Drought Tolerant Plants that Were Once Herbal Remedies

Drought tolerant plants are sought after when you live in an area that is frequently in a drought. It will keep you from having to do supplemental watering. The plants that are listed as drought tolerant can stay in soil that has very little moisture and still live. Using drought tolerant plants in a landscape can keep your water bills down. These plants are all categorized as drought tolerant, according to the Native Plant Information Network, and they are all plants that were once used as herbal remedies. Plant them together for a water-wise theme garden.

Colorado Four-o-clock (Mirabilis multiflora)

This native belongs to the four-o-clock family of plants and grows up to three feet high. There are stout clumps of leaves and solitary flowers. Blooms are magenta-purple, large, and in clusters. The flowers open in the latter part of the afternoon and close in the morning. There are dark-green leaves. Colorado four-o-clock is a perennial. It prefers to grow in partial shade conditions with a dry rocky soil. Softwood cuttings, seed, or root division can propagate this native. It was once used by Native Navajos for mouth disorders, rheumatism, and a swelling reducer. Hopi Indians used it for a wound antiseptic. Colorado four-o-clock was also once used for an indigestion remedy, to quiet colicy babies, and to reduce a dry heat fever.

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

A member of the bellflower family, this native grows one to six feet high. Flowers are in racemes and stems are very leafy. Blooms are red. Leaves are green and lance-like in shape. It prefers to grow in any lighting and in moist or wet soil. Cardinal flower can be propagated by seeds or layering. Medicinally, it was once used as a root tea given for treatment of syphilis, worms, stomach aches, and typhoid fever. A leaf tea was given for treatment of headaches, croup, colds, fevers, rheumatism, and nosebleeds. It has also been a love charm and an aphrodisiac. Cardinal flower is poisonous, and should not be ingested.

Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra)

This native is a member of the sumac family grows 10 to 20 feet high as a perennial shrub. It has compound leaves that are deciduous and have good fall color. Flowers are yellow-green and it will fruit in red berries that are hairy. There are crooked short branches on it. Smooth sumac likes to grow in any lighting with a dry soil that is nearly neutral in pH. Propagate by seed, root cuttings, or by root division. It was once used medicinally by boiling it for bloody diarrhea or for painful menstruation. Berries and roots were once steeped to make a wound wash.

Related Content:

Drought Tolerant Native Trees for Xeriscaping

Fast Growing Trees That Are Drought Tolerant

Drought Tolerant Shrubs for Your Garden

Resources:

NPIN: Colorado Four-o-clock

NPIN: Cardinal Flower

NPIN: Smooth Sumac