GARDENING WITH NATURE

Article by Sigrie Kendrick

Good Intentions Need Good Practice

It is important to provide examples of meaningful ways to provide useful feed for pollinators such as bees.

There is no shortage of goodwill when it comes to helping pollinators. Gardeners across the Okanagan are increasingly aware that bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects are under pressure, and many are eager to do something meaningful about it.

The question is not whether to act, but how to act effectively. When it comes to pollinator support, good intentions need to be matched with good practice, and good practice begins with understanding what pollinators actually need.

Swallowtail butterfly on Weigela

Prioritize Native Plants for Pollinators

Asters
Photo by Sigrie Kendrick

Provide Blooms Throughout the Growing Season

The Okanagan is home to a remarkable diversity of native flora that serves pollinators across the season.

Early-blooming species like Pulsatilla vulgaris (Pasque flower) and Geum
triflorum (Prairie smoke) bridge the hungry gap of early spring, offering high-quality pollen at precisely the moment when emerging queen bumblebees and solitary bees need it most.

As the season progresses, plants like Balsamorhiza sagittata (Arrowleaf balsamroot) and Penstemon species carry the load through late spring and early summer by supporting both generalist and specialist bee species.

Mid-season support can come from Gaillardia aristata (Blanket flower), and Linum lewissi (Blue flax).

Later-season bloomers such as Monarda fistulosa and various Asters along with Solidago (Goldenrod), are critical for bees building winter reserves.

A garden that staggers bloom times across this full season is doing far more for pollinators than any single showpiece plant ever could.

Pollinator paradise in an Okanagan garden
Photo by Judie Steeves

Think in Sequences, Not a Single Peak of Bloom

Wooly Thyme pathway
Photo by Judie Steeves

Group Plants to Make Foraging Easier

Groupings matter too. Pollinators forage more efficiently when plants are massed rather than scattered. A cluster of five Echinacea is far more useful than five individual plants of five different species dotted randomly across a bed.

When planning or replanting, think in drifts of perennials, generous sweeps of the same plant that a bee can forage systematically before moving on.

Give Pollinators Places to Nest and Overwinter

Nectar and pollen are essential, but pollinators also need places to nest, overwinter, and raise young.

Roughly 70 percent of native bee species are ground-nesters, requiring patches of bare or sparsely vegetated soil in a sunny, well-drained location.

Leaving small areas of the garden unplanted or selectively clearing mulch from a south-facing slope can make a meaningful difference.

Other species nest in hollow stems or pithy wood, so leaving dead stalks standing through winter rather than cutting them to the ground in autumn is one of the simplest and most effective habitat actions available.

Provide Water for Pollinators

Water access for pollinators is often overlooked. Consider adding a shallow dish with pebbles or marbles for bees to land on. A regularly refreshed water source adds another layer of support, particularly during the dry Okanagan summer.

Avoid Pesticides Where Possible

PLANT OF THE MONTH- August

by Sigrie Kendrick

Limonium latifolium, Sea Lavender

A Cloud of Colour for the Dry Garden

If you’re looking to add texture without adding to your water bill, Limonium latifolium deserves a spot on your shortlist. Commonly known as sea lavender or broad-leaved statice, this perennial in the Plumbaginaceae family hails originally from the coasts of southeastern Europe. Surprisingly, its heat and drought tolerance make it a natural fit for the hot, dry summers of the Okanagan.

The plant forms a low, leathery rosette of broad, dark-green leaves close to the ground, from which wiry, branching flower stems rise in mid-to-late summer. These stems erupt into hundreds of tiny lavender-blue blooms, creating an airy, cloud-like haze that seems to float above the foliage. It’s this misty texture rather than any single showy flower that makes sea lavender so valuable in a xeric border, as it softens the sharper forms of companion plants such as Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) or ornamental grasses without competing for water.

Leonora Enking | Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Our Plant Database features more than 500 plants tested and ideally suited for the unique challenges of gardening in the Okanagan’s extreme climate, including the plants in this article.

PLANT OF THE MONTH- July

by Sigrie Kendrick

Buddleia davidii, Butterfly Bush

For xeriscapers seeking a compact, drought-tolerant shrub that pulls its weight for pollinators, Buddleia davidii (Butterfly bush) ‘Buzz Hot Raspberry’ deserves a close look. Bred as part of the dwarf Buzz series, this cultivar tops out at just 3 to 4 feet, making it a great choice for smaller water-wise beds where a full-sized butterfly bush would overwhelm the design.

The appeal for pollinators is substantial. From early summer through fall, ‘Buzz Hot Raspberry’ produces long, fragrant, cone-shaped flower spikes in vivid magenta-pink. This nectar source draws honeybees, bumblebees, hummingbird moths, and a wide range of butterfly species, including swallowtails and red admirals. Once established, the plant asks for little except full sun, sharp drainage, and only occasional supplemental water, making it a fantastic addition to a drought-tolerant landscape.

A caveat belongs alongside the praise. While Buzz cultivars are marketed and bred for reduced seed production compared to the wild species, Buddleia davidii itself is documented as naturalized and locally invasive across parts of British Columbia, including sensitive Garry Oak ecosystems on Vancouver Island. Unlike a handful of confirmed sterile cultivars on the market, Buzz series plants are not verified seedless so responsible placement matters. Prompt deadheading before seed set, avoiding proximity to natural areas or waterways, and monitoring for volunteer seedlings are worthwhile practices for any gardener choosing this shrub.

Used thoughtfully, ‘Buzz Hot Raspberry’ can be a vibrant, high-reward addition to a contained residential xeriscape bed. Gardeners prioritizing ecological caution, however, may prefer to substitute native nectar shrubs such as Ceanothus velutinus or Philadelphus lewisii, which offer comparable pollinator benefits without the risk. of naturalization 

Our Plant Database features more than 500 plants tested and ideally suited for the unique challenges of gardening in the Okanagan’s extreme climate, including the plants in this article.

GARDENING WITH NATURE

Article by Sigrie Kendrick

Xeriscape plants don’t simply survive the Okanagan’s hot, dry summers– they are uniquely adapted to thrive in them. Drought tolerance isn’t only about anatomy; it’s also about strategy.

There is a common misconception that xeriscape plants are simply tough plants–
survivors that endure poor conditions through grit alone.

The truth is far more fascinating and takes a dive into the biology of drought-tolerant plants.

The plants that thrive in the Okanagan’s hot, dry summers are not suffering through the season.

They are engineered for it, shaped by millions of years of adaptation.

Understanding what makes these plants work isn’t just interesting science but the foundation of smarter gardening in one of Canada’s most water-stressed regions.

Much of what makes a drought-tolerant plant exceptional happens where we humans can’t see it.

Blanketflower
Photo by Judie Steeves

Root Adaptations That Find Hidden Water

Root architecture is the first and perhaps most important adaptation.

Okanagan natives such as Bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva), Arrow-leaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata), and Prairie smoke (Geum triflorum) develop stout, fleshy taproots one to three metres deep, accessing subsoil moisture that shallow-rooted ornamentals never reach.

This taproot also serves as a storage organ, stockpiling carbohydrates and water that sustain the plant through the harshest stretches of summer drought.

So efficient is this adaptation that Bitterroot, one of our region’s most iconic natives, can survive being uprooted for weeks and still revive when replanted.

Other species such as Bluebunch Wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata) and Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) develop dense, wide-spreading fibrous root systems that fan out through the upper soil horizon, capturing even the lightest rainfall before it can evaporate. Unlike deep taproots, these fibrous networks maximize surface area, drawing moisture from a broad swath of soil.

Xeriscape plants also invest heavily in their root systems relative to their above-ground growth. A modest-looking plant in your garden may be hiding twice its visible mass underground, allowing it to access moisture deep within the ground during the dry months of July and August heat.

Leaf Features That Reduce Water Loss

Blanketflowers in an Okanagan garden
Photo by Judie Steeves

CAM Photosynthesis: Nature’s Water-Saving Strategy

Why Xeriscape Plants Thrive in Okanagan Gardens

PLANT OF THE MONTH- June

by Sigrie Kendrick

Papaver orientale, Oriental Poppy

Few plants announce the arrival of early summer quite like Papaver orientale, the Oriental poppy. With blooms that can reach the size of a dinner plate, this bold perennial has captivated gardeners for centuries and is an excellent fit for the Okanagan’s hot, dry summers.

Native to the meadows and hillsides of southwestern Asia, Oriental poppies are built for drought. They emerge in spring, producing deeply lobed, bristly grey-green foliage before sending up stiff stems topped with enormous, papery blooms. The flowers typically appear in late May through June in the Okanagan in colours ranging from fiery scarlet and orange to softer shades of salmon, pink, and white, usually with a dramatic dark blotch at the base of each petal. Although not particularly long-blooming, they are irresistible when in flower.

After flowering, the foliage dies back completely by midsummer, a quirk that catches some gardeners off guard. This summer dormancy is actually an advantage in xeriscape design as the plant requires virtually no water during its period of dormancy. Plan for this gap by surrounding Papaver orientale with late-season bloomers like Agastache cultivars (Hyssop), Salvia yangii (Russian sage), or ornamental grasses, which will fill in as the poppy vanishes.

Oriental poppies thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, the sandier and leaner, the better. They dislike heavy clay and resent overwatering, making them a natural choice for our semi-arid Okanagan conditions. Once established, Papaver orientale are long-lived and reliably self-sufficient, returning larger and more floriferous each year.

Plant bare-root divisions in late summer or early fall, when the plant is dormant. Consider the site carefully as Oriental poppies develop a deep tap root, which allows them to access moisture deep within the soil. The downside of this deep tap root means they are all but impossible to transplant. Plant it right, leave it alone, and prepare to be dazzled year after year.

An added bonus of Papaver orientale is that its fuzzy, prickly foliage is seldom browsed by visiting deer.

Our Plant Database features more than 500 plants tested and ideally suited for the unique challenges of gardening in the Okanagan’s extreme climate, including the plants in this article.

PLANT OF THE MONTH- MAY

by Sigrie Kendrick

Bergenia cordifolia, heartleaf Bergenia

Bergenia cordifolia, commonly known as pigsqueak or heartleaf Bergenia, is a herbaceous perennial native to Russia, grown primarily as a groundcover. Practically indestructible once established, it is a foundation plant with enduring appeal.

This perennial is hardy in zones 3-8 and is tolerant of a wide range of soil types and light conditions. Reaching a height of 1 to 1 1/2 ft with an equal spread, this perennial features rosettes of large, leathery leaves, which are useful in flower arrangements.

Bergenia cordifolia blooms in April to May with dense panicles of small dark pink flowers held above the foliage by stout 16-inch stalks.

Bergenia cordifolia is not typically bothered by deer, insects or disease.

The common name of pigsqueak comes from the noise produced by rubbing the leaf between thumb and forefinger.

How does Bergenia cordifolia resist drought?

Growing tips–

Bergenia cordifolia works wonderfully for:

• shaded border fronts or rock gardens
• ground cover for woodland or shade gardens
• edging for paths and walkways
• a much-needed pop of early bloom colour
• an early nectar source for pollinators

Plant Bergenia cordifolia in part to full shade with moist, well-drained soil. It will tolerate dry shade once established and adapts well to a range of soil types.

To get the most out of Bergenia cordifolia in your garden, a protective layer of mulch is highly recommended to retain shallow moisture.

Trim back spent flowers after blooming, and remove damaged foliage in early spring to make way for fresh growth. To maintain density and vigour, divide every few years in the spring.

Suitable for use as a fresh cut flower. 

Our Plant Database features more than 500 plants tested and ideally suited for the unique challenges of gardening in the Okanagan’s extreme climate, including the plants in this article.

CLIMATE-RESILIENT PLANTS

Article by Josh Smith, Xeriscape Endemic Nursery (XEN)

Biologist Josh Smith is general manager of XEN Nursery in West Kelowna, which grows and propagates native and xeriscape plants for both ecological restoration projects and landscaping use throughout the Okanagan. He is also vice-president of the Okanagan Xeriscape Association.

Plants have evolved a range of ways to survive under a blazing summer sun.

Adaptability and climate-resilience are essential for plants native to the Okanagan Valley’s arid climate, with its hot summers and low rainfall. Increasingly, these same strategies are becoming important across British Columbia, as drought and extreme heat events intensify with climate change.

ESCAPING DROUGHT

One of the most effective tactics is simply to hide from harsh conditions altogether.

Many xeric (Latin: ‘dry’) plants “escape” drought by completing their life cycle during the moist spring months. They bloom early, set seed quickly, and then die back above ground before the heat and dryness of summer arrive.

A familiar example is Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata), Kelowna’s official flower. These bright yellow blooms cover Okanagan hillsides each spring, taking advantage of abundant moisture. As summer heat intensifies, their large arrow-shaped leaves wither and dry. However, the plant persists underground, storing energy and moisture in a deep taproot, ready to sprout again with snowmelt and spring rains.

An even more dramatic example is Bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva). Growing in dry, rocky soils, bitterroot emerges early in spring to produce delicate pink flowers, often before its leaves are fully visible. Soon after blooming, the entire plant disappears from the surface, surviving the summer drought as a fleshy underground root until favourable conditions return. The Latin ‘rediviva’ means ‘revived’ and refers to this ability.

Spring bulbs follow a similar pattern. Emerging from bulbs or corms, they grow rapidly, bloom, set seed, and store energy underground before retreating as temperatures rise. During their brief time above ground, they complete their entire reproductive cycle and prepare for the following year.

Although it is much more common for plants in Mediterranean climates, some drought escapers don’t go completely dormant until next spring but simply allow leaves to dry up and yellow during the summer, then green up rapidly once the fall rains start. In the Okanagan, this strategy is used by all of our native grasses, which is why our hillsides are yellow in the summer yet green in the spring and fall.

AVOIDING DROUGHT

Some plants are able to avoid drought stress through strategies focused on maintaining a high water content inside the plant. This falls into two major categories: (i) ‘Water Savers’ prioritize minimizing water loss from the leaves, and (ii) ‘Water Spenders’ focus on maximizing water uptake from the soil.

An easily spotted water saver strategy is silvery, powdery, or fuzzy foliage. This reduces water loss by reflecting more sunlight, which lowers leaf temperature and reduces transpiration. Common Rabbit-Brush (Ericameria nauseosa), Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea), and Golden-Aster (Heterotheca villosa) are native Okanagan examples of silvery, powdery, or fuzzy foliage, respectively. Garden favourites like Lavender or Silver Mound also use this strategy. Though less easily identified, another water saver strategy is to reduce the quantity or diameter of the pores on the underside of leaves (stomata) to reduce water loss when the leaves exchange air with the environment.

Water spenders take a completely opposite approach and focus on getting as much water as possible out of the soil. Many Okanagan native plants produce deep and/or dense root systems to reach moisture far below the dry surface soils. Balsamroot, Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), and Brown-Eyed Susan (Gaillardia aristata) all produce a deep taproot and, for an extreme example, Giant Wildrye (Leymus cinereus) produces a dense fibrous root system that has been found as deep as 2.4m (8’) below ground. Garden favourites such as Missouri Evening Primrose also demonstrate this strategy well. Another water spender strategy, which is too complex to explain in this brief article, is to increase hydraulic conductance. Essentially, picture all plant roots as straws sipping at the water in the soil. Through a multitude of different mechanisms, some plants can suck harder or more efficiently on the straw than their neighbours. Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia) and Antelope-Brush (Purshia tridentata) are great examples of native species with a high hydraulic conductance.

Lavender and Yarrow  (Photo by Judie Steeves)

TOLERATING DROUGHT

Finally, some plants are adapted to tolerate drought conditions directly, even when water is scarce. These adaptations can be structural, physiological, or biochemical.

Many xeric plants have narrow or finely divided leaves, reducing surface area to limit water loss and heat absorption. Desert Yellow Fleabane (Erigeron linearis) and Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum) are examples of native species that use this strategy, and the garden favourite Pine-Needle Penstemon is another classic example. Other plants, like Snowbrush (Ceanothus velutinus), produce a thick, waxy leaf coating (cuticle) that acts as sunscreen to block some UV light from entering the leaf.

Some plants make use of accessory pigments to absorb sunlight. Chlorophyll, which is what makes plants appear green, is the most efficient pigment for absorbing sunlight, but in low-water conditions, it produces harmful compounds that can damage or kill leaves, so some plants make use of accessory pigments to shield the chlorophyll from sunlight. These pigments give off red, orange, or blue light more than green, which is why some of our drought-tolerant plants, like Oregon Grape (Berberis aquifolium), are these colours.

Another easily noticeable drought-tolerance adaptation is aromatic plants. They produce essential oils, also called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), that are often stored in glands on the leaf surface where they function to absorb and scatter excess light and form a water repelling layer to slow the diffusion of water vapour out of the leaf. VOCs also evaporate easily when heated and provide evaporative cooling, similar to sweating in animals. For native species, Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) is the most aromatic example, but many ornamental favourites also use this strategy, like Russian Sage, Lavender, Thyme, and Common Sage.

Succulents, like cacti, sedums, and sempervivums, are stereotypically thought of as some of the most drought-tolerant plants. Their almost unique adaptation is a specialized photosynthesis pathway that enables them to open their leaf pores only at night when it is cool, absorb and store carbon dioxide, and then during the day they can close their leaf pores to reduce transpiration loss and still perform photosynthesis using the stored CO2. This adaptation is highly water-efficient and is what allows succulents to have watery, fleshy leaves even in the middle of a desert.

Oregon Grape, Berberis aquifolium

Working with nature in the Okanagan

In reality, many plants use a combination of these strategies rather than relying on just one. This flexibility is what allows them to thrive in the Okanagan’s challenging climate.

For gardeners and landscapers, understanding these natural adaptations offers a powerful lesson: by choosing plants that are already suited to our environment, we can create landscapes that are both beautiful and resilient– while using far less water. As drought conditions become more common, working with nature is no longer just a good idea– it’s essential.

PLANT OF THE MONTH- APRIL

by Sigrie Kendrick

Pulsatilla vulgaris, the European Pasque flower

Few spring-blooming perennials combine delicate beauty with rugged resilience quite like Pulsatilla vulgaris, the European Pasque flower.

Named for its bloom time around Easter (Pâques in French), this silky-petalled gem is equally at home in a rock garden or a sun-baked hillside and is virtually maintenance-free.

Pasque flower is cold-hardy in zones 4-8, making it an excellent choice for even the higher elevations in our Okanagan valley.

Native to the dry chalk grasslands and limestone meadows of central and northern Europe, Pulsatilla vulgaris has evolved over millennia in some of the continent’s most unforgiving soils.

Poor, thin, and freely draining ground is exactly what it prefers. Plant it in rich, moisture-retentive soil, and it will quietly sulk or simply disappear.

Give it the lean, gritty conditions it knows, and Pulsatilla vulgaris will reward you with decades of enjoyment.

How does Pulsatilla vulgaris resist drought?

The Pasque flower’s drought resilience is structural, not incidental. Its deeply tapering taproot drives far down into rocky substrate, accessing moisture reserves long after the surface soil has dried.

The finely divided, feathery foliage is covered in soft silver hairs, a classic xerophytic adaptation that reflects intense sunlight and reduces water loss through the leaf surface.

Even the ornamental silky-tailed seed heads that follow the blooms serve a purpose by allowing the plant to complete its reproduction cycle quickly, before summer heat fully arrives.

Growing tips–

Once established, which typically takes a full growing season, Pulsatilla vulgaris requires essentially no supplemental irrigation in climates such as the Okanagan with its modest spring rainfall.

It is highly suited to xeriscaping plantings, gravel gardens, and low-maintenance perennial borders where water conservation is a priority.

Pulsatilla vulgaris prefers to be sited in a full-sun location with excellent drainage, but will tolerate part-sun.

Avoid transplanting Pulsatilla once established, as the taproot, which makes this such a successful xeric plant, resents disturbance.

Cultivars of this perennial range from the classic violet-purple through white, red, and soft pink.

Pasque flower is one of the earliest blooming spring perennials and, as such, offers vital support for pollinators emerging from the long winter.

Our Plant Database features more than 500 plants tested and ideally suited for the unique challenges of gardening in the Okanagan’s extreme climate, including the plants in this article.