Drought Tolerant
Showing 1–24 of 40 results
These native trees, shrubs, annuals, and perennials don’t just survive but will thrive in our long, hot summers.
Agastache foeniculum
Agastache foeniculum, or Anise Hyssop, is a 2-3 foot perennial member of the mint family. Anise Hyssop’s leaves produce a strong anise or licorice scent when crushed, and its bluish-purplish flowers appear in July through September. The plant grows in … Continued
Allium cernuum
Allium cernuum, or Nodding Onion, is a 1-2 foot, attractive allium with white to pink nodding flowers on 2’ stalks. Nodding Onion thrives in full sun to part sun in moderately rich to stony soils from July to August. Plant … Continued
Andropogon gerardii
Andropogon gerardii, or Big Bluestem, is a tall, impressive, warm-season, clump grass. In spring, the grass appears blue-green, and, in summer, it turns green with red tinges. In late summer, the tall grass features a purplish, 3-spike inflorescence resembling a … Continued
Andropogon scoparium
Andropogon scoparium, or Little Bluestem, is a short warm season clump grass with a dense root system, growing best in average, dry soil and full sun. Once established, Little Bluestem has good drought resistance as it tolerates high heat and … Continued
Asclepias tuberosa
Asclepias tuberosa, or Butterfly Milkweed is a 1-2 foot dazzling member of the Milkweed family. Butterfly Milkweed leaves are lance-shaped, and its flowers are a brilliant orange. Preferring dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun, Butterfly Milkweed appears from … Continued
Asclepias verticillata
Asclepias verticillata, or White Milkweed, is a deep-rooted perennial with small greenish-white flowers blooming in small clusters between July to August. The late-blooming milkweed makes it a valuable late-season food source for Monarch butterflies and their caterpillars.
Aster cordifolius
Aster cordifolius, or Blue Wood Aster, is a 2-3 foot perennial for partially shaded sites in dry or moist soil. Blue Wood Aster is often found at the edge of woods with clouds of blue flowers appearing in early fall. … Continued
Aster divaricatus
Aster divaricatus, or White Wood Aster, is a low mounding, rhizomatous perennial that is typically the first aster to bloom in late summer. White Wood Aster produces white ray flowers with light pink centers that are sure to brighten your … Continued
Aster ericoides
Aster ericoides, or Heath (White) Aster, is a 2-3 foot perennial for full sun, well-drained soils. Heath (White) Aster has very prolific tiny white flowers that appear in late summer to early fall. It is also a great butterfly food … Continued
Aster laevis
Aster laevis, or Smooth Blue Aster, is a 2-4 foot hardy perennial for full to part sun and dry to medium moist soils. Smooth Blue Aster has leaves and stems with a pale glaucous bloom and deep blue flowers appearing … Continued
Aster novae-angliae
Aster novae-angliae, or New England Aster, is a 3-5 foot perennial for full to part sun and moist, damp soils. New England Aster’s very showy, deep violet to purple flowers appear in late summer to early fall. It is a … Continued
Aster novi-belgii
Aster novi-belgii, or New York Aster, is a sturdy, clump-forming perennial with lance-shaped leaves and rings of purple or pink flowers surrounding yellow disc centers. It typically produces more blooms than New England Aster. New York Aster thrives in moist, … Continued
Aster oblongifolius
Aster oblongifolius, or Aromatic Aster, is a 1-2 foot perennial for full sun to part shade and medium to dry, well-drained soils. The perennial is very drought tolerant. The branching stems of Aromatic Aster feature violet flowers with yellow centers … Continued
Baptisia australis
Baptisia australis, or Blue Wild Indigo, is a 3-5 foot, hardy, long-lived perennial legume for full sun to light shade and well-drained medium moist soils. The attractive, dark blue flowers and glossy blue-green trifoliate leaves on Blue Wild Indigo bloom … Continued
Baptisia tinctoria
Baptisia tinctoria, or Yellow Wild Indigo, is a shrub-like perennial with silvery, gray-green leaves and bright pea-shaped flowers in late spring. The plant grows best in full sun or part sun. Young plants tend to get off to a slow … Continued
Boltonia asteroides
Boltonia asteroides, or False Aster, is a 2-4 foot perennial for full to part sun and wet to damp and dry soils. False Aster’s showy white to pink flowers appear in late summer to early fall. The flowers provide nectar … Continued
Carex pensylvanica
Carex pensylvanica, or Pennsylvania Sedge, is a perennial sedge that is one of the first to bloom in spring. The sedge is a shade-loving perennial growing in dry to medium soils. Pennsylvania Sedge enjoys upland woodlands, wooded slopes, or sandy … Continued
Ceanothus americanus
Ceanothus americanus, or New Jersey Tea, is a 2-3 foot, hardy, perennial, woody shrub for well-drained dry to medium soils in part to full sun. New Jersey Tea produces bright white flowers growing in July through August. Younger plants get … Continued
Chasmanthium latifolium
Chasmanthium latifolium, or Sea Oats, is a 3-4 foot tall, showy grass for moist soils in sun to shade. The dense clumps of its dark green leaves end in open clusters of flowers in late summer and are followed by … Continued
Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Dennstaedtia punctilobula, or Hay-Scented Fern, is a deciduous fern with pale green, twice-pinnate fronds and a very lacy texture. Hay-scented Fern gets its name from the fronds that releases a fragrance similar to fresh mown hay when brushed with hands … Continued
Echinacea pallida
Echinacea pallida, or Pale Purple Coneflower, is a 2-4 foot hardy perennial with pale pink to purple drooping flowers appearing in late spring to summer. Pale Purple Coneflower prefers full sun and well-drained medium to dry soils. It is a … Continued
Echinacea paradoxa
Echinacea paradoxa, or Ozark or Bush’s Coneflower, is a 3 foot perennial with yellow flowers that prefer medium to dry soil conditions and grows best in full sun to partial shade. It blooms June-August and attracts butterflies and bees. Best … Continued
Echinacea purpurea
Echinacea purpurea, or Purple Coneflower, is a 3- to 4-foot perennial that attracts butterflies, songbirds and hummingbirds to your garden. Purple Coneflower’s pink flowers bloom profusely from mid to late summer, and it thrives in dry to medium moist soils. … Continued
Echinacea tennesseensis
Echinacea tennesseensis, or Tennessee Coneflower, is a 1-1.5 foot tall perennial that prefers well-drained soils in full sun. Tennessee Coneflower has deep rose-colored flat and broad ray flowers that bloom from July to September, and it is very drought tolerant. … Continued