The Okanagan Xeriscape Association
Welcome
You have just opened the door to a whole new way of looking at your landscape, whether that’s the yard around a house; the landscaping around your condo; the entrance to your business; or the welcome to a new home or subdivision you’ve built.
The Okanagan Xeriscape Association is a registered charity founded in 2009 to help people Garden with Nature, conserving water and energy in the process, but creating beauty.
Join us.
Support us.
Enjoy our website and extensive plant database of waterwise plants.
Come to a class or workshop.
Visit our Xeriscape Demonstration Garden in Kelowna.
Learn while volunteering. Ask questions of our experts.
By learning more about xeriscape, you are learning how to create colourful, attractive outdoor spaces while minimizing your use of water—a resource that’s in short supply in the arid Okanagan climate, as well as elsewhere.
That means you save money on water, but at the same time, when you employ xeriscape principles you also save money on pesticides because you’re growing plants that suit their natural environment so they are less vulnerable to insects and diseases.
We would love you to join us! Find out more.
Events
2020 OXA AGM
Members are invited to attend the annual general meeting of the Okanagan Xeriscape Association Tuesday, September 22nd in the UnH2O Garden at 4075 Gordon Drive in Kelowna, beginning at 7 p.m.
Find complete details in our Members Area
Please email: admin@okanaganxeriscape.org before September 15th so numbers can be tallied.
As a group blog and forum, we welcome your contributions and comments and hope to create a blossoming community of xeriscape gardeners well as a valuable archive of articles.
Did you know that the 2nd largest use of water in the Okanagan is used on our household lawns & gardens?
Here’s a reminder to check out the Make Water Work website to make your pledge to reduce water waste. Xeriscape is a very effective way to make water work.
Plant of the Month
Aster frikartii
One of the plants looking absolutely fantastic in the Xeriscape demonstration garden right now is Aster frikartii, commonly known as Monch’s Aster.
This herbaceous perennial features 2-inch daisy-like flowers in lavender blue surrounding a golden center. Plants reach a height of 2-3 feet tall with a spread of 1-2 feet and should be sited in full sun for best flower production but will tolerate part shade.
Aster frikartii is an exceptionally long bloomer, putting on a show from July to frost without the need to deadhead. This aster can be successfully grown in USDA zones 5-10 but will benefit from a light mulch in colder areas of our Okanagan Valley.
Simply leave the flower stems in place over winter as a little additional protection for the crown and cut back the plant in the Spring after growth commences.
Monch’s Aster does not suffer from powdery mildew, a common problem with many asters but is susceptible to crown rot in wet, poorly drained soils.
Aster frikartii is a hydrid of A. amellus × A. thomsonii and as such, should be propagated either by division or cuttings rather than by seed, as seed-grown plants will not accurately reflect the parent plant. These asters are magnets for all sorts of pollinators but are rarely browsed by deer. Definitely an aster cultivar of merit to be included in any xeriscape garden.
Tip of the Month
Deadheading, deadheading, deadheading.
You can greatly increase the bloom time of both your annuals and perennials by removing spent flowers from your plants.
As the flowers fade, simply pinch, cut or shear the fading blooms. Regular deadheading forces the plants to focus on flower production rather than producing seeds.
If left too long, deadheading can sometimes seem like an overwhelming chore, so I suggest regular deadheading throughout the season. You will be rewarded with a fresh flush of flowers late into the season.
Right now Nepeta, Centranthus, Yarrow, Shastas, and Salvia are all putting on a second show in the Xeriscape demonstration garden.
Learn
About Xeriscape
What is xeriscape and why it is perfect for the Okanagan environment? Learn how you can start conserving water in your own landscape.
7 Principles of Xeriscape
Xeriscape Classes
Get Inspired
The UnH2O Garden
Xeriscape Stories
Resources
