Perennials That Persist Through Droughts and Floods

Rainfall in South Carolina is erratic. North Charleston received 12.5 inches of rain from Tropical Storm Debby in early August 2024, then only 0.05 of an inch the rest of the month. Rainfall in October was a scant 0.03 inch. Can any perennials survive such extremes? Thankfully, yes, some can. Gardeners in South Carolina and the Southeast should plant some flowers that tolerate both a surplus and a shortage of rain in beds and borders.

Many lilies (in the broad sense) are hardy. Crinum lilies (Crinum spp.), which include native swamp crinum as well as many hybrids, tolerate flooding and drought.

Pink Powell's crinum (Crinum x powellii)

Pink Powell’s crinum (Crinum x powellii) can produce up to six flower stalks per year.
Anthony Keinath, ©2024, Clemson Extension

Another bulb, hardy amaryllis or St. Joseph’s lily (Hippeastrum x johnsonii), is also very persistent.

Hardy amaryllis bulbs

Hardy amaryllis bulbs multiply into small clumps that bloom in early April in the Lowcountry.
Anthony Keinath, ©2024, Clemson Extension

My common butterfly or white ginger (Hedychium coronarium) and hybrid ‘Disney Orange’ or ‘Orange Bottlebrush’ ginger (Hedychium coccineum) survived repeated flooding in 2015 to 2017 from the “thousand-year flood” and three hurricanes.

Butterfly ginger (Hedychium coronarium)

Butterfly ginger (Hedychium coronarium) prefers compost-amended, friable soil but is not fussy about moisture.
Anthony Keinath, ©2024, Clemson Extension

Orange Bottlebrush Ginger (Hedychium coccineum) has bright orange flowers.

Orange Bottlebrush Ginger (Hedychium coccineum) has bright orange flowers.
Barbara H. Smith, HGIC ©2024, Clemson Extension

‘Blue Storm’ lily of the Nile (Agapanthus hybrid) is the most reliable dwarf agapanthus, one of my favorite plants. Several grassy perennials are also hardy, including garlic chives (Allium tuberosum), society garlic (Tulbaghia violacea), and native blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium ‘Lucerne’).

While broadleaved perennials tend to be suited to well-drained soil, a few have been reliably resilient in the Lowcountry, regardless of the weather. Bog sage (Salvia uliginosa) and anise-scented sage (Salvia guaranitica’ Black and Blue’) are more tolerant of moist soil than other salvias. Black-eyed Susan ‘Goldsturm’ (Rudbeckia fuldiga ‘Goldstrum’) is so popular, I think, because it is so persistent.

Bog sage (Salvia uliginosa)

Bog sage (Salvia uliginosa) is more tolerant of moist soils than most other salvias.
Barbara H. Smith, HGIC ©2024, Clemson Extension

Anise-scented sage (Salvia guaranitica' Black and Blue') is another salvia selection that will grow well in moist soils.

Anise-scented sage (Salvia guaranitica‘ Black and Blue’) is another salvia selection that will grow well in moist soils.
Barbara H. Smith, HGIC ©2024, Clemson Extension

Goldstrum Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia fuldiga 'Goldstrum') is a long-blooming perennial that grows well in moist, well-drained soil.

Goldstrum Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia fuldiga ‘Goldstrum’) is a long-blooming perennial that grows well in moist, well-drained soil.
Barbara H. Smith, HGIC ©2024, Clemson Extension

Notice that all the plants listed here have specialized parts that aid their survival. Crinum, hardy amaryllis, garlic chives, and society garlic have bulbs; ginger, agapanthus, anise-scented sage, and blue-eyed grass have rhizomes. Black-eyed Susan spreads into small clumps.

To give these reasonably tough plants the best chance to survive soil moisture levels outside their optimal ranges, plant crinum, ginger, blue-eyed grass, and bog sage in moist soil that holds water during dry periods. Plant the others in raised beds or well-drained soil to help them withstand temporary flooding.

For more information on growing other tough perennials, see HGIC 1864, Rain Garden Plants: Introduction.

If this document didn’t answer your questions, please contact HGIC at hgic@clemson.edu or 1-888-656-9988.

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