Drought tolerant annuals and perennials are plants that can withstand dry soil after their roots are established. No plant is drought-resistant until it become established.
All plants require a steady supply of moisture when first planted. Once a plant is established and has a deep root system, it requires less water.
Annuals and perennials started in spring when the soil is relatively moist can set down roots and then survive dry weather. It is best to start drought-tolerant annuals and perennials in the spot they will grow through dry weather rather than transplant them into the garden when the weather is hot and dry.
Blazing star, Liatris, a perennial Drought-Tolerant Annuals and Perennials
A-B Common Name Botanical Name Zones Agapanthus Agapanthus spp.8-10 Agave Agave spp.8-11 Aloe Aloe spp.Varies Artemisia Artemisia spp.Varies Baby’s breath Gypsophila paniculata 3-9 Basket-of-gold Aurinia saxatilis 4-8 Bear’s breeches Acanthus mollis 6-10 Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia fulgida 3-10 Blanket flower Gallardia x grandiflora 2-10 Blazing star Liatris spicata 3-9 Butter daisy Melampodium leucanthum Annual Butterfly weed Asclepias tuberosa 4-10
Flax flower, Linum perenne C-F Common Name Botanical Name Zones California poppy Eschscholizia californica Annual Catmint Nepeta x fassenii 4-9 Coneflower, purple Echinacea purpurea 3-9 Coreopsis Coreopsis spp.4-9 Cosmos Cosmos spp.Annual Echeveria (most) Echeveria spp.8-11 Euphorbia (most) Euphorbia spp.Varies Evening primrose, showy Oenothera speciosa 3-9 False sunflower Heliopsis helianthoides 4-9 Feather grass Stipa spp.Varies Flax Linum perenne 5-8 Flax, New Zealand Phormium tenax 8-11 Fountain grass Pennisetum alopecuroides 5-9
Yellow Tithonia, Mexican sunflower G-O Common Name Botanical Name Zones Gaura Gaura lindheimeri 5-9 Geranium, hardy Geranium sanguineum 3-8 Iris, bearded Iris x germanica 3-10 Lamb’s ears Stachys byzantina 4-8 Lavender, English Lavandula angustifolia 5-8 Love-in-a-mist Nigella damascena Annual Marigold Tagetes spp.Annual Mexican sunflower Tithonia rotundifolia Annual Moss rose Portulaca grandiflora Annual Muhly grass Muhlenbergia spp.7-10 Naked ladies Amaryllis belladonna 5-9 Ox-eye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare 5-9
Santolina P-S Common Name Botanical Name Zones Penstemon Penstemon spp. (many)Varies Poppy Papaver spp.Varies Pot marigold Calendual officinalis Annual Red-hot poker Knifphofia uvaria 5-9 Red valerian Centranthus ruber 4-8 Russian sage Perovskia atriplicfolia 3-9 Santolina Santolina chamaesyparisus 6-9 Sea lavender Limonium spp.8-11 Sea thrift Armera maritima 3-8 Sedums; stonecrop Sedum spp.4-9
Swan River daisy, Brachyscome iberidifolia S-Z Common Name Botanical Name Zones Snow-in-summer Cerastiu tomentosum 3-7 Spider flower Cleome hasslerana Annual Spurge, cushion Euphorbia polychroma 4-8 Statice Limonium spp.Varies Strawflower Helichrsyum braceatum Annual Sunflower Helianthus annuus Annual Swan river daisy Brachycome iberidifolia Annual Verbena (most) Verbena spp.Varies Yarrow Achillea spp.3-9 Yucca Yucca spp.4-10 Zinnia Zinnia elegans Annual Zinnia, narrow-leaf Zinnia angustifolia Annual
Also of interest:
Drought-Tolerant Shrubs
Drought-Tolerant Trees
