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If you’re looking for a way to add some color and life to your garden, but don’t want to worry about watering it every day, consider adding one of these drought-tolerant plants.
Whether you have a small patio or a large yard, there are plenty of options to choose from. We will discuss only 16 types of drought-tolerant plants for your garden.
Plants That Can Survive a Drought
1. Aster
Aster is a pretty flower that is easy to grow. Plant the seeds in moist, well-drained soil and leave them alone until they sprout.
Once they do, keep the soil moist by watering once or twice a day (depending on how hot it is).
Aster flowers come in so many different colors, be sure to find one that fits perfectly with your garden.
2. Blanket Flower
Blanket flower was named for its beautiful blanket-like blooms, which come in a variety of colors.
This drought-tolerant plant needs full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil to thrive.
It also only requires light watering when the weather gets dry. Blanket flower is also deer-resistant, making it great for any garden.
3. Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan)
Rudbeckia is a beautiful flower that comes in a variety of colors and sizes. This golden-yellow beauty will add brightness to any garden, and it requires little care.
It will need some watering when the weather gets dry. Rudbeckia flowers only need to be planted once, because they will come back every year.
This is a perfect choice for any garden because it doesn’t need much work but still looks great.
4. Bugleweed
Bugleweed is a delicate plant that will add some color to your garden. The flowers are small and sweet-smelling, so they won’t overwhelm your senses.
Bugleweed can be planted both in the fall and in early spring to ensure plenty of blooms each year. This drought-tolerant plant prefers full sun or partial shade, and well-drained soil.
It doesn’t require a lot of watering, so if you’re looking for a low-maintenance plant to add to your garden, bugleweed is a good choice.
5. Blue Fescue
Blue fescue, as you can tell from its name, has grass-like leaves that come in a variety of colors. This drought-tolerant plant is gorgeous and easy to care for.
It needs full sun or partial shade, depending on the variety you choose, and healthy soil with adequate drainage.
The blue fescue will need a little watering when the weather gets dry, but if you live in a sunny climate, it shouldn’t need much work.
6. Beardtongue
Beardtongue is a beautiful flower that comes in many different colors. This drought-tolerant plant looks great in any garden, and it also only requires light watering when the weather gets dry.
Plant beardtongue in full sun or partial shade, depending on the variety you choose, and make sure it has well-drained soil.
This plant doesn’t have any problems, so you shouldn’t have to worry about it while trying to grow other plants in your garden.
7. Geranium
Geraniums are colorful flowers that can brighten up any garden.
This drought-tolerant plant comes in so many different colors, it will be hard to choose just one.
They grow quickly and bloom from early summer until mid-fall. Geranium flowers require little watering once they’re well established, which is why they make great plants for a dry or desert climate.
8. Catmint (catnip)
Catmint is very pretty and colorful. This drought-tolerant plant needs full sun or partial shade, depending on the variety, and well-drained soil.
It only requires light watering when the weather gets dry, making it an ideal choice for any garden.
Catmint flowers attract not only cats but butterflies as well.
9. Sedum (Stonecrop)
Sedum is another beautiful flower that comes in a variety of colors.
This drought-tolerant plant will add brightness to any garden, and it needs very little care. It does well in cold climates, but if you live in an area with hot summers, plant sedum in partial shade so the leaves don’t burn.
Sedum flowers need little watering, so they are perfect for any garden because you won’t have to worry about it while trying to grow other plants.
10. Wormwood
Wormwood is a beautiful flower that looks very similar to lavender.
It also has a variety of uses, making it great for any home or garden. Wormwood flowers take a little longer to establish themselves, but once they’re established they will come back year after year.
This drought-tolerant plant only requires full sun and well-drained soil. When the weather gets dry, it only needs a little watering to get by.
11. Lantana
Lantana is a colorful flower with many different varieties. This drought-tolerant plant will brighten up any garden, and it requires very little care.
It only needs full sun or partial shade, depending on the variety you choose, and well-drained soil with adequate drainage.
Lantana flowers are easy to grow and maintain, making them a wonderful addition to any garden.
12. Hen and Chicks
Hen and chicks, although it looks like a succulent, is a very colorful flower.
This drought-tolerant plant comes in so many varieties that you will want to add it to every garden you have when you see how beautiful and colorful they are. Hen and chick’s flowers prefer full sun or partial shade, depending on the variety you choose, and well-drained soil.
There are very few maintenance requirements for this flower, so you can spend your time relaxing in your garden instead of worrying about plants that need too much care.
13. Moss Rose
Moss rose is a beautiful flower that comes in many different colors.
This drought-tolerant plant looks great as an accent to any garden, and it requires very little care. It only needs full sun or partial shade, depending on the variety you choose, and slightly moist, well-drained soil.
Moss rose flowers need little watering once they’re established, making them great for any garden.
14. Lavender
Lavender is a beautiful flower that has many uses. This drought-tolerant plant also comes in so many different varieties, it will be hard not to choose just one color.
Lavender flowers require little watering once they’re well established, making them great for any garden because you won’t have to worry about the weather while trying to grow other plants.
This plant will attract bees, making it a valuable addition to any garden.
15. Purple coneflower (Echinacea Purpurea)
Purple coneflower is a beautiful flower with a variety of colors. This drought-tolerant plant needs full sun and slightly moist, well-drained soil, making it perfect for any garden.
Purple coneflower flowers attract bees as well as butterflies, making them an excellent addition to any garden.
16. Sage
Sage is a beautiful plant that comes in many different varieties.
This drought-tolerant plant also has many uses, making it perfect for any garden. Sage flowers attract butterflies as well as bees; however, if you’re allergic to bees it might be best to grow this flower in an area of your yard that isn’t trafficked.
Sage flowers require full sun and slightly moist, well-drained soil.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the many drought-tolerant plants that you can choose to plant in your garden. As you begin choosing which flowers and plants to grow, keep in mind that a combination of different types of flowers will attract more butterflies and bees than a single flower type.
Also, if you only have room for only one type of flower, choose a variety of lavender. Lavender flowers attract not only butterflies and bees but also hummingbirds and monarchs.
