Replacing Plants – Drought Tolerant

Q: As my old azaleas slowly lose branches or die altogether, I am wondering about replacing them with drought tolerant plants to put in close to my house.

A: Although the flowers aren’t quite as large, loropetalum (Chinese fringe flower) is often used as a foundation plant around homes and it is very drought tolerant. Although older varieties often grew too big to use next to a house, new introductions like ‘Dark Fire’, ‘Ruby Snow’, ‘Emerald Snow’, and ‘Jazz Hands Variegated’ offer reliable size predictions and are worth your consideration.

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