Given the ongoing water restrictions gardeners face in many parts of the state, even the most experienced are challenged to be creative and thoughtful when it comes to selecting plants for their landscapes. So I was delighted when Jamie Blackburn, curator of the Woodland Gardens at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, reminded me during his lecture "Perennials: Tried, True, and New for the Southeast" (part of the Georgia Perennial Plant Symposium in early February) of the many drought-friendly perennials that thrive in our climate.

In his presentation, he grouped plants according to their season of bloom or interest, an easy way to organize your garden, too. An important component, though, no matter what type of plants you grow, is giving them a good start. This translates to proper soil preparation and regular watering while they become established, which usually takes a full growing season.

McMahan's Nursery (ENLARGE)

Erica's pick: Salvia 'Hot lips'

RELATED LINKS: • Photos: See these drought-resistant plants • Drought page • Get more garden stories, including our columnists

Grouping plants together with similar cultural needs makes it easier to maintain them and improves your chances of success. If you can find sources, now is an ideal time to plant. Here are a few to consider adding to your garden.

For dry shade, Epimediums have long been a reliable choice. These spring bloomers will even grow under a tree where other plants decline. There are many different selections to choose from including Epimedium veriscolor 'Sulphureum' with distinctive small soft yellow flowers (they have spurs) in early spring and handsome foliage all summer. In autumn, the leaves take on tinges of red and brown.

Epimedium youngianum 'Niveum' has smaller foliage and white flowers. Give these tough guys a haircut in early spring. Removing tattered leaves from the previous season will encourage a flush of new growth.

For a contrast in texture combine Epimediums with Carex muskigumensis 'Oehme,' a native sedge with yellow margins on glossy green leaves that grows 2 feet by 2 feet.

Another favorite of mine that also seems to fare well with drought is variegated Solomon's Seal, Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum.' If you're always on the look out for something new, try Polygonatum odoratum 'Jinguji Form' (red-stemmed form).

Euphorbia robbiae, Robb's euphorbia, offers handsome evergreen foliage year round and doesn't miss a beat during a drought. In fact, dry conditions are the best way to keep this perennial from spreading around the garden. The small chartreuse flowers are a bonus in early spring. Big, bold and easy to grow, Cast Iron plant, Aspidistra elatior, provides a vertical accent under the eaves of buildings where other plants would languish.

Among drought-friendly summer bloomers, many are also attractive to hummingbirds including Agastache rupestris, Anise hyssop; the tender perennial Bouvardia ternifolia (guaranteed to attract attention with its intense orange flowers); Hesperaloe parviflora, Texas Red Yucca; Zauschneria arizonica known as Hardy Hummingbird Trumpet; and hardy salvias like Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips' and Salvia microphylla 'Red Velvet.'

These sun lovers bloom for months and require a minimum of care. Others that make the cut include Callirhoe involucrate, Wine Cups. With carrot-like taproots, its wine-colored flowers marked with white open in the morning and close at night. For a rock garden or dry hillside, try Scuttelaria suffrutescens, Texas Pink Skullcap, with flowers that look like miniature snapdragons.

In autumn, there are many ornamental grasses that begin to shine and add interest to the winter garden, too. I have been especially pleased with Carex 'Indian Summer' during every season. In winter, its tawny foliage sparkles in the sunlight. Sedums and succulents add their own charm, and many salvias bloom until frost.

For winter, native ferns like Polystichum acrostichoides, Christmas fern, provide evergreen color and require only a minimum of care. Helleborus orientalis, Lenten rose, will tolerate periods of drought provided you plant it in shade.

ERICA'S PICK

Hot Lips Sage

Botanical name: Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips'

About the plant: Native to Mexico, this unusual sage has bicolor flowers with red tips and white lips. During the hottest part of the summer flowers may be all red or white, but once fall arrives, they once again become bicolor. Fast growing, it can easily reach 3 feet tall and 6 feet wide.

Use in the garden: Plant this Salvia in the perennial border, rock garden or in combination with other salvias and yuccas.

Planting and care: Full sun and a well-drained soil is best. Wait until early spring just before new growth emerges to cut this plant back.

Source: McMahan's Nursery, 5727 Cleveland Highway, Clermont, GA 30527, 770-983-3666

Erica Glasener is a horticulturist and host of "A Gardener's Diary," which returns to HGTV on Thursday's at 7 a.m. beginning April 3.