Water, Water, Water!
There are a few reasons why plants wilt however, the most common reason plants wilt is from a lack of water.
Turgor Pressure is Important
Simply, plants wilt when there isn’t enough water in their leaves and stems to support the plant. When turgor pressure (I’m getting my science on) in leaves and stems is low, plants start to look droopy.
Remember Grade 10 biology? When the teacher talked about osmosis? The movement of water across a membrane from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure. Come on, you remember this!
When there isn’t enough water in the soil surrounding plant roots, roots can’t take up enough water to keep turgor pressure high in leaves and stems, so the plant starts to wilt. They lose their turgor! After a good rain (or watering) plants will start to perk up again as roots take up water via osmosis, sending it to leaves and stems. That’s plant science!
Why is it importance to keep plants from wilting?
One of the main reasons is cell damage. When plants lack water and start to wilt, the cells of the plant become damaged. Over time, from a lack of rain or you forget to water, plant cell damage can be seen as dark round spots on plant leaves and stems, or as dead leaves on plants. If left for too long without water, plants will overtime, fail.
With our summers being so hot and dry, selecting the right plant for hot, dry locations becomes very important.
Perennials for Hot, Dry Locations
Plants with tuberous roots have the ability to store water to be used in times of drought. Daylilies are a great example of plants with tuberous roots and therefore, are a great choice for a hot, dry location.
Here are a few perennials with tuberous or bulb roots for hot locations.
Iris (Iris)
Peony (Paeonia)
Stonecrop (Sedum)
Crocosmia
If you don’t like to water, select plants with small leaves as they work well in drier conditions.
Here are my suggestions for flowering perennials, with small foliage for hot locations.
Yarrow (Achillea)
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias)
Tickseed (Coreopsis)
Globe Thistle (Echinops)
Lenton Rose (Helleborus)
Catmint (Nepeta)
Meadow Sage (Salvia)
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Keep your plants happy by watering before they wilt.
Select plants that will thrive in hot growing conditions.
And select plants for the level of work you want to put into your gardens!