Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
Whether you live in a juiceless climate or just need to keep on your water account , using drouth - kind plants in your landscape is one of the best ways to keep up water . With clime change causing farsighted and more severe wry tour , some cities have release water limitation and are even requiring the use of waterwise plant .
Drought - resistant landscape gardening is a viable and attractive alternative to thirsty green lawns . drouth - immune plants reduce maintenance while using fewer resources . Here ’s a list of some tried - and - true varieties to get you set about :
On this page : Drought - Tolerant Plants|Drought - Tolerant Landscaping Tips
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DROUGHT-TOLERANT PLANTS
Sapphire Mist aster . Photo : Proven Winners .
1. ASTER (Symphyotrichumspp.)
Zones:3 - 8Exposure : Full Dominicus to fond shadeBloom time : summertime to fallHeight / Spread : Upright spreading habit ; 1 to 6 feet tall , 1 to 4 feet wideUses : With many species native to North America , asters can be naturalized in a hayfield or planted in a mixed margin to attract bee , butterflies and other pollinator .
This late - season bloomer produces daisy - similar flowers in hues of purple , drear , white or pinkish . Though aster prefer rich well - draining soil , these toughened flowering plant can tolerate a all-inclusive range of develop conditions .
Learn asters .
' Midnight Masquerade ' beardtongue . Photo : Proven Winners .
2. BEARDTONGUE (Penstemonspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sunBloom time : Spring to early summertime ; some will rebloom with deadheadingHeight / Spread : Low mounding or upright habit ; 6 to 96 inches tall , 8 to 20 column inch wideUses : apply low agriculturalist in a careen garden or curbside planting , while taller varieties can be grown in a cottage - mode border or hayfield setting .
A divers group of North American natives , clump of ambrosia - rich cannular flower appeal butterflies , bees , and hummingbirds . Flowers hap in a wide kitchen stove of colors .
Learn beardtongue .
Black - Eyed Susan . Photo : darkmoon1968 / Pixabay .
3. BLACK-EYED SUSAN (Rudbeckiaspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sunBloom clock time : summertime to early fallHeight / Spread : good habit ; 1 to 4 ft grandiloquent , 1 to 2 foot wideUses : tot up to a waterwise border , cottage - dash garden or naturalize in a meadow setting .
This vulgar drouth - resistant perennial is maturate for its recollective blossom daisy - corresponding flowers in rich tones of gold , bronze and brown . The uncouth - hirsute , green foliation is foul to deer , making this a unspoiled deer - resistive option .
Learn black - eyed Susan .
Arizona Apricot blanket efflorescence . Photo : Proven Winners .
4. BLANKET FLOWER (Gaillardiaspp.)
Zones:3 - 10Exposure : Full sunBloom time : Summer to fallHeight / Spread : Compact mounding habit ; 1 to 3 foot tall , 1 to 2 feet wideUses : Plant in a curbside funnies , along a incline , or in a John Rock garden .
colored flowers take place in bright hues of red-faced , orange , coral , and sensationalistic . This short - lived perennial ( commonly grown as an annual ) is aboriginal to westerly U.S. prairies , ironical meadow , and grasslands . Blanket flower thrive in dry gay weather and lean ground . Flowers draw in bees and other pollinators , while ejaculate heads are a author of nutrient for songbirds and other wildlife .
Learn cover flower .
' Blue Whiskers ' spicy fescue grass . picture : Proven Winners .
5. BLUE FESCUE (Festuca glauca)
Zones:4 - 8Exposure : Full sunBloom time : Late spring to summerHeight / Spread : Clumping habit ; 10 to 12 inch marvellous , 24 to 28 inches wideUses : tot colour and textural contrast in the landscape painting or when combined with summertime bungle such as salvias , coneflower , or giant hyssop . The heavyset size is desirable for container and modest space .
Many ornamental grasses are drouth - tolerant , requiring short supplemental piss once give . Blue fescue provides multi - seasonal interest , with evergreen plant leaf and refined wheat - colorize seed heads that curb on all summer long .
picture : Janet Loughrey .
6. BUGLEWEED (Ajuga reptans)
Zones:3 - 10Exposure : Sun to shadeBloom time : Mid to late springHeight / Spread : Low mat - forming habit ; 6 to 9 inches tall , 6 to 12 inch wideUses : Use around Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and bush or for erosion control along a slope .
This toughened matting - forming groundcover is a good solvent for difficult areas such as ironical shade . Plants have attractive pinko , blue or purple flowers with green , purple , Au or varicolored foliage . Bugleweed plants raise in a wide range of conditions and can become a rampant broadcaster , but is better command by planting in challenging internet site and withholding water .
Learn bugleweed .
' Cat ’s Pajamas ' Nepeta cataria . Photo : Proven Winners .
7. CATMINT (Nepetaspp.)
Zones:3 - 8Exposure : Full sunlight to fond shadeBloom time : Late spring to fallHeight / Spread : Upright spreading wont ; 2 to 3 base marvelous and wideUses : Combine with other drought - tolerant perennials such as ornamental grasses , yarrow , salvia and lamb ’s auricle .
Exceptionally long - blooming blossom spikes occur in nerveless shades of blasphemous , livid or pinkish . This dependable perennial is low maintenance and tolerant of different ground conditions .
Learn catmint .
Cransebill geranium . Photo : Janet Loughrey .
8. CRANESBILL GERANIUM (Geraniumspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full Dominicus to partial shadeBloom sentence : Spring to fallHeight / Spread : Upright or low spreading habit ; 6 to 24 column inch tall , 6 to 36 inch wideUses : Use these various plants for erosion control along a slope , as pathway edging , in curbside landing strip , rock garden or mixed borders .
Not to be confused with annualPelargonium , cranesbill geraniums comprise a large group of long - inhabit perennials that are hardy in most regions . Ranging from low land - embrace chassis to tall vertical varieties , crane’s bill geraniums are tolerant of hard growing conditions such as drought and poor grease .
Learn cranesbill geranium .
biddy and dame . Photo : Janet Loughrey .
9. HEN AND CHICKS (Sempervivum tectorum)
Zones:3 - 8Exposure : Full sunBloom time : SummerHeight / Spread : grim spreading habit ; 1 to 2 feet wide , rosette grow 2 to 4 inches tall and flower spike can reack 12 inches tall . usage : supply good drainage and plant in fissure along a rock wall , in a hypertufa or stone container , rockery , or function as pathway edging .
biddy and chicks produce matt - make clumps of rosette with fleshy leaves in spook of unripe , racy - green or red . These succulents are virtually maintenance - liberal and adapt to dry conditions and skimpy stain . They also wish a bit of good afternoon shade to front their best .
red-hot ® Golden Gate ™ lantana . Photo : Proven Winners .
10. LANTANA (Lantana camara)
Zones:9 - 11 , grown as an annual in colder regionsExposure : Full sunBloom fourth dimension : belated outflow through frost when grown as an annual , nearly twelvemonth - round in frost - gratis regionsHeight / Spread:2 to 6 metrical unit tall and 3 to 10 invertebrate foot tall when raise as a perennial bush . When grown as an annual , industrial plant can reach 3 to 4 feet marvellous and 1 to 3 understructure panoptic in a single time of year . Uses : works in a container by itself or in combining with other plants . Place in a dry mete , as a groundcover along a slope , or in a innovation planting in warm regions where lantana is a perennial .
One of the good plant for attracting butterflies , the cheerful rainbow - hue flowers come over an exceptionally farseeing time .
Learn lantana .
2020 Blue Ribbon Award Winners from Proven Winners
In low - water trials held at the University of California at Davis , these 3 plant were award blue typewriter ribbon for " preserve high standards of esthetic quality over the turn time of year " when develop with greatly reduced water custom .
gay Boulevard ® St. John ’s Wort
Juke Box ® Pyracomeles
Pugster Blue ® Butterfly Bush
Sweet Romance ® Lavender . picture : Proven Winners .
11. LAVENDER (Lavandulaspp.)
Zones:5 - 9Exposure : Full sunBloom time : SummerHeight / Spread : Mounding riding habit ; 1 to 3 fundament marvellous , 1 to 5 feet wideUses : works along a slope for eroding control , in a kitchen or herb garden , in a curbside planting or ironical mixed border .
Grown for its aromatic bloom and foliage , this native of the Mediterranean region thrives in heat and wry conditions . offer good drainage to forbid root bunkum and shear spent bloom for rebloom .
Learn lavender .
Mojave ® Red purslane . Photo : Proven Winners .
12. PURSLANE (Portulacaspp.)
Zones:10 - 11 , usually spring up as an annualExposure : Full sunBloom metre : summertime to frostHeight / Spread : Low , spreading or drop back habit ; 3 to 12 inch marvelous , 6 to 24 inches wideUses : Plant in a container or hang handbasket , rock garden , curbside strip , or allow to cascade down over a rock-and-roll wall .
pocket-size rose - alike efflorescence occur in a reach of shiny or pastel chromaticity . This South American native is patient of of rut , drouth , short territory and neglectfulness .
determine purslane .
Fruit Punch ® ' Classic Coral ' pinko . exposure : Proven Winners .
13. PINKS (Dianthusspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeBloom time : Spring to early summer , with some rebloom in the fallHeight / Spread : Upright or low spreading riding habit ; 4 to 36 inches tall , 4 to 24 inches wideUses : Use as a groundcover along a gradient , in a rock garden , curbside strip or as pathway edging .
aboriginal to alpine and stony regions , pink are well conform to of course wry conditions . This cottage garden staple is revered for the frilly clove - scented flowers that hail in nearly every colour .
Learn pink .
Lakota ™ Fire coneflower . Photo : Proven Winners .
14. PURPLE CONEFLOWER (Echinacea purpurea)
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sunBloom metre : Mid - summertime to fallHeight / Spread : Upright spreading habit ; 2 to 5 feet tall , 1 - 1/2 to 2 foot wideUses : The farsighted bloom daisy - like flowers pull butterfly and insect pollinator , while the seed heading are a wintertime food author for songbirds .
aboriginal to North American prairies , over-embellished coneflower is oestrus and drought tolerant , easy to grow and virtually maintenance - gratis .
Learn coneflower .
' Denim ' n Lace ' Russian salvia . Photo : Proven Winners .
15. RUSSIAN SAGE (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Full sunBloom metre : Mid to tardy summerHeight / Spread : good bushy substance abuse ; 4 to 5 feet tall , 3 foundation wideUses : The statuesque peak makes a statement in a dry edge or curbside planting .
Russian salvia has dramatic spiky blue flowers that give the garden a break up - me - up late in the growing time of year . This tough Asian aboriginal thrives on red-hot , ironic conditions and disregard . Provide full sun and well - debilitate soil .
Learn Russian sage .
Rockin ' ® Fuchsia salvia . Photo : Proven Winners .
16. SAGE / SALVIA (Salviaspp.)
Zones:5 - 9Exposure : Full sunBloom time : leap to fallHeight / Spread : Upright bushy habit ; 1 to 4 foot tall , 1 to 3 feet wideUses : apply in a waterwise border , curbside planting , or container .
This mint relative comprises a bombastic chemical group of plants with redolent leaf and flowers in a range of forms and color . These scurvy - maintenance plant are a deary of bees , butterfly , and hummingbirds .
Learn salvia flora .
Euphorbia myrsinites . Photo : Janet Loughrey .
17. SPURGE (Euphorbiaspp.)
Zones:4 - 11Exposure : Full sunBloom time : Spring to fall , depending on varietyHeight / Spread : Upright or spreading habit ; 6 to 36 inches tall and wideUses : furnish near drainage and plant in a rockery , curbside landing strip or dry border .
One of the bombastic grouping of plants , euphorbias are grown for their wide chain of alien flower bracts , foliage , and architectural shape . Native to dry regions across the globe , these succulents are heating and drought - tolerant , require little concern once established . Avoid contact with the white milky sap , which can cause hide annoying or spartan eye damage .
Learn spurge industrial plant .
Rock ' N Low ™ ' Boogie Woogie ' stonecrop . Photo : Proven Winners .
18. STONECROP / SEDUM (Sedumspp.)
Zones:3 - 11Exposure : Full Dominicus to fond shadeBloom meter : summertime to fallHeight / Spread : Upright or scummy spreading habit ; 2 to 36 column inch tall , 12 to 24 inches wideUses : Use groundcover type as a hold out mulch to suppress weeds and aid keep back moisture . Upright forms can be grown in a waterwise border or curbside planting .
This drought - tolerant succulent occur in a immense array of sizing , frame and colors . These almost carefree plant opt skimpy , well - enfeeble soil and hot , juiceless conditions .
Learn stonecrop and sedum plants .
Proven Accents ® Silver Bullet ® wormwood . Photo : Janet Loughrey .
19. WORMWOOD (Artemisiaspp.)
Zones:3 - 10Exposure : Full sunBloom time : Summer to fallHeight / Spread : upright piano or spreading riding habit ; 1 to 5 feeet tall , 1 to 12 foot wideUses : Suitable for hot and wry sites , utilize this herbaceous or shrubby plant life as a textural element in a dry mete or container .
Grown for its redolent silvern foliation and essential oils , this quick - growing herb is native to semiarid temperate regions of Eurasia and Africa . Can be invasive in some areas .
' Firefly Sunshine ' yarrow . Photo : Proven Winners .
20. YARROW (Achilleaspp.)
Zones:3 - 11Exposure : Full sunBloom prison term : SummerHeight / Spread : Upright spread wont ; 1 to 3 base tall , 2 to 3 feet wideUses : This versatile North American native is resistant of high temperature , inhuman , humidity , poor grease and drought . Long - blooming blossom bunch in vividness of yellow , whitened , pinkish , orangish or crimson are attractive to butterfly stroke and insect pollinators .
This various North American native is tolerant of heating system , cold , humidity , poor soils and drought . Long - blooming flower clusters in colors of yellow , clean , pinkish , orange or carmine are attractive to butterfly and insect pollinators .
Learn milfoil plants .
DROUGHT-TOLERANT LANDSCAPING TIPS
See more onhow to make a drought - patient of landscape .
NOTES ON DROUGHT-TOLERANT PLANTS FROM KEN DRUSE:
drouth - tolerant plant life can be identified just by look at them or feeling or smelling their bruised leafage . Many fragrant herbs , for good example , are drought - tolerant . Plants that are aboriginal to gay piece of the reality , such as the Mediterranean , are obvious option . Their leaves are often modest , sometimes sharp - those of lavender , for instance . Their leaves may be stage in whorls on marvelous , slender stems so that each one gathers light without shade off the next one down on the stem turn . The leaf may have some wet - conserving gadget , such as hairs , a waxy program , or pulverisation . Some leaves are so pensive they face almost metal . Do n’t forget , many fountain light bulb actually prefer ironic sites in summer . These plants become hibernating in summer and stock water in their modified stem : the bulb .
