Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
Whether you hold out in a juiceless climate or simply need to save on your weewee bill , using drought - tolerant plants in your landscape painting is one of the best ways to conserve urine . With mood alteration causing recollective and more severe ironical spells , some urban center have issued water restrictions and are even requiring the use of waterwise plant .
Drought - tolerant landscape gardening is a viable and attractive alternative to athirst green lawns . Drought - resistant plants reduce maintenance while using fewer resources . Here ’s a list of some tried - and - on-key varieties to get you started :
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DROUGHT-TOLERANT PLANTS
Sapphire Mist aster . pic : Proven Winners .
1. ASTER (Symphyotrichumspp.)
Zones:3 - 8Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeBloom time : summertime to fallHeight / Spread : upright piano spreading wont ; 1 to 6 foot tall , 1 to 4 feet wideUses : With many metal money aboriginal to North America , aster can be naturalise in a meadow or planted in a assorted molding to attract bee , butterflies and other pollinator .
This late - time of year bloomer bring about daisy - like flowers in hues of purple , blue , white or pink . Though aster prefer fertile well - run out soil , these problematic flowering plants can permit a wide reach of uprise condition .
check asters .
' Midnight Masquerade ' beardtongue . pic : Proven Winners .
2. BEARDTONGUE (Penstemonspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sunBloom time : Spring to early summertime ; some will rebloom with deadheadingHeight / Spread : broken mounding or unsloped wont ; 6 to 96 inches tall , 8 to 20 inches wideUses : habituate low growers in a rock garden or curbside planting , while taller varieties can be grow in a cottage - style border or meadow setting .
A divers chemical group of North American natives , clusters of nectar - fertile cannular efflorescence appeal butterfly , bee , and hummingbird . Flowers fall out in a encompassing range of colors .
Learn beardtongue .
Black - Eyed Susan . exposure : darkmoon1968 / Pixabay .
3. BLACK-EYED SUSAN (Rudbeckiaspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sunBloom metre : summertime to former fallHeight / Spread : just habit ; 1 to 4 feet tall , 1 to 2 feet wideUses : bestow to a waterwise border , bungalow - vogue garden or naturalize in a hayfield scene .
This common drought - tolerant perennial is raise for its recollective blossom daisy - like flowers in fertile feel of Au , bronze and brown . The uncouth - haired , green foliage is disgusting to deer , making this a good deer - resistant pick .
Learn mordant - eyed Susan .
Arizona Apricot mantle flower . Photo : Proven Winners .
4. BLANKET FLOWER (Gaillardiaspp.)
Zones:3 - 10Exposure : Full sunBloom time : summertime to fallHeight / Spread : thickset mounding riding habit ; 1 to 3 feet magniloquent , 1 to 2 foot wideUses : Plant in a curbside strip , along a slope , or in a rock garden .
Colorful flowers occur in bright hue of red , orange , coral , and yellow . This short - lived recurrent ( ordinarily grown as an annual ) is native to western U.S. prairies , dry meadows , and grassland . Blanket flower expand in teetotal sunny conditions and lean stain . flower attract bees and other pollinators , while seed brain are a source of food for thought for songbirds and other wildlife .
Learn blanket peak .
' Blue Whiskers ' blue fescue . Photo : Proven Winners .
5. BLUE FESCUE (Festuca glauca)
Zones:4 - 8Exposure : Full sunBloom time : belated spring to summerHeight / Spread : Clumping use ; 10 to 12 column inch tall , 24 to 28 inches wideUses : impart color and textural contrast in the landscape or when combined with summertime bloomers such as salvias , coneflower , or elephantine Hyssopus officinalis . The compact size is suitable for containers and minor spaces .
Many ornamental green goddess are drouth - tolerant , requiring little supplementary water once established . spicy fescue provide multi - seasonal interest , with evergreen plant leaf and elegant wheat berry - colored seed heads that hold on all summer long .
Photo : Janet Loughrey .
6. BUGLEWEED (Ajuga reptans)
Zones:3 - 10Exposure : Sun to shadeBloom time : Mid to late springHeight / Spread : Low lustrelessness - forming habit ; 6 to 9 inches tall , 6 to 12 inches wideUses : employ around trees and shrubs or for erosion control along a slope .
This tough mat - form groundcover is a good solution for difficult areas such as dry shade . plant life have attractive pink , blue or purple blossom with light-green , purple , atomic number 79 or variegated foliation . Bugleweed plants grow in a broad range of conditions and can become a rearing spreader , but is better controlled by planting in challenge sites and withholding tax water .
Learn bugleweed .
' Cat ’s Pajamas ' catmint . Photo : Proven Winners .
7. CATMINT (Nepetaspp.)
Zones:3 - 8Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeBloom time : later spring to fallHeight / Spread : vertical spreading riding habit ; 2 to 3 feet tall and wideUses : Combine with other drought - patient of perennials such as cosmetic grasses , yarrow , salvia and lamb ’s auricle .
Exceptionally long - blooming flush spike go on in cool shades of blue , clean or pink . This true perennial is low sustainment and tolerant of different grunge condition .
Learn catmint .
Cransebill geranium . Photo : Janet Loughrey .
8. CRANESBILL GERANIUM (Geraniumspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeBloom time : natural spring to fallHeight / Spread : Upright or low-spirited unfold habit ; 6 to 24 inches tall , 6 to 36 inches wideUses : utilise these various plants for erosion restraint along a slope , as tract edging , in curbside strips , rock gardens or mixed borders .
Not to be bedevil with annualPelargonium , cranesbill geraniums comprise a tumid group of long - be perennials that are hardy in most regions . Ranging from lowly primer - hug forms to tall upright varieties , cranesbill geranium are broad of difficult growing condition such as drouth and pathetic grease .
study crane’s bill geranium .
biddy and chicks . exposure : Janet Loughrey .
9. HEN AND CHICKS (Sempervivum tectorum)
Zones:3 - 8Exposure : Full sunBloom metre : SummerHeight / Spread : depressed spreading habit ; 1 to 2 human foot wide , little potato grow 2 to 4 inches tall and flower spikes can reack 12 inches tall . Uses : furnish dear drain and plant in scissure along a stone paries , in a hypertufa or stone container , rock garden , or use as pathway edge .
Hen and chicks produce mat - forming clumps of rose window with heavy leaves in shades of green , blue - unripe or ruby-red . These succulent are most upkeep - free and adapted to dry conditions and lean grunge . They also like a spot of good afternoon shade to front their respectable .
red-hot ® Golden Gate ™ lantana . picture : Proven Winners .
10. LANTANA (Lantana camara)
Zones:9 - 11 , grown as an yearly in colder regionsExposure : Full sunBloom time : Late spring through hoarfrost when grown as an yearly , nearly yr - round in frost - free regionsHeight / Spread:2 to 6 feet marvellous and 3 to 10 understructure tall when grown as a perennial shrub . When grow as an yearly , plant can contact 3 to 4 understructure improbable and 1 to 3 feet wide in a unmarried season . Uses : Plant in a container by itself or in combination with other flora . Place in a dry border , as a groundcover along a slope , or in a foundation planting in warm region where lantana is a perennial .
One of the undecomposed works for draw butterflies , the pollyannaish rainbow - imbue flush occur over an exceptionally long fourth dimension .
Learn lantana .
2020 Blue Ribbon Award Winners from Proven Winners
In low - water trials entertain at the University of California at Davis , these 3 plants were awarded naughty ribbons for " maintaining high monetary standard of aesthetical quality over the maturate season " when grown with greatly come down water usance .
gay Boulevard ® St. John ’s Wort
Juke Box ® Pyracomeles
Pugster Blue ® Butterfly Bush
Sweet Romance ® Lavender . Photo : Proven Winners .
11. LAVENDER (Lavandulaspp.)
Zones:5 - 9Exposure : Full sunBloom metre : SummerHeight / Spread : Mounding habit ; 1 to 3 feet tall , 1 to 5 feet wideUses : works along a gradient for erosion control , in a kitchen or herbaceous plant garden , in a curbside planting or dry mixed border .
Grown for its redolent flowers and foliage , this aboriginal of the Mediterranean region thrives in heat and dry conditions . Provide skillful drain to prevent root rot and shear spent flowers for rebloom .
Learn lavender .
Mojave ® Red purslane . Photo : Proven Winners .
12. PURSLANE (Portulacaspp.)
Zones:10 - 11 , commonly grown as an annualExposure : Full sunBloom time : Summer to frostHeight / Spread : Low , spreading or trailing habit ; 3 to 12 inches marvellous , 6 to 24 inch wideUses : Plant in a container or hanging hoop , rockery , curbside strip , or allow to cascade over a rock rampart .
pocket-size rose - similar flowers occur in a reach of vivid or pastel hues . This South American indigen is tolerant of heating , drouth , poor soil and neglect .
study purslane .
Fruit Punch ® ' Classic Coral ' pink . pic : Proven Winners .
13. PINKS (Dianthusspp.)
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeBloom clock time : Spring to early summer , with some rebloom in the fallHeight / Spread : Upright or low spreading habit ; 4 to 36 inches tall , 4 to 24 inches wideUses : Use as a ground cover along a gradient , in a rock’n’roll garden , curbside strip or as pathway edging .
aboriginal to alpine and bouldery regions , pinko are well adapted to naturally wry conditions . This bungalow garden staple is idolize for the frilly clove - sweet flowers that total in nearly every colour .
hear pinks .
Lakota ™ Fire coneflower . Photo : Proven Winners .
14. PURPLE CONEFLOWER (Echinacea purpurea)
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sunBloom fourth dimension : Mid - summertime to fallHeight / Spread : Upright unfold drug abuse ; 2 to 5 foundation marvellous , 1 - 1/2 to 2 foot wideUses : The foresighted blooming daisy - like bloom attract butterfly and insect pollinator , while the cum heading are a wintertime food source for songbirds .
Native to North American prairies , purple coneflower is heat and drouth tolerant , well-heeled to grow and most upkeep - costless .
instruct coneflower .
' Denim ' n Lace ' Russian sage . Photo : Proven Winners .
15. RUSSIAN SAGE (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Full sunBloom time : Mid to previous summerHeight / Spread : Upright shaggy riding habit ; 4 to 5 foot improbable , 3 groundwork wideUses : The stately efflorescence makes a argument in a teetotal border or curbside planting .
Russian salvia has dramatic spiky blue flowers that give the garden a beak - me - up late in the growing season . This tough Asian aboriginal thrives on red-hot , ironical conditions and neglect . Provide full sun and well - drain soil .
Learn Russian sage .
Rockin ' ® Fuchsia salvia . pic : Proven Winners .
16. SAGE / SALVIA (Salviaspp.)
Zones:5 - 9Exposure : Full sunBloom time : Spring to fallHeight / Spread : Upright shaggy-haired habit ; 1 to 4 foot tall , 1 to 3 foot wideUses : practice in a waterwise border , curbside planting , or containers .
This quite a little congener comprises a enceinte radical of plant with aromatic foliage and flowers in a range of forms and colors . These low - maintenance plants are a favorite of bee , butterflies , and hummingbird .
Learn salvia plants .
Euphorbia myrsinites . pic : Janet Loughrey .
17. SPURGE (Euphorbiaspp.)
Zones:4 - 11Exposure : Full sunBloom time : bounce to fall , depending on varietyHeight / Spread : upright piano or spread substance abuse ; 6 to 36 inch tall and wideUses : Provide good drain and industrial plant in a rockery , curbside striptease or dry molding .
One of the largest groups of plants , genus Euphorbia are grown for their panoptic range of exotic flower bracts , foliation , and architectural form . Native to dry regions across the globe , these succulents are heating plant and drought - broad , require little tutelage once established . invalidate contact with the white milky sap , which can cause skin irritation or severe oculus damage .
Learn spurge plants .
Rock ' N Low ™ ' Boogie Woogie ' stonecrop . Photo : Proven Winners .
18. STONECROP / SEDUM (Sedumspp.)
Zones:3 - 11Exposure : Full Lord’s Day to fond shadeBloom sentence : Summer to fallHeight / Spread : upright piano or low spreading drug abuse ; 2 to 36 inch marvelous , 12 to 24 inch wideUses : Use groundcover types as a living mulch to suppress weeds and help hold wet . erect forms can be grown in a waterwise border or curbside planting .
This drought - tolerant succulent comes in a huge array of size of it , shape and color . These virtually carefree plant prefer thin , well - drain soil and hot , dry atmospheric condition .
Learn stonecrop and sedum plants .
Proven Accents ® Silver Bullet ® wormwood . photograph : Janet Loughrey .
19. WORMWOOD (Artemisiaspp.)
Zones:3 - 10Exposure : Full sunBloom time : summertime to fallHeight / Spread : Upright or spreading habit ; 1 to 5 feeet marvelous , 1 to 12 groundwork wideUses : suited for red-hot and teetotal web site , use this herbaceous or shrubby plant as a textural element in a dry moulding or container .
grow for its aromatic silvery leaf and essential oils , this quickly - maturate herb is native to semiarid temperate regions of Eurasia and Africa . Can be encroaching in some areas .
' Firefly Sunshine ' milfoil . pic : Proven Winners .
20. YARROW (Achilleaspp.)
Zones:3 - 11Exposure : Full sunBloom time : SummerHeight / Spread : Upright spread habit ; 1 to 3 foundation tall , 2 to 3 foot wideUses : This versatile North American native is tolerant of heat , cold , humidness , inadequate soils and drouth . Long - blooming flower clusters in colors of yellow , white , pink , orange or red-faced are attractive to butterfly stroke and insect pollinators .
This versatile North American indigene is resistant of high temperature , cold , humidity , hapless soil and drouth . Long - blooming heyday bunch in colors of lily-livered , blank , pink , orange or carmine are attractive to butterflies and louse pollinator .
get wind yarrow plants .
DROUGHT-TOLERANT LANDSCAPING TIPS
See more onhow to create a drought - tolerant landscape painting .
NOTES ON DROUGHT-TOLERANT PLANTS FROM KEN DRUSE:
drouth - broad plants can be identified just by looking at them or impression or smell out their bruised foliation . Many fragrant herb , for case , are drought - tolerant . Plants that are native to gay parts of the creation , such as the Mediterranean , are obvious choices . Their foliage are often belittled , sometimes needlelike - those of lavender , for instance . Their leaves may be arranged in ringlet on magniloquent , slim stems so that each one gathers luminosity without shading the next one down on the shank . The leaves may have some moisture - conserve gimmick , such as pilus , a waxy coating , or powder . Some leaves are so reflective they front almost metal . Do n’t block , many spring electric light in reality favour teetotal sites in summer . These plant life become hibernating in summertime and storage water in their modify stem : the bulb .
