TOUGH AS NAILS: DROUGHT-TOLERANT KITS

You can choose from the following options for this kit when placing your order.

• Bountiful Kit - $85  Contains 5 plugs of each species for a total of 25 plants.
• Container Kit - $20  Contains 1 plug of each species for a total of 5 plants.

Wild bergamot displays soft lavender blooms and a natural, cottage garden character that attracts bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects. Hairy beardtongue adds early-season interest with tubular flowers in pale purple and white. Spiderwort spreads with arching foliage and vivid blue-violet blooms. Big bluestem contributes height and structure with deep roots adapted to dry conditions, while purple love grass creates an airy effect with rose-purple flowers that shimmer in late summer. Together, these plants form a drought-tolerant planting that balances durability with visual appeal and seasonal interest.

Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot)

Plant Type: Flower

Mature Height (in feet): 1-2'

Width/Spread: 2-3'

Bloom Time: Mid-Summer, Early Fall

Bloom Color: Pale Purple

Sun/Shade Requirement: Full Sun-Partial Shade

Soil Moisture Requirement: Dry-Average

Soil Texture: Clay, shallow rocky

Planting Distance: 2.5-3'

Additional Details
Wild Bergamot provides important ecological benefits by supplying nectar for a wide range of native pollinators, supporting beneficial insects, and exhibiting natural disease resistance. It is tolerant of deer, rabbits, drought, and black walnut trees.

Penstemon hirsutus (Hairy Beardtongue)

Plant Type: Flower

Mature Height (in feet): 1-2'

Width/Spread: .5-1'

Bloom Time: Late Spring, Early Summer

Bloom Color: Lavender

Sun/Shade Requirement: Full Sun-Partial Shade

Soil Moisture Requirement: Dry-Average

Soil Texture: Loam, shallow rocky

Planting Distance: 1.5-2'

Additional Details
Hairy Beardtongue is more compact than some other Penstemons, but still offers beautiful early spring flowers. (Some of our favorite images are of fuzzy bumblebee butts poking out of flowers as they seek nectar.)

Tradescantia ohiensis (Spiderwort)

Plant Type: Flower

Mature Height (in feet): 2-3'

Width/Spread: 1.5-2.5'

Bloom Time: Spring, Summer

Bloom Color: Blue

Sun/Shade Requirement: Full Sun-Partial Shade

Soil Moisture Requirement: Dry-Average

Soil Texture: Clay, loam, sand

Planting Distance: 2-2.5'

Additional Details
Spiderworts have long lasting purple flowers and can spread to form a natural groundcover. They are the host plant for golden looper moth (Argyrogramma verruca) caterpillars.

Andropogon gerardii (Big Bluestem)

Plant Type: Grass

Mature Height (in feet): 4-8'

Width/Spread: 2-3'

Bloom Time: Fall

Sun/Shade Requirement: Full Sun

Soil Moisture Requirement: Dry-Average

Soil Texture: Clay, sand

Planting Distance: 3-4'

Additional Details
Big Bluestem improves landscapes by developing deep roots that stabilize soil, increase drought resilience, enhance soil health, and provide essential habitat and food for birds and other wildlife over the long term.

Eragrostis spectabilis (Purple Love Grass)

Plant Type: Grass

Mature Height (in feet): 1-2'

Width/Spread: 1-2'

Bloom Time: Late Summer, Early Fall

Bloom Color: Purplish-Pink

Sun/Shade Requirement: Full Sun

Soil Moisture Requirement: Dry-Average

Soil Texture: Loamy sand, sandy, or gravely soil

Planting Distance: 2-2.5'

Additional Details
When in bloom, Purple Love Grass's short stalks create a nice hazy purple-red coloration especially when grown in a mass. Tolerates drought, black walnut, air pollution, poor soil.