Xeriscape Plants: Their Water Needs

The least amount of water needed to maintain the foliage and flowers of the Woolly Butterfly Bush is 0.04 gallons per day, which is less that a small cup of coffee.

Dr. Keith Owens, professor of range ecology and Rose Cooper, research technician with Texas A & M in Uvalde did a study of the Top 12 xeriscape and drought tolerant plants to determine their water needs and usage. Out of eight shrub species and four tree species, the plants requiring the least water were Dwarf Yaupon Holly, Mountain Laurel and Evergreen Sumac, with the Woolly Butterfly Bush (at 0.04 gallons per day) coming in as winner. The tree requiring the most was the Crape Myrtle (at 0.17 gallons per day) using twice as much as Wild Olive. All the plants tested were excellent xeriscape materials and included Lantana, Purple Sage, Mexican Mint Marigold, Autumn Sage, Dwarf Yaupon Holly, Mexican bush Sage, Woolly Butterfly Bush, Evergreen Sumac, Mountain Laurel, Wild Olive, and Crape Myrtle.