Here are 15 of the best drought-tolerant plants. During the summer months, most aloe plants require watering roughly every other week unless you’ve had rainfall. And during the winter, the combination of cooler temperatures and rainfall usually provides enough water for them to survive without supplemental watering. If you have a potted aloe plant, allow the soil to completely dry out in between waterings. Aloe will begin to shrivel and rot if it’s sitting in soggy soil, so make sure to use a well-draining potting mix and a pot with adequate drainage holes.
USDA Growing Zones: 10 to 12 (Aloe vera)Color Varieties: Yellow bloomsSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Sandy, dry, well-draining
Water seedlings whenever the soil starts to dry out. But once established, these plants generally have good tolerance for drought and heat, so you won’t have to water unless you have a prolonged period without rain. Moreover, while most of these species like full sun, they often need a planting location that is sheltered from strong winds due to their delicate foliage.
USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8 (Artemisia abrotanum)Color Varieties: Yellow-white bloomsSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Rich, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
If you live in a climate that has temperatures similar to the artichoke’s native land of the southern Mediterranean, it can be a good-looking ornamental plant that produces edible artichokes from fall until spring. In this type of climate, it’s a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant perennial that only needs light watering after it’s established. Just make sure you grow the plant in well-draining soil, and shelter it from strong winds.
USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 11Color Varieties: Violet-blue bloomsSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Rich, medium moisture, well-draining
These plants are low-maintenance and drought-tolerant once established. They might need water every couple of weeks if you haven’t had rainfall. But they do require fast drainage to avoid root rot. Also, under ideal conditions they can spread a bit aggressively, so be prepared to pull up new shoots if you wish to limit their spread.
USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8 (Penstemon digitalis)Color Varieties: White bloomsSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
Fountain grass will be darker and shinier with full sun and medium soil moisture, but it’s also tolerant to some drought. Still, if your area has gone a couple weeks without rainfall, it’s ideal to water your plant. Also, some fountain grass might need to be staked for support depending on its growth habit. And it should be in a site protected from strong winds. The ‘Rubrum’ cultivar is usually not a problematic spreader in the garden because it rarely sets seed.
USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 10Color Varieties: Burgundy bloomsSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-draining
Most varieties are tolerant of heat and drought. And once established, they can go for long stretches without water, but it’s best to give them some water during the growing season if you’ve gone a couple of weeks without rainfall. Also, deadhead or pinch off spent flowers to promote additional blooming throughout the season.
USDA Growing Zones: 10 to 11 (Pelargonium × hortorum)Color Varieties: Red, pink, purple, orange, or white bloomsSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Average to rich, medium moisture, well-draining
Kangaroo paw plants grow naturally in dry, sandy areas and can survive prolonged dry spells thanks to the sap that’s stored in their roots. However, they grow and flower best with a moderate amount of soil moisture, so water your plant if you haven’t gotten any rain in roughly two weeks during the growing season. In the winter, you likely won’t have to water at all. Also, protect your plant from frost and strong winds. Gardeners who live outside of kangaroo paw’s growing zone often have success overwintering their plants in greenhouses or indoors.
USDA Growing Zones: 10 to 11 (Anigozanthos flavidus)Color Varieties: Yellow-green, red, or pink bloomsSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Rich, sandy, medium moisture, well-draining
Found naturally in dry, sandy soil of the Mediterranean, lavender has evolved to subsist on little water. Keep the soil evenly moist during your plant’s first year of growth. But after that you generally only have to water if the first few inches of soil are dry. Also, regularly prune or pinch off spent blooms to promote additional flowering throughout the growing season.
USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8 (Lavandula angustifolia)Color Varieties: Purple bloomsSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
Water your plant regularly in its first year, so the soil is consistently moist. Established plants only need a moderate amount of moisture and have some drought tolerance, though you should water them if you haven’t had rainfall in around two weeks. Also, make sure your soil is loose and has good drainage, as this plant isn’t tolerant of heavy soil. If you wish, you can prune this shrub to look like a small tree, though it generally doesn’t need much in the way of pruning if you want it to grow naturally.
USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 10Color Varieties: White, pink, or red bloomsSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Rich, acidic, medium moisture, well-draining
The plants are native to semi-desert regions of the Americas and Africa. As such, they have established excellent drought tolerance. Water new trees weekly during hot weather to help with their growth. Then, you generally won’t have to water an established plant unless you have an unusually long stretch of dry weather. Also, prune your tree to maintain the shape of its canopy only in warm weather, as cold-weather pruning can cause limbs to die.
USDA Growing Zones: 8 to 10 (Parkinsonia florida)Color Varieties: Yellow or white bloomsSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Average, dry, well-draining
Because this plant naturally grows on rocky cliffs, it can survive in dry soil. It’s particularly suitable for xeriscaping and rocky coastal soil; it needs excellent drainage. Water your plant regularly during its first year but then back off to watering only when you have a prolonged dry spell. Also, prune spent flower spikes in the fall to encourage healthy new growth in the spring.
USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 11Color Varieties: Blue-violet or white bloomsSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
This plant is native to semi-arid tropical climates, which makes it tolerant to drought. It prefers dry weather and fast-draining soil. It’s important to avoid overwatering your plant, which can cause bacterial and fungal disease. Water a new plant weekly, but limit watering only to prolonged dry spells for an established plant. Also, the plant likes soil that isn’t rich in organic matter, so you likely won’t have to fertilize.
USDA Growing Zones: 11 to 12Color Varieties: Yellow bloomsSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
These vines are low-maintenance once established. Water a new plant weekly but then taper off only to watering during hot spells and long stretches without rain. Moreover, as these vines are vigorous growers, lightly prune them as needed to maintain their shape.
USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 11Color Varieties: Pink or violet bloomsSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-draining
These plants can live for decades, dying back each winter and producing new growth in the spring. They flower best in full sun but appreciate a little shade in hot climates. You typically won’t have to water established vines unless you have a long stretch without rainfall or a period of particularly hot weather. The most maintenance gardeners often have to do for trumpet vines is pruning to limit their spread. The vines produce new plants from underground stems and self-seed, which can cause them to choke out other plants in the area.
USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9Color Varieties: Orange or red bloomsSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Lean to average, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
Water a new plant weekly to promote healthy growth. After that, your shrub typically won’t require water except for during prolonged dry spells. You also typically won’t need fertilizer unless you have very poor soil. Prune no more than a third of the shrub each year to help maintain its shape. An average shrub can live for 10 to 25 years.
USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 10 (Ceanothus ‘Concha’)Color Varieties: Blue, purple, or white bloomsSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
