With water bills rising and summer heat getting more intense, it’s more important than ever to grow drought-tolerant plants. The good news? You don’t have to sacrifice a lush, colorful yard. These low-maintenance plants, once established, thrive with minimal watering—making them perfect for hot climates and anyone looking to cut down on outdoor costs.
Russian Sage
This shrubby plant has an upright growth habit, with silvery foliage and purple, spike-like blooms. Russian sage thrives in full sun and should be planted in a dry area with well-draining soil.
Plants that receive too much shade or water tend to flop over instead of growing upright. Once branches flop, they won’t recover their shape and should be pruned back. If your plant becomes floppy from excess water—usually causing it to collapse from the center—or from too much shade, which makes it lean toward the light, cut it back in the fall or late winter to help maintain its shape.
Sedum
Also called stonecrop, sedums come in two main types: upright varieties and low-growing ground covers. Sedums thrive in full sun, though some varieties can tolerate part shade. Plant them in loose, sandy soil with excellent drainage.
Because of their succulent-like leaves, sedums rarely need supplemental watering except during extended droughts. Overwatering or poorly draining soil can lead to root rot and weak growth.
Beardtongue
It may be surprising, but this showy perennial is highly drought tolerant once established. Part of the Penstemon family, beardtongue features green foliage and tall stems topped with tubular flowers in a wide range of colors. The nectar-rich blooms attract hummingbirds and other pollinators.
Plant beardtongue in well-draining soil, especially soil that is rocky or sandy. During periods of extreme drought, the plants may benefit from occasional watering to help keep the blooms hardy.
Rosemary
There are so many reasons to grow rosemary! Its beautiful upright or cascading growth habit is covered in dark green, waxy leaves that smell amazing. It also produces purple blooms that attract bees and other pollinators, and of course, it’s a delicious kitchen herb.
Rosemary thrives in full sun and well-draining soil, and once established, it needs only infrequent watering.
Coneflower
Also called echinacea, coneflowers include several native North American varieties that provide nectar for pollinators in the summer and seeds for birds in the fall and winter. They’re known for their drooping petals and large, cone-shaped centers.
Coneflowers thrive in full sun and can tolerate poor soil conditions. Thanks to their deep taproots, they become highly drought tolerant once established.
Catmint
This long-blooming perennial comes in many spectacular varieties. The most common types feature silvery-green leaves with purple-blue flowers that grow in spikes, though some varieties produce dusty pink or bright pink blooms.
Catmint thrives in full sun and poor, well-draining soil, and once established, it typically only needs watering during extended droughts. Its fragrant foliage helps deter deer and rabbits, while the blooms attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Yarrow
Yarrow is a tough, long-blooming perennial that thrives in hot, dry conditions. Known for its clusters of tiny flowers and feathery, fern-like foliage, yarrow blooms come in a range of colors including yellow, white, pink, red, and peach. The blooms attract bees and butterflies throughout the summer.
Yarrow grows best in full sun and well-draining soil; it performs better in poor soil versus overly rich conditions. Thanks to its deep root system, it becomes highly drought tolerant once established and usually only needs supplemental watering during extended dry spells.
Fig Tree
Fig trees are drought tolerant once established, making them great for low-water gardens and warm climates. They are fast-growing trees that have large tropical-looking leaves and produce amazing fruit. Many varieties are self-pollinating and can be grown in large containers.
Fig trees thrive in full sun and well-draining soil. While young trees need regular watering to establish strong roots, mature fig trees can tolerate long periods of dry weather and only need to be watered during extreme heat or prolonged drought. Too much water can lead to excessive leaf growth and less fruit.
