The old-fashioned varieties have mounds of green leaves topped by sprays of tiny, pink or red flowers. Newer coral bells are grown more for their foliage and have purple or silvery leaves, but less showy, white flowers. Hostas also tolerate a surprising amount of drought. These are also grown primarily for their large, showy leaves, but have remarkably beautiful, lily-like, white or lavender flowers in summer. Sweet woodruff and lamium are two ground covers that seem to thrive in dry, shady conditions.
Sweet woodruff has bright green leaves, tiny white flowers and dies to the ground in winter.
Lamium has silvery-green leaves, white or pink flowers and stays somewhat evergreen. Try these under big trees where nothing else wants to grow. Don t give up on your flowers just because the weather isn t cooperating this year. Plant flowers that like the heat and drought. And while you re at it, maybe if we all wash our cars and leave our windows open it will actually rain.