Tollerances: Drought

Adam's Needle

Yucca filamentosa

This unique plant looks more suited to a desert climate, but it is found wild up and down the east coast. Its strappy leaves are crowned by huge spikes of creamy white flowers every other year.

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Alfalfa

Medicago sativa

This plant is used as a perennial fodder crop for livestock.

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American Plum

Prunus americana

This native plum has a sprawling habit, which showcases the beautiful white flowers in spring and the unique pink plums in midsummer. The plants become scaly with age and are somewhat disease prone.

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Balsam

Impatiens balsamina

This plant is ideally used in the front of the flower border and is prone to reseeding. It was a common garden plant in the 18th century.

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Basket of Gold

Aurinia saxatilis

These sweet-smelling golden flowers are ideal for the front of the border in spring when bulbs are blooming.

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Black locust trees are fast-growing with an open habit, prominent thorns when young, and deeply furrowed bark when mature. Their fragrant white pea-like flowers attract honey bees, who make an aromatic honey from the pollen.

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Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia fulgida

A cottage garden favorite, black-eyed susan features masses of ferociously yellow flowers that attract butterflies. They are incredibly hardy and tolerate a wide variety of conditions, making them ideal for naturalizing.

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Blackberry Lily

Iris domestica

Blackberry lilies are named for their glossy black seeds which look nearly identical to an actual blackberry. They have beautiful orange flowers with darker spots on long graceful stems above strappy green foliage.

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Blackhaw

Viburnum prunifolium

These large spring blooming shrubs with edible berries do best in natural areas where they can achieve their full size.

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Blue False Indigo

Baptisia australis

This unique plant features bright blue-purple flowers on tall green stalks followed by interesting black seedpods. It forms a deep taproot and does not transplant well, so be certain of its location before planting.

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Brown-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia triloba

Brown-eyed Susans form masses of bright gold flowers above dark green foliage. It will flop without a midseason trim to keep it from getting too tall. It is ideal for naturalizing because it reseeds readily.

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Bullnose Pepper

Capsicum annuum

The bullnose pepper is a type of sweet pepper which produces abundantly. Its fruits are somewhat smaller than modern bell peppers and they are susceptible to sunscald. However, they have an excellent flavor.

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Butter and Eggs Daffodil

Narcissus incomparabilis aurantius plenus

Butter and Eggs is pale yellow double daffodil with many frilly petals. Its height makes it well suited to the middle of the flower border.

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Butterfly Weed

Asclepias tuberosa

This plant features brilliant orange flowers that light up the garden and are attractive to pollinators, including monarchs and honeybees.

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Candytuft

Iberis sempervirens

This compact plant is covered in drifts of tiny white flowers in the spring. It blooms at the same time as many of the spring bulbs and provides a nice accent among them.

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Cayenne Pepper

Capsicum annuum

Cayenne peppers are large prolific plants. They produce bountiful crops of slender, spicy red peppers that can be used fresh or dried.

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Chives

Allium schoenoprasum

Chives are a small clump-forming onion relative. The stems are frequently used as a culinary herb, and the flowers are attractive to pollinators.

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Clary Sage

Salvia sclarea

Spires of pink and white bracts crown this large-leafed salvia. It has been used as an herb since the Middle Ages and is currently used as flavoring for wines, vermouth, and liqueurs.

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Cockscomb

Celosia argentea var. cristata

A sturdy long-blooming annual, this impressive plant is ideal for the back of the border. Its bright flowers come in many colors, including hot pink, peach, deep rose, yellow, and red.

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Drumstick Allium

Allium sphaerocephalon

This unique late-blooming bulb sports maroon flower-heads, for which it earns its common of drumstick allium.

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Early Louisiana Daffodil

Narcissus jonquilla 'Early Louisiana'

Early Louisiana is a petite yellow daffodil that is well suited to naturalizing. It does well towards the front of the flower border.

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English Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia

Fragrant spires of dark purple flowers above silvery foliage light up the garden border in summer. If trimmed after blooming, they will flower again. Their flowers may be used in sachets or as flavoring in baking and drinks.

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Fall Daffodil

Sternbergia lutea

This crocus-like lemon yellow bulb is a surprising and unusual find in the fall garden. They perform best in sunny, protected locations.

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Fish Pepper

Capsicum annuum

Fish peppers are hot peppers with variegated white leaves. The peppers themselves are often streaked with white and start green before maturing to red.

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German Bearded Iris

Iris germanica

Irises add interesting texture to the spring garden with strappy leaves and unique flowers, nicely accenting the later blooming flower bulbs. They grow to form large clumps which are easily divided and spread around the garden.

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Germander

Teucrium chamaedrys

Germander is a small, shrubby herb with bright flowers and a distinctive fragrance. It works well as a short, clipped hedge.

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Globe Amaranth

Gomphrena globosa

This magenta gem is well suited to the front of the border. Its lush blooms are attractive to butterflies, and they hold their color well when cut for use in dried arrangements.

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Globe Thistle

Echinops ritro

An unusual flower for the summer garden, these blue thistle-like blooms add a unique texture. If cut back after blooming, they will send up new flowers. They make excellent dried and cut flowers.

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Gloriosa Daisy

Rudbeckia hirta

This large-flowered, cheerful plant is perfect for dry, difficult spots. It self-sows readily in variations of orange, yellow, and gold.

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Golden Standard Tulip

Tulipa 'Golden Standard'

Golden Standard is a brilliant red and yellow broken tulip. Its vibrant flowers bring light to the middle of the border.

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Gray Santolina

Santolina chamaecyparissus

Soft silvery foliage, which somewhat resembles French lavender, gives this plant its common name of lavender cotton. It is a good edging plant in sunny, well-drained spots. Santolina was commonly used medicinally and can be used to ward off insects.

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Hardy cyclamen

Cyclamen hederifolium

Small pinkish-white flowers emerge from corms in September, followed by mottled green and silver ivy-shaped leaves, adding an unexpected touch of color to the fall woodland garden.

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Hoop Petticoat Daffodil

Narcissus bulbocodium 'Golden Bells'

The Hoop Petticoat is one of the smallest daffodils grown at Mount Vernon and is often crowded towards the front of the border for ease of viewing. It has unique flowers with large bells and slender, petite petals.

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Jatropha

Jatropha curcas

This large tropical plant is used for various medicinal and economic purposes. The oil from the nuts is currently being studied as a potential source for biodiesel.

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Jerusalem Artichoke

Helianthus tuberosus

Jerusalem artichoke is a perennial sunflower relative that produces a profusion of bright yellow flowers atop ten foot stalks. It is valued for its edible tubers, which resemble the flavor of water chestnuts.

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Joe Pye Weed

Eutrochium maculatum

This tall plant is crowned with purple-pink flowers in the late summer. It is an American native and tolerates a wide variety of environmental conditions. Its height and bloom time can be controlled by by pruning it back by half when it reaches about two to three feet.

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Jospeh's Coat

Amaranthus tricolor

This voluptuous annual is grown for its showy multicolored foliage in shades of green, yellow, and red.

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Kentucky Coffeetree

Gymnocladus dioicus

This large, suckering tree produces fragrant showy flowers, followed by a bean-like seedpod and was used in times of scarcity to make a coffee-like beverage. The seeds are very toxic before roasting and should never be eaten raw.

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Lamb's Ears

Stachys byzantina

This silver-leafed groundcover does best in well-drained soil, but tolerates adverse conditions. Its purple flowers are attractive to honeybees and bumblebees.

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Lantana

Lantana camara

Lantana is a colorful, shrubby annual with masses of flowers in shades of orange, yellow, and pink. Its leaves give off a distinctive smell and it produces bluish-black seeds. Lantana is commonly used as a bedding plant because of its long bloom season.

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Love-Lies-Bleeding

Amaranthus caudatus

Love-lies-bleeding is an elegant cottage garden plant with cascading crimson flowers that are excellent for the summer border and as a cut flower.

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Maximus Daffodil

Narcissus hispanicus 'Maximus'

Maximus is a standard among daffodils for its height and large yellow blooms. It does well in the middle of the border where it can be easily seen.

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Mock Orange

Philadelphus coronarius

Mock oranges are common in older gardens, although they are regaining popularity with the introduction of dwarf and double-flowering cultivars. Richly fragrant, they offer a profusion of star-shaped flowers with yellow centers.

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Nasturtium

Tropaeolum majus

A sprawling annual herb, nasturtiums have long been a charming kitchen garden plant. Their flowers, leaves, and seeds are all edible, and add a peppery bite to salads.

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Odorus Flore Pleno Daffodil

Narcissus odorus flore pleno

Odorus Flore Pleno is a medium to small daffodil with double yellow flowers. It is strongly fragrant.

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Oleander

Nerium oleander

This large subtropical plant has brilliant pink flowers which bloom through summer in the Mount Vernon gardens.

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Oregano

Origanum vulgare

Oregano is a compact slow-spreading herb that is popularly used in cooking. It is very fragrant and attractive to bees and butterflies.

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Persimmon

Diospyros virginiana

Persimmons are an unusual American fruit that can colonize in abandoned fields and open woods. Female trees bear astringent orange fruits that become fully ripe after a frost.

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Pheasant's Eye Daffodil

Narcissus poeticus

The Pheasant's Eye daffodil is a clear white daffodil featuring a yellow cup with a red ring. It is one of the later blooming daffodils and it does best towards the middle of the border.

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Pincushion Flower

Scabiosa atropurpurea

These airy, colorful flowers are mildly fragrant and a pleasant addition to the flower border.

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Pomegranate

Punica granatum

This large shrub boasts vibrant orange flowers in the summer which ripen into large orange-red fruits.

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Purple Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea

This native perennial has vibrant magenta flowers which add contrast to the overwhelming yellows and reds of the summer garden. The showy daisy-like flowers borne on stiff stems attract goldfinches if left to go to seed.

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Rose Campion

Lychnis coronaria

Rose campion features soft silvery mounds of foliage graced with stalks of stunning pink or white flowers in the late spring and early summer. This short-lived perennial or biennial self-seeds readily, forming large colonies if left unchecked.

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Rosemary

Rosmarinus officinalis

Rosemary is a fragrant evergreen shrub which is frequently used in cooking. Its pale blue flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies.

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Sage

Salvia officinalis

Sage is a woody subshrub with silvery green leaves and pale purple flowers that are attractive to butterflies and other pollinators. It does best in well-drained, sunny locations. For centuries, sage has been a popular herb for cooking, and is also used as an essential oil.

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Sago Palm

Cycas revoluta

This is one of the most ancient plants still alive today.

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Sainfoin

Onobrychis viciifolia

Sainfoin is a fodder crop that is highly nutritious for livestock and also provides nectar for bees.

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Seventeen Sisters Daffodil

Narcissus tazetta 'Avalanche'

Seventeen Sisters is a multi-flowered daffodil which features many small white flowers with yellow cups held on stiffly upright stems. It is very fragrant.

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Siberian Iris

Iris sibirica

Thick clumps of spiky foliage and bright purple or blue flowers are perfect for mid-border planting. Like their German cousins, these benefit from division so they don't grow hollow in the middle.

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Southern Catalpa

Catalpa bignonioides

This native plant is a medium deciduous tree with large white flowers in the spring and striking cigar-like seedpods in the fall. It features large heart-shaped leaves.

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Sunflower

Helianthus annuus

These gorgeous native plants bloom in a variety of colors and sizes, including pale yellow, oranges, and golds. Some are grown merely for their beauty while others, such as the Mammoth sunflower, are grown for their seeds.

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Swan's Neck Daffodil

Narcissus moschatus

The Swan's Neck daffodil is a white daffodil that keeps its flowers bent toward the earth. It is fairly small and should be planted close to the front for the best viewing opportunities.

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Sweet Alyssum

Lobularia maritima

Dense mounds of tiny fragrant white flowers form a spreading carpet under large perennials and annuals in the spring border.

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Sweet Potato

Ipomoea batatas

Sweet potatoes are vigorous, running plants that will easily exceed their allotted space in the garden if not kept under control. They should be grown in mounds, much the way one would grow potatoes. They are extremely cold sensitive and should be planted after the soil has warmed in the spring and harvested…

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Tansy

Tanacetum vulgare

Tansy is a tough plant that can grow in almost any sunny spot. While its ferny foliage and clusters of cheerful yellow button flowers are attractive, it can be invasive due to its underground runners and propensity to re-seed.

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Threadleaf Coreopsis

Coreopsis verticillata

Featuring airy foliage and golden flowers, this native plant is an attractive addition to the front of the border. It spreads by runners and is easily divided to share with your friends and neighbors. It is native to Fairfax County, Virginia.

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Thyme

Thymus vulgaris

A small, woody sub-shrub, thyme has aromatic leaves and whorls of pink flowers in early summer. It is popularly used as an edging and between stones in walkways. It is also an excellent culinary herb.

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Tiger Daylily

Hemerocallis fulva

This summer blooming perennial has strap-like leaves and large orange flowers. Because it naturalizes easily, this daylily can be commonly seen in roadside ditches and marking the sites of old outhouses.

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Twin Sisters Daffodil

Narcissus x medioluteus

Twin Sisters lives up to its name, with each stem bearing two small white and yellow flowers.

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Van Sion Daffodil

Narcissus telamonius plenus

Van Sion is a bright yellow daffodil streaked with green. It is double, with many softly pointed petals.

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Wallflower

Erysimum cheiri

Wallflowers are a charming spring bloomer of exceptional hardiness. With yellow and red flowers, this cheerful annual adds vibrancy to the front and middle of the flower border.

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White Mulberry

Morus alba

Mulberry trees can be found throughout North America in fencerows, abandoned fields, and urban areas, due to the propensity for their seeds to be spread by birds who ravenously feed on the fruit. The glossy, serrated leaves take different forms on the same tree, generally undivided or distinctly lobed…

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Adam's Needle

Yucca filamentosa

Alfalfa

Medicago sativa

American Plum

Prunus americana

Balsam

Impatiens balsamina

Basket of Gold

Aurinia saxatilis

Black Locust

Robinia pseudoacacia

Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia fulgida

Blackberry Lily

Iris domestica

Blackhaw

Viburnum prunifolium

Blue False Indigo

Baptisia australis

Brown-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia triloba

Bullnose Pepper

Capsicum annuum

Butter and Eggs Daffodil

Narcissus incomparabilis aurantius plenus

Butterfly Weed

Asclepias tuberosa

Candytuft

Iberis sempervirens

Cayenne Pepper

Capsicum annuum

Chives

Allium schoenoprasum

Clary Sage

Salvia sclarea

Cockscomb

Celosia argentea var. cristata

Drumstick Allium

Allium sphaerocephalon

Early Louisiana Daffodil

Narcissus jonquilla 'Early Louisiana'

English Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia

Fall Daffodil

Sternbergia lutea

Fish Pepper

Capsicum annuum

German Bearded Iris

Iris germanica

Germander

Teucrium chamaedrys

Globe Amaranth

Gomphrena globosa

Globe Thistle

Echinops ritro

Gloriosa Daisy

Rudbeckia hirta

Golden Standard Tulip

Tulipa 'Golden Standard'

Gray Santolina

Santolina chamaecyparissus

Hardy cyclamen

Cyclamen hederifolium

Hoop Petticoat Daffodil

Narcissus bulbocodium 'Golden Bells'

Jatropha

Jatropha curcas

Jerusalem Artichoke

Helianthus tuberosus

Joe Pye Weed

Eutrochium maculatum

Jospeh's Coat

Amaranthus tricolor

Kentucky Coffeetree

Gymnocladus dioicus

Lamb's Ears

Stachys byzantina

Lantana