Desert drama possible in North Idaho with (pseudo) Xeriscaping

The term Xeriscape, common in Arizona and other desert realms, has recently become a new byword up in our Rocky Mountain stronghold, and it’s both a challenge and a delight for ornamental gardeners, as well as those rare successful corn and tomato growers.

The beauty of xeriscape is that its preference of “dry and sunny” lends itself perfectly to rock gardens where dramatic pairings are possible. Bright flowers seem to love bright sun and for local gardeners many Idaho-hardy choices are available. A few such are rich blue-violet-spired Veronica; the bright brown/black-eyed yellow of Rudbekia,; Echinacea (purple coneflower); red Penstemon) and Bee-balm; talk about drama! Think of the combinations possible. There are countless daisy/aster/sunflower “marriages” for our own gardens that include small shrubs as well as stemmed flowers. Think Daisies: Clara Curtis (pink), Michelmas (periwinkle), Shasta (white) daisies, or any number of yellow to gold Helianthus.

Upright, “spired” complements include Liatris, Celosia(Cockscomb), Astilbe — all available in a host of colors and all forgiving of hot, dry days. Other “wild” pairings, like Goldenrod (Solidago) and red Oriental poppies or purple Monarda (bee balm) and silvery-grey Artemisia from common Wormwood to Dusty Miller, Powis Castle, Silver Mound and others — results can be truly stunning.

Interspersed shrubs could include our native “box” Pachistima, along with Heather, Santolina (lavender cotton), Sage from ornamental Salvias to Clary sage and culinary strains; Baby’s breath, Potentilla, Coreposis, Nepeta, and a variety of Viburnums. Native Oregon grape, prostrate Juniper, and Mugho (and other dwarf) pines provide texture and contrast, as would a variety of ornamental grasses in clumps here and there (Miscanthus purpureus is a great and hardy area grower).

Groundcovers can vary from our native Kinnikinnick, Prunella (Self-heal) and Veronica, to Sedum, creeping and woolly thyme, creeping Veronica, Tanacetum, creeping phlox, Sweet woodruff, too, with its fragrant whorled leaves and tiny white floral “bouquets” is another happy choice, as is Snow-on-the-Mountain (Cerastium) offering fragrance with beauty. By the way, climbing choices for fences, rocks or lattice include hop vines, honeysuckle, and our small-flowered native Clematis can add hardy beauty in appropriate sites.

We’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg (or sand dune), and many other choices are viable which specializes in dry and hardy species that thrive in heat and even poor soil. Many of them are also deer-proof, a true bonus here. You’ll find that planning your new xeriscape garden will be more of a delight than a challenge.

Don’t feel a lack of a rocky area is a detriment — many sites will adapt themselves to xeriscaping. Consider a Japanese-type garden with simplistic plantings to point up a large stone or a focal point such as an Azalea, ornamental crab or cherry tree, Laburnum (Golden Chain tree) or perhaps a delicate Rocky Mountain Maple (the Japanese Maples don’t do too well in our climate), these choices are givens for any type of garden you may choose.

Rock, gravel and concrete gardens lend themselves to pots. In fact, you can use nothing but pots if you wish — renewed each year with such annual glories as trailing nasturtiums, hop-like Ornamental oregano (Origanum rotundifolium), rosemary and other tender herbs (to be brought in in the fall), and pretty foliar perennials that lend themselves to pots, such as Heuchera (Coral bells), Astilbe, Penstemon and other hardy beauties that love both the sun and shade with equal aplomb.

Obviously, this column is for the garden season of 2020 — so make plans on paper, but for right now, keep the spotlight on garden bedtime — which is upon us. Our first freezes have come and more will follow, so mulch your roses and other tender plants, simply tossing a cover of leaves on low-growers, and DON’T prune or fertilize! That makes them want to grow, and they need to sleep now. Dormancy is required for most of our garden residents, so save all pruning — except for boken or damaged branches — till early Spring. It’s still not too late to plant bulbs, but I would advise waiting till next year’s autumn to divide and replant iris, lilies, daylilies and such. Plant bulbs at depths directed, sprinkle with one last drink, then mulch with leaves and let them rest for the winter.

Valle Novak writes the Country Chef and Weekend Gardener columns for the Daily Bee. She can be reached at bcdailybee@bonnercountydailybee.com. or by phone at 208-265-4688.