How a 2001 Plant Select Winner solves the most frustrating xeriscape challenges
The Xeriscaper’s Dilemma: Beauty vs. Sustainability
Every water-conscious gardener knows the struggle: you want vibrant color that lasts through summer’s heat, but most drought-tolerant plants offer fleeting blooms or dull foliage. The typical solutions? Either resign yourself to sparse flowering periods or waste precious resources keeping thirsty plants alive. That compromise costs more than just water bills – it means sacrificing the joyful abundance that makes gardening worthwhile.
Enter Orange Carpet® Creeping Hummingbird Trumpet (Zauschneria), the 2001 Plant Select winner that defies these tradeoffs. This fiery groundcover delivers six weeks of hummingbird-magnetic blooms while thriving on minimal irrigation. But how does it achieve what so many drought plants fail to? The answer lies in its unique evolutionary adaptations and selective breeding – a story that begins in the arid West and ends in gardens transformed.
Product Anatomy: Why This Isn’t Just Another Groundcover
Physical Structure
- Mat-forming habit: Spreads via underground stems (rhizomes) to create 15-18″ wide colonies
- Trumpet flowers: 1″ long tubular blooms perfectly shaped for hummingbird feeding
- Foliage: Narrow, willow-like leaves with slight silver sheen to reflect heat
Functional Adaptations
- Summer phenology: Blooms July-September when most natives are dormant
- Water efficiency: Deep taproot accesses subsoil moisture
- Thermal regulation: Leaf orientation minimizes sun exposure
The Groundcover Showdown: How Orange Carpet® Outperforms
| Feature | Orange Carpet® | Ice Plant (Delosperma) | Creeping Thyme | Snow-in-Summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloom Duration | 6-8 weeks | 3-4 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 3 weeks |
| Water Needs | Low (xeric) | Moderate | Low | Moderate |
| Wildlife Value | Hummingbird magnet | Minimal | Bees only | None |
| Slope Stability | Excellent (rhizomes) | Good | Fair | Poor |
Data based on Colorado State University xeriscape trials (2023)
From Struggle to Success: A Gardener’s Transformation
Initial State: “My south-facing slope was an erosion-prone eyesore,” recalls Linda K., a Denver homeowner. “I tried sedums, but they browned by July. Lavender required more water than I could justify.”
Breaking Point: After spending $800 on irrigation for a failed creeping juniper planting, Linda nearly gave up on having color in her xeriscape.
The Turnaround: “Orange Carpet® changed everything. The first summer, hummingbirds discovered it before I did! Now it’s a 15-foot orange waterfall from August through frost, with zero supplemental water after establishment.”
“This plant pays me back tenfold in joy. Neighbors stop to ask about the ‘orange fireworks’ cascading down my rock wall.”
Why Gardeners Choose Orange Carpet® Hummingbird Trumpet
For slope stabilization:
Its rhizomatous growth creates a living net that holds soil better than erosion blankets. Perfect for dryland gardens and hillside properties.
As a pollinator habitat:
Provides late-season nectar when little else blooms. Hummingbird-friendly plants like this sustain migrants preparing for fall journeys.
In firewise landscaping:
Low-growing and non-resinous, it meets defensible space requirements while adding fire-resistant color.
Expert Planting Tips for Maximum Impact
Site Selection
- Full sun at high elevations (>5,000 ft)
- Afternoon shade below 4,000 ft
- Well-drained slopes ideal
Companion Plants
- Blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis)
- Prairie sage (Artemisia ludoviciana)
- Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Care Timeline
- Spring: Cut back old growth
- Summer: Light water during bloom
- Fall: Let seedheads stand for winter interest
More Than a Plant – A Waterwise Revolution
In an era of climate uncertainty, Orange Carpet® Creeping Hummingbird Trumpet represents a new paradigm: landscapes that give more than they take. This drought-resistant groundcover doesn’t just survive – it thrives, bringing six weeks of firework-like blooms while supporting vital pollinators. For gardeners tired of choosing between water conservation and visual delight, this 2001 Plant Select winner offers the rare third option: abundance through intelligence, not irrigation.
Price per plant. Minimum 3 recommended for first-year impact.
© 2023 BloomNest Flora | All Plant Select® winners grown sustainably in Colorado