Tired of dragging out the hose every day? It’s a struggle many of us face, especially in areas where it doesn’t rain much or has strict water regulations.
Why not opt for drought-tolerant plants? You can save a fortune on water costs and get a low-maintenance garden that thrives even when you forget to give it a drink! Check out this list for some solid choices to kick off your drought-friendly garden:
1. ASTER (Symphyotrichum spp.)
It blooms from summer to fall and is a favorite among bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. You can let it loose in a meadow or mix it in with other plants along the border of your garden.
These flowers look like daisies and come in purple, blue, white, or pink. They like good soil that drains well, but they’re pretty tough and can handle different growing situations.
2. STONECROP / SEDUM (Sedum spp.)
This hardy plant can handle droughts and it’s not picky about sunlight. These guys bloom from summer to fall and come in all sorts of sizes and colors. They’re great for covering the ground and keeping weeds away, or you can plant the taller ones in areas where you want to save water. Just make sure the soil drains well and let them bask in the heat!
3. BLACK-EYED SUSAN (Rudbeckia spp.)
The Black-eyed Susan blooms from summer to early fall. You can stick it in a border that doesn’t need much water, or let it loose in a country-style garden or a meadow.
These flowers are famous for their daisy-like blooms in shades of gold, bronze, and brown. Plus, deer don’t like the leaves, so it’s a good pick if you’re dealing with deer munching on your plants.
4. PINKS (Dianthus spp.)
Originally from alpine and rocky spots, Pinks are like the survival champs of dry conditions. Plus, they come in almost every color under the sun, making them a classic in cottage gardens.
When spring hits, they start showing off their frilly, clove-scented flowers, and some even bloom again in the fall. They are perfect for covering slopes, jazzing up rock gardens, lining curbs, or edging pathways.
5. BLUE FESCUE (Festuca glauca)
The Blue Fescue stays compact, only about 10 to 12 inches tall and 24 to 28 inches wide, making it perfect for pots or small areas.
It’s a champ when it comes to drought, needing hardly any extra water once it settles in. It stays green all year, and its seed heads add a nice touch to your garden through the summer.
6. BUGLEWEED (Ajuga reptans)
Bugleweed stays low to the ground and spreads out about 9 inches wide. Perfect for areas around trees or on slopes where erosion might be a problem.
This tough groundcover is like the hero of tricky spots, especially those dry shady areas. It puts out pretty flowers in pink, blue, or purple, and its leaves come in all sorts of colors too. Just keep an eye on it, because it can really take off and spread everywhere if you give it too much water.
7. SPURGE (Euphorbia spp.)
Spurge grows in zones 4 to 11. It loves soaking up the sun all day long and blooms from spring to fall, depending on the type you have. You can find it standing tall or spreading wide, reaching heights between 6 to 36 inches. Be careful though, its milky sap can irritate your skin or eyes!
8. CRANESBILL GERANIUM (Geranium spp.)
Cranesbill Geraniums are like the Swiss army knife of plants – you can use them for all sorts of things like holding the soil on slopes, lining paths, or jazzing up your garden borders.
9. HEN AND CHICKS (Sempervivum tectorum)
These tough little guys are good for zones 3 to 8 and love the sun. They don’t ask for much – just some good drainage and maybe a bit of shade in the afternoon to keep them happy. They’re perfect for tucking into rock walls, pots, or along pathways. Plus, they’re practically maintenance-free, which is always a bonus!
10. LANTANA (Lantana camara)
Let’s talk Lantana! It’s a sun lover, best in zones 9 to 11, but you can still enjoy it in colder areas if you treat it as an annual. When spring comes around, it starts blooming and keeps going strong until frost, especially in warmer regions where it sticks around all year.
But the real magic of Lantana? It’s like a magnet for butterflies, with its vibrant, rainbow-colored flowers sticking around for ages. Who wouldn’t want that fluttery, colorful show in their garden?
11. LAVENDER (Lavandula spp.)
This Mediterranean native doesn’t mind the heat or dry spells, but it does like its feet dry, so make sure the soil drains well to avoid any soggy roots. And here’s a tip: trim off the spent flowers, and it’ll keep on blooming for you.
12. MOSS ROSE (Portulaca spp.)
Moss Rose is usually a guest in zones 10 to 11, but you can enjoy it as an annual elsewhere. You can pop it in a pot, hang it up in a basket, tuck it into a rockery, line your curb with it, or let it spill over a rock wall.
This tough plant can take the heat, shrug off drought, and even thrive in lousy soil. Plus, it’s not needy at all, so you can pretty much forget about it, and it’ll still put on a show for you.
13. BLANKET FLOWER (Gaillardia spp.)
The Blanket Flower thrives in the sun and blooms from summer to fall. It’s not too big, usually around 1 to 3 feet tall and wide.
Originally from the western U.S., they love dry, sunny spots and don’t mind poor soil. Bees love them, and the seeds are snacks for birds and other critters.
14. WORMWOOD (Artemisia spp.)
It’s perfect for those hot and dry spots in your garden, adding a nice touch to dry borders or containers. You might see it standing tall or spreading wide, reaching heights between 1 to 5 feet. Just keep an eye on it, as it can spread quickly in some places!
15. RUSSIAN SAGE (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Russian sage’s spiky blue flowers pop up when everything else seems tired in the garden. It’s tough and doesn’t mind if you forget to water it often. Just give it lots of sunlight and soil that drains well.
16. SAGE / SALVIA (Salvia spp.)
Sage, or Salvia, comes in lots of different types, all with leaves and flowers that smell amazing. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love hanging out with these plants because they’re easy to take care of and always have something tasty to offer.
17. CATMINT (Nepeta spp.)
Catmint is a great company for other plants that don’t need much water, like ornamental grasses, yarrow, salvia, and lamb’s ear.
Catmint puts up these lovely flower spikes in shades of blue, white, or pink, and it’s one of those plants that just keeps on going without needing a lot of attention. Plus, it’s not picky about the soil it’s in, which makes life easier for you.
18. BEARDTONGUE (Penstemon spp.)
You’ve got the Beardtongue, which blooms from spring to early summer, and if you trim off the dead flowers, some types will even bloom again. You can plant the shorter ones in a rock garden or along the curb, while the taller ones look great in a country-style garden or a meadow.
Beardtongue flowers are like little tubes that butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds love. They come in lots of different colors.
19. PURPLE CONEFLOWER (Echinacea purpurea)
Purple Coneflower stands tall at 2 to 5 feet and spreads out about 1 to 2 feet wide. Native to North American prairies, this coneflower is tough, low-maintenance, and a crowd-pleaser for the whole year.
But it’s not just a pretty face that butterflies and other pollinators can’t resist. In winter, the seed heads turn into a buffet for songbirds.
20. YARROW (Achillea spp.)
Yarrow, also known as Achillea, can handle just about anything, from heat to cold, and even poor soils and droughts. Its colorful flowers, ranging from yellow to red, are a hit with butterflies and other pollinators, making it a must-have in any garden!