
Three months ago I received a rainbow assortment of plants to trial from Proven Winners, and I posted my first update on the PW plants in early May. Since then, two very hot and dry months have taken their toll. I’ve watered by hand at least once a week and by sprinkler system (on my city-designated watering day) once a week. Some of the plants have fared beautifully under these conditions. Others, not so much. I’ll compare each plant two months ago with how it looks today, starting with my favorite performers of the bunch.

Here is Carex ‘Toffee Twist’, one of Proven Winners’ Graceful Grasses™ series, in early May.

And here it is today, looking lovelier than ever. Don’t be fooled—it’s supposed to be brown. This sedge enjoys the shade of live oaks all day. If it performs like this for the rest of the summer, I’ll be buying many more for planting this fall.

Cyperus papyrus King Tut® in early May.

And King Tut today, taller and more imposing. This one has really surprised me. I thought a papyrus would need to be planted at water’s edge to do well in our hot Zone 8b, but King Tut is growing in the same conditions as the ‘Toffee Twist’ sedge—planted in the dirt, in shade—and doing great.

One of the two Senorita Rosalita® Cleome in early May.

And the cleomes today. This image is blurry, but the cleomes are tall and bushy in morning and midday sun and blooming their heads off. I love them!

Diamond Frost® Euphorbia in early May.

And the euphorbia today, taller, less flowery, and a bit wilted, but otherwise doing well in late afternoon sun, a challenging condition for any plant. I plan to give it a trim and hope it will rejuvenate flowering.

Chrysocephalum apiculatum Flambé® Yellow, commonly known as strawflower, in early May.

And the Flambé® Yellow strawflower today, sprawling its wonderful silver leaves and button-like flowers in morning and midday sun. I like this plant so much that I bought two more to go with it.

Chrysocephalum apiculatum Flambé® Orange in early May.

And the Flambé® Orange strawflower today, not as robust as the yellow one. Planted on the sunnier end of the same bed, perhaps the extra sun is not to its liking.

Juncus effusus Quartz Creek in early May.

And the Quartz Creek rush today, looking good.

Cuphea llavea Totally Tempted® in early May.

And today. Of the two plants I received, the one in morning and midday sun is doing great.

But the one I planted in afternoon sun is fried and dead. I pulled it out after taking this photo. Rest in peace, cuphea.

Ageratum Artist® Purple, or flossflower, in early May.

And today, a bit worse for wear. This plant gets morning and midday sun, and I think that’s OK, but it seems to have suffered roly-poly damage or something.

Ageratum Artist® Blue Violet, same plant, different color, in early May.

And today, looking good, growing in morning sun and afternoon shade under a pink crepe myrtle (hence the pink petals).
Now for the torenias, whose praises I sang in early May as a shade-flowering alternative to ubiquitous impatiens. Alas, the heat and drought have not been kind to them.

Summer Wave® Amethyst torenia in early May.

And today, still green but wilted and hardly blooming, even in day-long dappled shade.

Summer Wave® Torenia Blue…

…and Summer Wave® Torenia Large Violet in early May.

The Blue (back) and Large Violet (front) torenias today, looking a little peaked.

Catalina® Torenia Pink in early May.

And Catalina® Torenia Pink today, hanging in there but not exactly knocking my socks off.

Catalina® Torenia Midnight Blue in early May.

And today, not so good.

Catalina® Torenia Gilded Grape in early May, colorful and fun.

And Gilded Grape today, unfortunately weed-whacked by my husband who was after oak sprouts. Hmm. Hard to say how it was doing at this point. Let’s move on.

Catalina® Torenia Linen White in early May, fresh and lovely.

And today, understandably tired. Poor torenia. I feel the same way in this heat.
So there you have the winners and losers for extreme drought and heat conditions in zone 8b in alkaline soil. All of the plants but one have survived so far in a difficult first season. Some have out-right thrived under difficult conditions. Still, there’s a lot more summer to go before relief arrives in October. I’ll post my next update in late August or early September, the most trying period in the typical Austin garden.
All material © 2006-2009 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.