At a glance
- Prairie perennials are adapted to heat and drought. They come from the open steppes of North America and cope with poor soil and little water.
- The key is a poor, free-draining soil. On rich, moist garden soil they grow lush, flop over and bloom worse.
- Many form deep taproots and draw water from below. That is why they barely need watering after the first establishment year.
- Planting time is spring, weeks 15 to 20. So the perennials have the whole season to root before the first winter comes.
Dry, hot summers put classic perennial beds under strain. Whoever does not want to water constantly best looks to where drought is normal: the North American prairie. The perennials from there are built exactly for these conditions and are growing ever more popular here because they suit the climate.
Prairie perennials like coneflower, purple coneflower and blazing star are easy-care, sturdy and an important forage for insects. The catch: they want it poor and dry, not well-meant fertilised. This article shows you how to set them correctly.
Prairie perennials
- Standort
- full sun, poor, free-draining
- Saison
- spring, weeks 15 to 20
- Wasserbedarf
- very low after the establishment year
Poor is better than rich
The most common mistake with prairie perennials is well-meant: you pamper them with compost and fertiliser. The result is tall, soft shoots that flop over in the first summer storm, and fewer flowers. Prairie perennials want it lean.
On heavy, moist soil it is best to work in sand or fine grit to make it more free-draining. A poor, well-drained spot brings compact, sturdy plants that stay upright on their own. How to weave prairie perennials into a well-planned bed is in Planning a perennial bed.
The first year decides
Even drought-tolerant perennials are not dry from the start. In the first year the roots must first grow deep. So the rule is: water regularly in the planting year, then ever more sparingly.
Once the taproot is established, the perennial draws its water from deeper layers and shrugs off dry spells. Whoever stops watering already in the first year loses the plants before they could even build up their drought tolerance.
Proven prairie perennials for sunny beds
- Purple coneflower
Echinacea purpurea blooms from week 27 into autumn, tolerates drought well and is a magnet for butterflies and bees.
- Coneflower
Rudbeckia glows yellow into October, is extremely robust and forms dense, sturdy clumps over the years.
- Blazing star
Liatris spicata brings vertical lines into the bed with its violet spikes and unusually opens from top to bottom.
- Ornamental grasses as partners
Grasses like switchgrass and feather grass tie the flowers into a prairie picture and stay as structure through winter too.
Leave the seed heads over winter
Do not cut prairie perennials in autumn, but only in spring. The dry seed heads look beautiful in hoarfrost, offer birds food and insects winter quarters. Leaving them additionally protects the roots from bare frost.
Poor not rich, water in the first year, then almost never. Whoever sets prairie perennials lean and sunny has a bed that survives even hot summers without a watering can.
The core rule for prairie perennials
Frequently asked questions
Which perennials tolerate heat and drought?
Prairie perennials from North America like purple coneflower, coneflower, blazing star and bee balm are especially drought-tolerant. Mediterranean classics like lavender and steppe grasses suit them. Important is a poor, free-draining soil.
Do I have to water prairie perennials?
In the first year yes, regularly, until the roots have grown deep. Afterwards barely, because the taproots draw water from deeper soil layers. Only in extreme, long drought does occasional watering help.
Why do my prairie perennials flop over?
Usually because the soil is too rich or too moist. On well-fertilised soil they push soft, long shoots that have no support. A poor, free-draining spot brings compact, sturdy plants entirely without stakes.
When do I plant prairie perennials?
Best in spring, weeks 15 to 20, once the soil has warmed. Then the perennials have the whole season to root before the first winter. Autumn planting is also possible in mild regions.
Are prairie perennials hardy?
Most common species are well hardy. They are more sensitive to winter wet than to frost. A free-draining soil and left-standing seed heads bring them reliably through winter.
Sources
- Bavarian State Institute for Viticulture and Horticulture (LWG): drought-tolerant perennials
- Association of German perennial nurseries: prairie plantings and steppe beds
- Related in the magazine: Planning a perennial bed and Planting spring bulbs in autumn
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