Drought tolerant plants
Looking for a water-wise garden? Hot, dry days don't stop the lush foliage and colorful flowers of these challenging but beautiful drought-tolerant plants.
Plant a drought-tolerant garden
Whether you live in an arid area with irrigation restrictions or a room with a lot of natural rainfall, a garden needs plants that won't wilt when the weather is hot and dry. If you design your garden with a hot and dry climate in mind and keep water usage low, you'll spend less time lugging a hose around the garden while you relax in the shade. Do not stop watering as these plants can tolerate some drought. But rest easy knowing that when the temperature rises, your water bill doesn't have to rise either!
Characteristics of drought tolerant plants
Most of these plants have colorful flowers and some have beautiful foliage, but they all have features that allow them to survive drought and thrive. They may have profound roots to reach moisture or have succulents that store water. Or they can make the leaves reflect light or store moisture. These traits help the plant retain as much water as possible in drought, so if you see them, it usually means a plant is a drought tolerant.
Air Plant Growing Tips 👇
Celosia (Celosia spp. and hybrids)
You'll find warm-colored celosia in various flower forms—spikes, clusters, and blooms like the one here. If you want more side branches, pinch the growing tips before the young plants begin to flower in summer. Otherwise, they need no trimming or deadheading.
Red, yellow, and magenta flowers from summer to frost Light Full sun Soil Well-drained Size 10 to 36 inches tall, 8 to 24 inches wide
Cassania (Casania hybrids)
Bright and showy, Gazanias prefer dry, warm conditions. In humid parts of the country, they crash in mid-summer. If that's the case for you, grow gazanias as cool-weather annuals and replace them in the summer.
Tender perennial flowers in summer Multicolored, daisy-like flowers Light Full sun Soil Well-drained Size 8 to 12 inches tall, 6 to 10 inches.
Artemisia (Artemisia spp. and hybrids)
The best spots for Artemisia are on a sunny sidewalk or driveway or at the top of a retaining wall, where it can enjoy reflected heat and good drainage. Leave the dead tops to protect the crowns over the winter and cut them back only when new growth begins to appear in the spring.
Type Perennial Flowers Feathery Silver Foliage Summer Light Full Sun Soil Well-drained Size 8 to 60 inches tall, 10 to 36 inches wide Hardiness Cold Hardy USDA Zones 3 to 10
Home Gardening Tips 👇
Rid Of Ants Cheaply And Naturally
Lantana (Lantana camara)
Once new lantana plants are established, they are very drought tolerant. But until then, keep the young plants moist so their roots can anchor deep into the soil. And for many, pinching back the stems a few times before flowering will keep the plants dense with more flowers. Lantanas grow in any soil that drains quickly. This plant is very hardy and can tolerate even salty sea breezes.
Tender perennial (usually grown as an annual) flowers yellow, orange, red, purple, and white flowers, as well as bicolor flowers in summer. Zones 9 to 11
Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Low maintenance, deer resistant, a butterfly magnet, and drought tolerant - this plant has it all! Deadheading can keep flowers coming until fall, but be patient if it doesn't pick right away. It takes a year or two for butterfly weed to become established, and if you must move it, be careful not to disturb its long taproot too much.
Type Perennial Flowers Clusters of orange and yellow flowers in summer Light Full sun Soil Well-drained Size 12 to 36 inches tall, 12 to 24 inches wide
Rock Rose (Cistus spp and hybrids)
Each rock rose flower lasts only one day, but many buds cover the plant for up to three weeks in summer. The flowers of different rock roses range from 2 to 4 inches; Many have small dark spots on each petal. Plant in late spring and summer and add a layer to the planting hole to create sharp drainage.
Type Perennial Flowers White to deep pink flowers in summer Light Full sun Soil Gravel, sharply drained Size 2 to 6 feet tall and wide Hardiness Cold-hardy USDA zones 8 to 10
Jerusalem Sage (Philomys fruticosa)
If you remove the faded flowers of the Jerusalem sage, you may be gifted with repeat blooms in the fall. Even if the plant doesn't bloom again, the soft, fuzzy foliage is beautiful on its own.
Type perennial flowers yellow or white flowers in summer light full sunlight shade soil thin, very well drained; Tolerates heavy or clay soils, size 2 to 6 feet tall, 2 to 5 feet wide, hardy USDA zones 7 to 11
Alpine sea holly (Erychium albinum)
Although this prickly plant is easy to grow and tolerates many soils and conditions, there is one caveat: it does not live long. Sea holly usually only grows for three to four years. Fortunately, it self-seeds around the garden, so you may find it sprouting in many unexpected places. Dig up the seedlings and replant them in the spring.
Type Perennial Flowers summer to fall Silver-blue flowers Light Full sun Soil Well-drained Size 24 to 36 inches tall, 18 to 24 inches wide.
Special Garden Tips 👇
Cushion spurge (Euphorbia polychroma)
Cushion spurge attracts attention with its attractive mounding habit, especially in spring when it is covered in bright-golden patches. But as it takes on a red cast, it also shows up in autumn. Grow in full sun for the best color. Sometimes the plants die off in late summer. To prevent this, cut the plant back to a height of 4 or 5 inches after flowering. Be sure to wear gloves when you do this, as many people are allergic to white sap.
The type perennial flowers in late spring to summer with bright yellow pods up to 16 inches in size. Height 24 inches. Broad soil Well-drained soil Light Full sun to light shade Hardiness USDA 4 to 8 Cold hardy
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