Drought Tolerant Plants

Drought tolerance "is the ability to which a plant maintains its biomass production during arid or drought conditions". Some plants that tolerate drought have adapted to the surroundings over hundreds of years growing in the wild. Typically those are called native plants.

Other plants have been specifically bred to be able to tolerate drought more than other plants. But as resources become harder to come by, including water, it makes more and more sense to use plants that use less water. Those plants are typically easier to care for, cheaper to care for, and better for the environment.

Drought Tolerant Plants 301 to 360 of 1593 total

  • Little Devil Ninebark on the Front Yard

    (4)

    Growing Zones: 3 to 8

    First Editions Plants

    Little Devil Ninebark

    $60.49 - $72.49
  • Kodiak Fresh™ Diervilla in the garden
    Growing Zones: 3 to 7

    Proven Winners

    Kodiak® Fresh™ Diervilla

    $31.99 - $78.99
  • Kashmir Rose Flower Petal Close Up

    (2)

    Growing Zones: 4 to 8

    Easy Elegance Roses

    Kashmir Rose

    $58.99
  • Sombrero® Rosada Coneflower flower close up

    (2)

    Growing Zones: 4 to 9

    Proven Winners

    Sombrero® Rosada Coneflower

    $29.99 - $41.49
  • Graceful Grasses® Ogon Golden Variegated Sweet Flag
    Growing Zones: 5 to 11

    Proven Winners

    Graceful Grasses® Ogon Golden Variegated Sweet Flag

    $29.99
  • True Native Plant
    Short Toothed Mountain Mint Plant Flowering

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 3 to 9

    American Beauties Native Plants

    Short Toothed Mountain Mint

    $38.49
  • Russian Cypress Growing in the Landscaping
    Growing Zones: 2 to 8

    Russian Cypress

    $62.49 - $78.99
  • Uptick Red Tickseed Flower Close Up

    (3)

    Growing Zones: 4 to 9

    Proven Winners

    Uptick Red Tickseed

    $29.99 - $39.99
  • Healthy Chameleon Little Bluestem Grass

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 3 to 9

    Plants That Work

    Chameleon Little Bluestem Grass

    $39.49
  • White Heath Aster Flowering

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 3 to 8

    American Beauties Native Plants

    White Heath Aster

    $39.49
  • True Native Plant
    Wild Bergamot Flowers Blooming
    Growing Zones: 3 to 8

    Wild Bergamot

    $39.49 - $49.99
  • Wedding Party® Wedding Crasher Lenten Rose flower

    (2)

    Growing Zones: 4 to 9

    Proven Winners

    Wedding Party® Wedding Crasher Lenten Rose

    $29.99
  • Evening Sun Evening Primrose flowers

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 5 to 9

    Evening Sun Evening Primrose

    $30.99 - $39.99
  • Viettes Little Suzie Rudbeckia Blooms

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 4 to 8

    Viettes Little Suzie Rudbeckia

    $35.49 - $49.99
  • True Native Plant
    Golden Ragwort Flowers

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 3 to 8

    American Beauties Native Plants

    Golden Ragwort

    $39.49
  • Blazeaway Heather Flower Close Up

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 4 to 8

    Blazeaway Heather

    $43.49
  • Cunningham's White Rhododendron 3 Gallon Nursery Pot
    Growing Zones: 5 to 8

    Cunningham's White Rhododendron

    $60.49 - $79.99
  • June Hosta Growing in the Sunlight
    Growing Zones: 3 to 8

    June Hosta

    $32.49 - $35.49
  • Deutschland Astilbe Blooming

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 4 to 8

    Deutschland Astilbe

    $35.49 - $48.49
  • Dorothy Wycoff Pieris Blooms Close Up

    (5)

    Growing Zones: 5 to 8

    Dorothy Wycoff Pieris

    $62.49 - $78.99
  • Bowles Periwinkle in Pot
    Growing Zones: 4 to 8

    Bowles Periwinkle

    $36.49
  • Winter Fiesta Wintergreen Foliage and Fruit Close Up
    Growing Zones: 4 to 8

    Winter Fiesta Wintergreen

    $47.49
  • Shenandoah Switch Grass on the Ground

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 4 to 8

    Shenandoah Switch Grass

    $40.49 - $53.99
  • Blue Moon Woodland Phlox Covered in Blooms
    Growing Zones: 4 to 8

    American Beauties Native Plants

    Blue Moon Woodland Phlox

    $38.49
  • La Vida Mas™ Indian Hawthorn flowering

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 8 to 10

    Proven Winners

    La Vida Mas™ Indian Hawthorn

    $31.99
  • Ruby Ribbons™ Switch Grass Covered in Leaves

    (2)

    Growing Zones: 4 to 8

    Ruby Ribbons™ Switch Grass

    $40.49 - $48.49
  • Girard's Fuchsia Azalea Flower Close Up

    (2)

    Growing Zones: 6 to 9

    Girard's Fuchsia Azalea

    $55.99 - $73.99
  • Pristine Blue Beardtongue Blooming

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 5 to 9

    Pristine Blue Beardtongue

    $36.49
  • Ice Dance Variegated Japanese Sedge Grass Growing in the Garden

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 5 to 8

    Ice Dance Variegated Japanese Sedge Grass

    $38.49
  • European Snowball Viburnum Blooming

    (4)

    Growing Zones: 3 to 8

    European Snowball Viburnum

    $73.99
  • Soft Touch White Pine Bush

    (2)

    Growing Zones: 3 to 8

    Soft Touch White Pine

    $69.49 - $91.49
  • Sunday Gloves Daylily Flower Petal Close Up
    Growing Zones: 3 to 8

    Sunday Gloves Daylily

    $35.99
  • Coral Beauty Cotoneaster Stem with Foliage and Fruit
    Growing Zones: 5 to 8

    Coral Beauty Cotoneaster

    $73.99
  • Rheinland Astilbe Flowering

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 3 to 8

    Rheinland Astilbe

    $35.49 - $49.99
  • Silver Gem Violet Blooming

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 5 to 8

    Silver Gem Violet

    $36.49
  • Young New Age White Lilac Shrub Flowering

    (2)

    Growing Zones: 4 to 7

    Bloomables

    New Age White Lilac

    $65.49 - $75.99
  • Pink Flower Carpet Rose Flower Close Up
    Growing Zones: 5 to 8

    Flower Carpet Roses

    Pink Flower Carpet Rose

    $58.99
  • Rare Plant
    Blue Gold Blueberry Berries Close Up
    Growing Zones: 4 to 8

    Blue Gold Blueberry

    $78.99
  • Blueray Blueberry in Garden Planter

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 4 to 8

    Blueray Blueberry

    $59.99 - $73.99
  • Elegans Hosta Growing in the Shade

    (2)

    Growing Zones: 5 to 8

    Elegans Hosta

    $35.49 - $49.99
  • Moonrock™ Hydrangea Flowers and Leaves
    Growing Zones: 3 to 8

    Bloomin Easy

    Moonrock™ Hydrangea

    $69.99 - $73.99
  • On Sale
    Winterthur Witherod Viburnum Shrub

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 5 to 8

    American Beauties Native Plants

    Winterthur Witherod Viburnum

    $81.59
  • Chionoides Rhododendron Flower Close Up

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 5 to 8

    Chionoides Rhododendron

    $60.99 - $80.49
  • Prairie Glow Brown-Eyed Susan Covered in Blooms
    Growing Zones: 3 to 10

    American Beauties Native Plants

    Prairie Glow Brown-Eyed Susan

    $49.99
  • Whirlwind Windflower Flower Petal Close Up

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 6 to 9

    Whirlwind Japanese Anemone

    $40.49
  • Lucky Charm Windflower Close Up Flowers
    Growing Zones: 5 to 9

    Lucky Charm Windflower

    $41.49
  • True Native Plant
    Northern Bayberry Covered in Foliage and Fruit

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 3 to 8

    Northern Bayberry

    $60.49 - $73.99
  • Heavy Metal Blue Switch Grass in the Garden

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 4 to 8

    Heavy Metal Blue Switch Grass

    $38.49 - $63.49
  • Petite Knock Out Minature Rose

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 5 to 10

    Knock Out Roses

    Petite Knock Out® Miniature Rose

    $31.49 - $98.49
  • Cavatine Dwarf Pieris Blooms & Leaves

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 5 to 8

    Cavatine Dwarf Pieris

    $74.99 - $80.49
  • Prairie Blues Little Bluestem Grass Growing in the Sunlight

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 4 to 8

    Prairie Blues Little Bluestem Grass

    $39.49 - $53.99
  • Dwarf Tufted Hair Grass Foliage Growing in the Sunlight
    Growing Zones: 2 to 8

    American Beauties Native Plants

    Dwarf Tufted Hair Grass

    $40.49
  • Rainbow Fizz™ Spirea Shrub

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 3 to 8

    Bloomin Easy

    Rainbow Fizz™ Spirea

    $59.99 - $73.99
  • Li'l Bang™ Starlight Tickseed Flowering
    Growing Zones: 5 to 9

    Li'l Bang™ Starlight Tickseed

    $35.49 - $49.99
  • Color Spires Pink Dawn Salvia Blooming in Landscape

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 3 to 8

    Proven Winners

    Color Spires® Pink Dawn Salvia

    $29.99 - $41.49
  • True Native Plant
    Healthy Sweet Goldenrod Plants

    (1)

    Growing Zones: 4 to 8

    Sweet Goldenrod

    $49.99
  • True Native Plant
    Native Bowman's Root Flower Close Up
    Growing Zones: 4 to 8

    American Beauties Native Plants

    Native Bowman's Root

    $39.49
  • Blue Ice Amsonia Flowers and Leaves
    Growing Zones: 4 to 8

    Blue Ice Amsonia

    $38.49
  • Funky Fuchsia Butterfly Bush Shrubs Flowering

    (2)

    Growing Zones: 5 to 9

    First Editions Plants

    Funky Fuchsia™ Butterfly Bush

    $73.99
  • Sombrero® Blanco Coneflower Plant Blooming

    (3)

    Growing Zones: 4 to 9

    Proven Selections

    Sombrero® Blanco Coneflower

    $29.99 - $41.49
Drought Tolerant Plants 301 to 360 of 1593 total

Water-Wise Gardening Tips

Let’s review a few tips for water-wise landscaping that help homeowners living through dry conditions, through a drought or just gardeners who want to cut back on their water usage.

Use a rainwater harvesting system. If you live in a climate zone that’s warm enough to leave rain barrels out all winter or have underground cisterns, your system has been efficiently gathering water all winter. In other climates, rain barrels can freeze in winter.

Update your irrigation system to drip irrigation. This low-volume method is the most practical and water-efficient way to hydrate ornamentals. When you use spray heads, water evaporates into the air. It also hits leaves and nearby plants. The spray can cause leaf disease in some plants, plus it’s more efficient to soak roots deeply than to water the entire plant.

Review the volume of water going to each plant. As you plan your irrigation, or check out your current system, make sure to adjust the water amount for the plants wherever necessary. For example, succulents and many xeric plants need no water at all once established, unless you’re in an extreme drought. Too much water can actually harm some xeric plants. Use drips at the base of low- and medium-water flowers and groundcovers. Increase the flow rate for larger shrubs and trees, and add a few extra emitters around trees, especially while they’re becoming established. Remember that tree roots grow out, just like the canopy.

Water in the morning. This helps get your plants through the heat of the day, and when less evaporation occurs.

Use raised beds. Raised beds and containers concentrate water, so if you want a few herbs or vegetables or some medium to high water ornamentals, confine them to an area that takes a little more water than the others. If you place the raised bed near your drip system, you can add it to the mix and adjust the flow on your emitter if necessary. Just remember, some containers, such as clay pots, dry out more quickly, even though they use less water each time. It’s like having a smaller tank on a fuel-efficient car. It’s not necessarily using more gas, just needing more frequent refilling.

Build a small well around new plants to hold water. This helps the plant soak up the irrigation and keeps water from running down and off the plant, wasting your precious resource. This can be simply done by adding rocks or other material to block the water from running away.

well-around-tree-to-help-retain-rainwater.jpg

This well helps hold water until this small tree is established, especially since it’s on a slope.

Use mulch when possible. This helps retain moisture around the plants and keep roots cool during the heat of the summer.

Override irrigation schedules after rainstorms. Finally, automatic irrigation is most efficient, and the consistent, timed watering is best for plants and lawns. But override it whenever you can after a good rain. 

Note: Much of this information about drought tolerant plants, waterwise gardening, xeriscaping, xeric plants, waterwise botanical & low water plants was written by our friend, partner and expert gardener Teresa Odle. She created the blog Gardening in a Drought, which we have moved over to our website. 

Drought Tolerant Plants

Drought tolerant plants are the perfect choice for gardeners looking to create a beautiful, low-maintenance landscape that thrives with less water. These hardy selections are not only tough in dry conditions but also come in a wide range of colors, textures, and sizes to suit any garden style. Whether you're in a hot, arid climate or simply want to conserve water, these plants make it easy to grow a stunning and sustainable garden.

Which Drought-Tolerant Plants Are Right for You?

Not sure where to start? Here’s a quick guide:

    Hot, Sunny Spots: Go for Russian Sage, Agastache, or Yarrow—these thrive under intense sun and dry soil.

    Low-Water Containers: Sedum, Lavender, and Rosemary hold up beautifully in pots with minimal watering.

    Pollinator Magnets: Coneflowers, Coreopsis, and Bee Balm not only beat the heat but also bring in bees and butterflies.

    Cold-Hardy Picks: Look to Catmint and Blanket Flower—both handle drought and cooler zones with ease.

Drought Tolerant Plants FAQs?

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Watch: The Best Drought Tolerant Plants For Gardens Across The USA