Drought-Tolerant Plants

Spikes, clusters and plumes like the ones here — you can find hot-colored celosia in a variety of flower shapes. If you want more side branches, pinch the growing tips off young plants before they begin flowering in summer. They don’t need any trimming or deadheading otherwise.

Type Annual Blooms Red, yellow and magenta from summer to frost Light Full sun Soil Well-drained Size 10 to 36 in. tall, 8 to 24 in. wide

Along a sunny sidewalk or driveway or at the top of a retaining wall are great locations for artemisia, where it can enjoy reflected heat and good drainage. Leave the dead tops in place to protect the crowns over winter, and cut them back only when you start to see new growth in the spring.

Type Perennial Blooms Feathery silver foliage all summer Light Full sun Soil Well-drained Size 8 to 60 in. tall, 10 to 36 in. wide Hardiness Cold hardy USDA zones 3 to 10

Low maintenance, deer resistant, a butterfly magnet and drought-tolerant — this plant has it all! Deadheading will keep flowers coming until fall, but be patient if it doesn’t take off right away. Butterfly weed takes a year or two to get established, and if you need to move it, take care not to disturb its long taproot too much.

Type Perennial Blooms Clusters of orange and yellow flowers in summer Light Full sun Soil Well-drained Size 12 to 36 in. tall, 12 to 24 in. wide Hardiness Cold hardy USDA zones 3 to 9

If you deadhead Jerusalem sage’s faded flowers, you may be rewarded with a sporadic repeat bloom in fall. Even if the plant doesn’t flower again, the soft, fuzzy foliage looks handsome on its own.

Type Perennial Blooms Yellow or white flowers in summer Light Full sun to light shade Soil Lean, very well-drained; tolerates heavy or clay, too Size 2 to 6 ft. tall, 2 to 5 ft. wide Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 7 to 11

With its attractive mounding habit, cushion spurge grabs atrracts attention, especially in spring when it’s covered with bright-gold bracts. But it’s also showy in fall, as it takes on a red cast. Grow it in full sun for the best color. Sometimes plants will flop in late summer. To prevent this, cut the plant back to 4 or 5 inches high after blooming. Be sure to wear gloves when you do this, as many people are allergic to the white sap.

Type Perennial Blooms Bright yellow bracts in late spring to summer Size 16 in. tall by 24 in. wide Soil Well-drained soil Light Full sun to light shade Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA 4 to 8

Bright and showy, gazanias prefer dry, hot conditions. In humid parts of the country, they can crash in midsummer. If that’s the case for you, grow gazanias as cool-weather annuals and replace them for the summer.

Type Tender perennial Blooms Multicolored, daisylike flowers in summer Light Full sun Soil Well-drained Size 8 to 12 in. tall, 6 to 10 in. wide Hardiness Cold hardy USDA zones 10 to 11

Once new lantana plants are established, they’re quite drought-tolerant. But until then, make sure to keep the young plants moist so their roots can anchor them deep into the soil. And for many, pinching the stems back a few times before the flowers bloom will make the plants denser with more blossoms. Lantanas grow in any soil that drains quickly.This plant is so tough it’ll even tolerate salty sea breezes.

Type Tender perennial (usually grown as an annual) Blooms Yellow, orange, red, purple and white blooms as well as bicolors summer through frost Size 1 to 4 ft. tall, 1 to 3 ft. wide Light Full sun Hardiness Cold hardy in USDA zones 9 to 11

Each rock rose flower lasts just one day, but so many buds cover the plant that it can bloom for up to three weeks in summer. Flowers of different rock roses range from 2 to 4 in. across; many have a small dark blotch on each petal. Plant in late spring to summer and to create sharp drainage, add a layer of grit to the planting hole.

Type Perennial Blooms White to dark pink flowers in summer Light Full sun Soil Gravelly, sharply drained Size 2 to 6 ft. tall and wide Hardiness Cold hardy USDA zones 8 to 10

Though this prickly plant is easy to grow and tolerant of many soils and conditions, there’s one hitch: It doesn’t live long. Sea holly usually grows for only three to four years. Luckily, it self-seeds around the garden, so you’ll find it sprouting in lots of unexpected places. Simply dig and replant the seedlings in spring.

Type Perennial Blooms Silver-blue flowers from summer to fall Light Full sun Soil Well-drained Size 24 to 36 in. tall, 18 to 24 in. wide Hardiness Cold hardy USDA zones 5 to 9