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browsing: drought tolerant

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:

  • succulents have thick, fleshy foliage to hold moisture for long periods
  • silver-leaf plants reflect sunlight
  • many grasses and native prairie plants have deep root systems that allow them to access moisture way underground

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—

Showy Goldenrod

Solidago speciosa

Showy goldenrod is a rhizomatous native perennial which typically occurs in dry soils in open … Continued

Stiff Goldenrod

Oligoneuron rigidum {Solidago rigida}

Large, flat medium yellow flower clusters provide late-season nectar for butterflies and, later, seed for … Continued

‘Fireworks’ goldenrod

Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks'

Lacy, radiating bloom spikes of sparkling golden-yellow from mid-September past mid-October. Plants grow 3-4′ high. … Continued

false Ural spirea

Sorbaria sorbifolia

A suckering, deciduous shrub which typically grows 5-8′ tall and wide with ferny green foliage … Continued

Indian grass

Sorghastrum nutans

Upright clumps of slender, blue-green leaves 1/2″ wide. Foliage turns orange-yellow in fall. Stems are … Continued

Indian pink

Spigelia marilandica

A long flowering woodland perennial with unique flowers that attract pollinators — especially hummingbirds. This … Continued

old-fashioned spirea

Spiraea × vanhouttei

Old-fashioned spirea is often found in established landscapes around older homes. This handsome arching, loose … Continued

‘Little Princess’ spirea

Spiraea japonica 'Little Princess'

Dainty clusters of rose-pink blooms on low-growing, mint green foliage. Naturally develops a tidy, compact, … Continued

prairie dropseed grass

Sporobolus heterolepis

2′ narrow-leaved, fragrant native grass. Incredibly attractive in bloom and seed. NATIVE TO THE UPPER … Continued