Tips for Growing Drought Tolerant Plants

Susan Martin

If you are like many people across the country this year, your area may be experiencing drought. While extreme drought tends to end the gardening season due to severe watering restrictions, it’s possible to keep your garden going in areas that are experiencing mild drought by growing plants that can adapt to drier soils.

Even if your garden receives ample rainfall or irrigation, it’s still a good idea to plant at least a few things that won’t need consistent watering to thrive. They will help to lessen the pressure on your city or well water system, plus they are far less worry if you don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to garden maintenance. You can leave for vacation and know that your plants will survive in your absence. 

We’ll recommend 30 of our best drought tolerant plants below, but before we do, let’s take a look at three myths surrounding this issue.

3 Myths and Facts About Drought Tolerant Plants

MYTH #1: Drought tolerant plants don’t need water.

FACT: All plants need some water. Even cacti require water. The most critical time to water drought tolerant plants is the first few months after planting them. This is when their roots are getting established and diving deeper into the ground where moisture is more plentiful. When you water, soak the soil around the plants thoroughly and then let it dry down a bit before watering again. Once they are fully rooted, drought tolerant plants will only need to be watered every couple of weeks depending on their level of drought resistance and supplemental rainfall.

MYTH #2: All drought tolerant plants need the same amount of water.

FACT: Each type of plant is different; some can survive with less moisture than others. For instance, succulent plants that store water in their leaves will be able to last longer between waterings than plants with thin leaves. Those that have fuzzy, silver, or waxy leaves also tend to be able to tolerate longer periods without water. If your drought tolerant plant wilts or its leaves start to shrivel, you’ll know it must be very dry and it should be watered immediately.

MYTH #3: Native plants are more drought tolerant than non-native plants.

FACT: Where in the world a plant originates does not determine its level of drought tolerance. Native plants like goldenrod which grows naturally in dry, open fields would be much more drought tolerant than our native cardinal flower which is found in swampy areas and growing along streams. If your goal is to plant a drought tolerant garden, select plants that can handle drier soils, regardless of their native origin. 


Recommended Drought Tolerant Perennials 

Tall green bushes covered in dense clusters of vibrant purple flowers are surrounded by other flowering plants, with trees and a bright sky in the background.

Hyssop (Agastache)

Perennial with good drought tolerance in full sun, zone varies by type, deer resistant, attracts pollinators.

 

A cluster of bright yellow flowers blooms in a garden bed, surrounded by green foliage and a wooden fence in the background.


Yarrow (Achillea)

Perennial with good drought tolerance in full sun, zones 3-8, deer and rabbit resistant, attracts pollinators.

 

Close-up of two green, spiky seed pods growing on a plant with elongated green leaves in the background. The lighting is bright, highlighting the texture and details of the pods.

Milkweed (Asclepias)

Select native species have good drought tolerance in full sun, zone varies by species, deer resistant, host plant for monarch butterflies and attractive to many pollinators.

Tall stems of wild indigo plants with clusters of small purple and white flowers rise above green foliage, set against a blurred outdoor background.

False Indigo (Baptisia)

Native perennial with strong drought tolerance due to its deep tap root, zones 4-9, deer resistant, attracts pollinators.

A vibrant cluster of yellow and red coreopsis flowers blooming in a garden bed with lush green foliage in the background.

Tickseed (Coreopsis)

Native perennial with good drought tolerance in full sun, zone varies by type, deer resistant, attracts pollinators.

A dense cluster of vibrant orange and purple flowers blooming above green, succulent foliage. The flowers have narrow petals radiating from pinkish centers, creating a lively and colorful ground cover.

Ice Plant (Delosperma)

Evergreen groundcover with strong drought tolerance in full sun, zone varies by variety, deer resistant.

Bright yellow and orange blanket flowers (Gaillardia) in bloom, surrounded by green foliage and some round, yellow flower buds. The petals have reddish-orange centers that fade into yellow tips.

Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)

Native perennial with strong drought tolerance in full sun, zone varies by species, deer resistant, attracts pollinators.

Clusters of small, delicate white flowers bloom densely among green leaves and grass, creating a soft, cloud-like appearance in a garden setting.

Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila)

Perennial with good drought tolerance in full sun, zones 3-9, deer resistant, attracts pollinators.

Close-up of three flowers with white petals edged in deep burgundy and pale green centers, surrounded by green leaves. The flowers have distinct, jagged maroon patterns radiating from the center.

Lenten Rose (Helleborus)

Evergreen perennial with good drought tolerance in part shade to full shade, zones 4-9, deer and rabbit resistant, attracts pollinators.

Tall, spiky red and yellow flowers with dense green leaves at the base, growing closely together in a garden setting with other plants visible in the background.

Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia)

Perennial with good drought tolerance in full sun, zones 5-9, deer and rabbit resistant, attracts pollinators.

A neatly maintained garden with lush green grass, rows of vibrant purple flowers, various other plants, and a gazebo in the background on a cloudy day.

Lavender (Lavandula)

Perennial with strong drought tolerance in full sun, zones 5-9, deer and rabbit resistant, attracts pollinators.

A dense bush with numerous tall stems covered in small, purple flowers, surrounded by green foliage in a garden setting. Other plants and trees are visible in the background.

Beardtongue (Penstemon)

Native perennial with good drought tolerance in full sun, zone varies by type, deer resistant, attracts pollinators.

Clusters of small, star-shaped pink flowers with green leaves, densely packed together, creating a vibrant and lush display.

Stonecrop (Sedum)

Perennial with strong drought tolerance in full sun, zone varies by species, rabbit resistant, attracts pollinators.

Clusters of small, bright yellow flowers with green leaves surrounding them, growing densely in a garden setting.

Goldenrod (Solidago)

Select native species have good drought tolerance in full sun to part shade depending on species, zone varies by species, rabbit resistant, attracts pollinators.

Close-up of several dark red succulent plants with thick, waxy leaves arranged in rosette shapes, covered in small droplets of water.

Hen and Chicks (Sempervivum)

Perennial with strong drought tolerance in full sun to part shade, zone 3-8, deer and rabbit resistant.

A dense mat of bright pink ground cover flowers spreads across a garden bed, surrounded by green foliage and soil.

Creeping Thyme (Thymus)

Perennial with good drought tolerance in full sun, zones 3-9, deer resistant, attracts pollinators.

A garden bed filled with blooming lavender and purple flowers, accented by clusters of bright pink flowers and dark-leaved plants. Lush green grass is visible in the background.

Russian Sage (Perovskia)

Perennial with strong drought tolerance in full sun, zones 4-9, deer resistant, attracts pollinators.


Recommended Drought Tolerant Shrubs

Top-down view of Ground Hug® Aronia, a dense cluster of green shrubs, showcases numerous small white flowers among its leaves, elegantly covering the ground outdoors - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Chokeberry (Aronia)

Native shrub with good drought tolerance in full sun to part shade, zones 3-9, deer resistant, attracts songbirds.

A round, bushy plant covered in small, vibrant purple flowers grows in a mulched garden bed with more purple-flowering plants visible in the background.

Bluebeard (Caryopteris)

Shrub with good drought tolerance in full sun, zone varies by type, deer resistant, attracts pollinators.

Dense Double Take® Scarlet Quince (Chaenomeles) shrubs display clusters of vibrant red flowers and green leaves, with taller green and white flowering shrubs in the background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Quince (Chaenomeles)

Shrub with strong drought tolerance in full sun to part shade, zones 5-8, deer resistant, attracts butterflies.

A dense cluster of small green leaves with yellow edges and orange-brown stems, forming a lush, colorful ground cover.

Mirror Bush (Coprosma)

Tropical evergreen shrub with good drought tolerance in full sun, zones 9-11, deer resistant.

Top-down view of Kodiak Fresh® Diervilla with reddish-green foliage, grows in a mulched garden bed of dark soil and wood chips - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Bush Honeysuckle (Diervilla)

Native shrub with good drought tolerance in full sun to part shade, zones 4-7, deer resistant, attracts pollinators.

A small tree with vibrant red leaves stands in a garden setting, surrounded by green shrubs and taller evergreen trees in the background. The ground is covered with mulch and fallen leaves.

Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)

Shrub with good drought tolerance in full sun, zones 4-8. 

White Album® Wintercreeper (Euonymus) groundcover with dark green and cream varigated leaves in mulch, blurred blooms and grass in the backgroudn - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei)

Evergreen shrub with good drought tolerance in full sun to part shade, zones 5-8.

A lush garden scene featuring a large hydrangea bush with clusters of white and pale pink flowers, surrounded by green foliage and trimmed hedges in the background.

Panicle Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata)

Shrub with some drought tolerance (more than other hydrangea species) in full sun to part shade, zones 3-8, attracts pollinators.

Two tall, cone-shaped Gin Fizz® Juniper shrubs are planted in mulch near a grassy border, with leafy trees and a peaceful river in the background on a sunny day - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Juniper (Juniperus)

Evergreen shrub with strong drought tolerance in full sun, zone varies by species, deer resistant.

Bright pink blooms of the Austin Pretty Limits® Oleander (Nerium) stand out among slender green leaves. This compact shrub showcases vibrant, slightly ruffled petals and abundant buds for a stunning display. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Oleander (Nerium)

Tropical shrub with good drought tolerance in full sun, zones 8-11, deer and rabbit resistant, attracts pollinators.

A row of tall, narrow shrubs is planted along a white brick wall, with green grass and a brown mulch border beneath, against a clear blue sky.

Buckthorn (Rhamnus)

Native shrub with good drought tolerance in full sun to part shade, zones 2-7, deer resistant.

The Bloomerang® Dark Purple Reblooming Lilac (Syringa), a fragrant shrub, features clusters of purple flowers and grows in a mulched garden bed, bordered by green grass and trees in the background. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Lilac (Syringa)

Shrub with good drought tolerance in full sun, zone varies by species, deer resistant, attracts pollinators.

A Winecraft Black® Smokebush (Cotinus) with purple leaves and airy, pinkish-purple blooms grows in a sunny garden, surrounded by greenery - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Smokebush (Cotinus)

Shrub with good drought tolerance in full sun, zone varies by variety, deer resistant.


Want more options? Search our full list of drought tolerant plants.

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