salvia and helichrysum.
• Succulent leaves. Water is stored in thick fleshyleaves to be available when necessary. Examples arecrassulas, aloes, echevarias and vygies.
• Closing leaves. The leaves of some plants close whenthey are water stressed. This reduces the amount of leafexposed to sunlight and reduces water loss. Examplesare acacias, Jerusalem sage (Phlomis fruticosa) androck rose.
• Waxy leaves. A waxy coating helps to preventmoisture loss. Examples are euonymus, kalanchoe andIndian hawthorn.
• Plants with lighter colours on the undersides oftheir leaves. When stressed, they turn the lighter sideupwards to reflect the sun away. Examples are wildolive tree, gazanias and indigenous buddlejas.
• Sturdy internal structures. Water Wise plants havea strong internal skeleton which supports the leaf andprevents wilting during dry spells. Examples arestrelitzia, restios, agaves and New Zealand flax.
• Volatile oils in the stomata. This is common in plantsfrom the Mediterranean, which has hot dry summers,and is extra protection against water loss. Often the oils are scented. Examples are rosemary, lavender and sage. ❃
Lavender has needle-likeleaves, grey foliage andvolatile oils.
Echeverias havesucculent grey foliage.
Supplement to SA Gardening Directory 2004/5 47
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