Princes’ plume
Stanleya pinnata
Spectacular, yellow plumes in mid-summer on this tall, showy perennial. Low, basal leaves are topped … Continued
Drought-tolerant and drought-resistant plants may still need supplemental water from time to time, but they can survive periods of dryness without dying.
Drought-resistant plants like cactus, hens and chicks, and sedums can go for very long periods without water and do not tolerate poorly drained locations. Drought-resistant tropical plants grown indoors in winter like cactus, Sansevieria, Echeveria, and other succulents sometimes fail due to overwatering.
Drought-tolerant plants grow in many textures and sizes and have different adaptations that help them get through periods of drought:
The latter two types of plants are drought tolerant once established because any new planting, regardless of drought tolerance, needs to be watered during the first growing season to allow roots to reach the depths needed to access moisture during dry periods.
It’s also important to note that survival may not mean that the plant will look its best during this time. Watering weekly for a longer period of time will result in the best-looking gardens with the highest tolerance for drought. During the hottest, dryest times in summer, watering deeply twice a week is recommended. These less frequent waterings will encourage root systems to expand, making it easier for plants to access moisture when their environment is dry.
Winter drought has become a bigger problem in recent years as snowfall declines. Evergreen plants are especially vulnerable during winter drought because their foliage continues to shed moisture while dormant deciduous plants have shed their leaves and can conserve moisture in woody stems and underground. Watering shrubs and trees in winter on days when the temperature allows (above freezing) will help ensure their healthy return in spring.
Here are some drought-tolerant and drought-resistant plants to grow—
Stanleya pinnata
Spectacular, yellow plumes in mid-summer on this tall, showy perennial. Low, basal leaves are topped … Continued
Stokesia laevis 'Mel's Blue’
Native to wetlands, bottomlands, savannas, and ditches along the coastal plain from North Carolina to … Continued
Eutrochium {Eupatorium} purpureum
Shade tolerant and showy, this easy-to-grow native stays in place in the garden and invites … Continued
Symphoricarpos x doorenbosii 'Magic Berry'
Light pink blooms in summer followed by large, pink fruit on arching stems with dark … Continued
Symphyotrichum ericoides 'Snow Flurry'
The ‘Snow Flurry’ selection has a compact spreading habit and forms a ground cover with … Continued
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae 'Purple Dome'
A compact selection recommended by the Mt. Cuba Center as a cultivar that draws loads … Continued
Syringa vulgaris
Common lilacs are mid-season spring bloomers typically flowering in mid-May in lavender or white. We … Continued
Syringa meyeri 'Palibin'
A smaller-sized lilac with reddish purple buds opening to fragrant, pale lilac flowers. Blooms profusely … Continued
Syringa reticulata ‘Ivory Silk’
A small tree growing 20–25’ tall with a rounded crown. Creamy white, fragrant, single flowers … Continued
Tagetes hybrids
‘Bonanza’ mix is a French marigold with a mix of yellow, gold-red, and bicolor large, 2-2.5″ … Continued
Tagetes lemmonii
Narrow, green, fine foliage has a strong citrus-like aroma. The sunny yellow blooms attract bees … Continued
Talinum paniculatum ‘Kingwood Gold’
Related to portulaca with fleshy green leaves and topped in tall spires of delicate, wiry flower … Continued