The curbside area can have very different conditions from the rest of your yard. It may have dry, compacted soil or excessive shade. It could be full of rocks and gravel or it might be the low spot where water drains from the lawn. Whatever the conditions, there are some good-looking plants that will thrive there. Here are some lists of ground covers, shrubs, annuals and perennials that will feel right at home in any curbside garden situation.
Salt-tolerant ground covers
| Plant name | Botanical name | Cold Zones |
|---|---|---|
| Bearberry | Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | 2 to 8 |
| Bell heather | Erica cinerea | 6 to 8 |
| Blue fescue | Festuca glauca | 4 to 7 |
| Candytuft | Iberis sempervirens | 5 to 9 |
| Cinquefoil | Potentilla fruticosa | 3 to 7 |
| Creeping fig | Ficus pumila | 9 to 11 |
| Flame vine | Senecio confusus | 3 to 7 |
| Kalanchoe | Kalanchoe eriophylla | Treat as annual |
| Mondo grass | Ophiopogon japonicus | 6 to 11 |
| Virginia creeper | Parthenocissus quinquefolia | 4 to 9 |
Check out our Flower & Plant guide
Salt-tolerant shrubs
| Plant name | Botanical name | Cold Zones |
|---|---|---|
| Cranberry bush | Viburnum trilobum | 2 to 7 |
| Firethorn | Pyracantha spp. | 6 to 9 |
| Forsythia | Forsythia x intermedia | 6 to 9 |
| Honeysuckle | Lonicera spp. | 4 to 9 |
| Juniper | Juniperus spp. | 3 to 9 |
| Lilac | Syringa spp. | 3 to 8 |
| Mockorange | Philadelphus spp. | 5 to 8 |
| Small-leaved boxwood | Buxus microphylla | 6 to 9 |
| Snowberry | Symphoricarpos spp. | 2 to 6 |
| Tartarian maple | Acer tartaricum | 3 to 7 |
Annuals for hot, dry areas
| Plant name | Botanical name |
|---|---|
| Cockscomb | Celosia argentea cristata |
| Globe amaranth | Gomphrena globosa |
| Morning glory | Ipomoea tricolor |
| Moss rose | Portulaca grandiflora |
| Spider flower | Cleome hassleriana |
3 quick and easy steps for planting your best annuals
Salt-tolerant perennials
| Plant name | Botanical name | Cold Zones |
|---|---|---|
| Coral bells | Heuchera spp. | 3 to 8 |
| Feather reed grass | Calamagrostis acutiflora | 5 to 9 |
| Fountain grass | Pennisetum alopecuroides | 5 to 9 |
| Hosta | Hosta spp. | 4 to 9 |
| Lilyturf | Liriope spicata | 6 to 11 |
| Sea lavender | Limonium latifolium | 4 to 9 |
| Sea thrift | Armeria maritima | 3 to 9 |
| Silvermound artemisia | Artemisia schmidtiana | 5 to 8 |
| Stonecrop | Sedum spectabile | 4 to 9 |
See our 12 favorite hosta varieties
Perennials for hot, dry areas
| Plant name | Botanical name | Cold Zones |
|---|---|---|
| Blue fescue | Festuca spp. | 4 to 8 |
| Daylily | Hemerocallis spp. | 3 to 11 |
| English lavender | Lavandula angustifolia | 5 to 8 |
| Evening primrose | Oenothera macrocarpa | 5 to 8 |
| Feverfew | Tanacetum parthenium | 4 to 9 |
| Lavender cotton | Santolina chamaecyparissus | 6 to 9 |
| Madagascar periwinkle | Catharanthus roseus | 9 to 11 |
| Roman chamomile | Chamaemelum nobile | 6 to 9 |
| Serbian bellflower | Campanula poscharskyana | 4 to 7 |
| Wormwood | Artemesia spp. | 4 to 8 |
Check out this beautiful drought-tolerant garden bed plan
