Best Drought Tolerant Plants

The glass is never half empty with these plants that thrive when water runs out! Though we might fade in the summer heat, our garden doesn’t have to. In fact, many perennials, annuals, wildflowers, and herbs thrive in dry conditions. While we save on the water bill, they flourish in the heat and keep our gardens like a backyard oasis where we can enjoy the summer weather. Here are a few of the best!

‍Daylillies display a profusion of fresh blooms that open and close daily. You’ll find this ever-popular perennial in a wide range of colors.

Sedum is not the showiest, but certainly one the most beautiful flowers in the garden. This dry, heat-loving plant has thick, succulent leaves and star-shaped flowers. You can grow it as a ground cover to help keep precious moisture in the soil.

‍Salvia is one plant that won’t melt in the summer heat. It has small velvety leaves topped with spikes of colorful blooms that are popular with bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Salvia is a tough summer bloomer. There are both perennial and annual varieties of Salvia, so make sure to grab Salvia from our Perennial section.

‍WildflowersBee Balm, also known as wild bergamot or wild oregano, has edible leaves that smell and taste like the bergamot added to Earl Grey tea. True to its name, the beautiful pink or orange blossoms attract bees to your garden.

Purple Coneflower, also known as Echinacea, is another fragrant native flower that loves the heat. You can dry its vivid pink and purple blossoms for a soothing tea. But before you do, this flower will dazzle your senses throughout the summer months.

‍Yarrow is another pollinator favorite. The long-lasting clusters of flowers are perfect landing pads for butterflies. The rich fragrance and silver-green stems will inspire you to fall in love with dry conditions. They come in a brilliant range of colors.

‍Herbs

Sage is the classic drought-resistant herb. Many breeds come from the rocky, sun-baked slopes of the Mediterranean. You can harvest sprigs throughout the growing season or just let them impress you with their spikes of blue or purple flowers.

Rosemary can withstand drought for long periods of time. As you worry about your water-loving plants, rosemary will keep offering its rich scent, tasty leaves, and sky-blue or pink blossoms.

‍Lavender has one of the most unique scents and flavors. You can harvest it for tea, cooking, or potpourri. It’s characteristic purple blossoms are so well-known that they have come to be a color of its own, often used to describe other flowers.

Hyssop is another dry-loving option if you like the flower towers of sage or lavender but wish to experiment with a different flavor. It has been used since ancient times in teas, medicine, and cooking.

‍AnnualsGlobe Amaranth displays rounded pink flowers from June into October. It’s thick green stems grow 6 to 12 inches high and flourish in the summer heat.

Lantanas thrive in dry weather and poor soil, displaying multicolored clusters of yellow, peach, pink, white, and orange blossoms. This tropical member of the verbena family lights up your garden like lanterns, even in times of drought.

‍Purslane is a stunning annual summer bloomer. It has succulent leaves and vibrant red, orange, and yellow flowers that close at night and open each morning.

‍Grasses Grasses are some of the most drought-resistant plants around. In fact, they’ve evolved for the hot, dry, and unpredictable climates of the plains. Their deep roots stay alive in times of drought even as their leaves and blades above the surface turn golden or bronze. They always add unique texture and style to your landscape.

‍Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass is tough, easy to grow, and features beautiful feathery seed heads above wide dark green sword shaped leaves. Karl Foerster grows in a tidy column, and spreads slowly from rhizomes, so you don’t have to worry about it dropping seed. It can get up to 6 feet tall.

‍Switchgrass is another tough rhizomatous grass. It can grow almost anywhere. Switchgrass features light and delicate seed heads that dance in the wind above an upright column of leaves. There are many varieties available, from 18 inches tall all the way up to 8 feet tall.

Fountain Grass grows into a round mound shape, and its cascades of leaves often resemble a fountain. Different varieties range in height from 12 inches to 3 feet. There are also a variety of colors available. Fountain grass usually blooms earlier than other grasses, it is also adaptable and low maintenance.Even when the weather turns dry, your garden can remain lush.

If you need more recommendations or wish to explore our selections, feel free to drop by one of our garden centers in Northwest Arkansas!