Garden plants that require little maintenance are known as drought-tolerant perennials. Just a little care and a lot of sunlight are required for the greatest drought-tolerant perennials. Zone 9 and 10 are ideal for growing drought-tolerant perennial plants, and their flowers reappear year after year.
Flowering shrubs are some of the most drought-tolerant perennials. Some are examples of colorful specimen plants that bloom all summer long and into autumn. Stonecrop, coneflowers, sage, speedwell, tickseed, black-eyed Susan, and clematis are some examples of drought tolerant perennial flowers.
Hardy drought-tolerant perennial plants generally produce flowers that bloom again every year. For low-maintenance gardens, planting drought-tolerant perennials is ideal. You don’t need to water these tough plants very often even in hot, dry weather.
This article will help you choose some of the greatest drought-tolerant blooming perennials for your front or backyard. Low-water plants that thrive in full sun are among them. Mixed beds, borders, cottage gardens, rock gardens, and low-growing foundation plants are all great places to grow these perennial plants.
What are Drought-Tolerant Perennial Plants?
Plants that can tolerate drought are known as drought-tolerant perennials. During extremely dry spells, several kinds of drought-tolerant plants go dormant. Drought-tolerant plants with deep roots or tiny leaves are able to retain moisture in other species.
Xeric plants or water-wise plants are terms used to describe drought-tolerant perennials. Perennial ornamental garden plants, such as bushes, bulbous plants, and shrubs, thrive in drought-prone environments and are frequently used for xeriscaping. Due to their small leaves that don’t emit moisture, these plants are often able to go for long periods without water.
Do Drought-Tolerant Perennials Come Back Year After Year?
Drought-tolerant plants offer a advantage over those that need to be planted each year: they don’t. In the spring, summer, and fall, the low-water plants produce flowers that brighten up your garden. Dry, arid situations have no effect on plant development even if there is no rain for a period. Some tough perennials stop growing when it gets dry, in order to survive.
The plants then revive and begin to bloom or generate seed when they get enough moisture. In the winter, certain hardy perennials may succumb to dieback, only to regrow in the spring. Always keep in mind your growing zones when selecting the best drought-tolerant perennials for your garden. USDA zone 10 plants may bloom year after year, however they only survive in colder zones as annuals.
Drought-Tolerant Perennials – Flowers That Come Back Year After Year (With Pictures)
For your sunny garden, here are some of the best drought-tolerant perennials.
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
You can grow black-eyed Susans in the back of flower beds or borders, and they will thrive in full sun. Large yellow blossoms with black centers are produced by this water-wise plant species. Like the rays of the summer sun, the long petals spread out. In zones 3 through 9, black-eyed Susan are flowering perennial plants that prefer full sun.
The brilliant yellow flowers return year after year. Hardy black-eyed Susans are low-maintenance plants that may be grown at the rear of a mixed bed or along perennial borders. The long-lasting flowers of Rudbeckia plants, which grow up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall, are ideal for dried floral displays.
Stonecrop (Sedum)
Stonecrop is a low-water plant that grows from short to 3 feet (1 meter) tall. Ground cover plants for sun or upright, bushy flowers may be used to identify species of stonecrop drought-tolerant plants. Fall gardens love stonecrop, which is one of the final flowers to bloom. In zones up to 9, this drought-tolerant perennial thrives.
Full sun and soil with dry to medium moisture are ideal for upright stonecrop flowers. They have broccoli-shaped pastel-colored flowerheads with little white, pink, or red flower clusters. Due to their succulent-like leaves and robust root system, sedums are drought-tolerant plants.
Coneflower (Echinacea)
Coneflowers are excellent cut flowers that attract pollinators and can withstand drought, heat, bad soil, and complete sun. These low-water flowers are simple to establish, thrive on neglect, and continue to bloom year after year. Stems grow to 4 feet (1.2 meters) in height and are upright.
These tough garden flowers feature beautiful cone-shaped purple and pink blooms on top. In zones 10 and below, coneflowers are perennials that thrive.
Full sun and well-draining soil are the ideal conditions for growing coneflowers. The rear of borders, along walls, and wildflower gardens would benefit from the tall, long blooming perennial flowers. Apart from soggy soil, coneflowers are resistant to most conditions.
Daylily (Hemerocallis)
Daylilies are a tall perennial flowering plant with spectacular showy blooms that come in a wide variety of colors. The only care needed for this xeriscaping plant is water. Daylilies bloom in a variety of red, purple, white, orange, yellow, and multi-colored blooms in full sun. The showy blossoms, which may be up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) long, appear at the end of tall, upright stems.
Daylilies bloom from early spring through late fall in a variety of colors. Even during droughts, the cheerful, colorful plants bloom. In winter, evergreen daylilies go dormant, but some species in hot areas keep their leaves intact. In zones 3 through 9, grow daylilies as an evergreen ground cover or flowering border.
Tickseed (Coreopsis)
Tickseed plants are tall, brightly-colored perennial plants that thrive in dry environments and have low water needs. Tickseed perennials produce orange, yellow, red, and gold flowers in large quantities. Dryland flowers must receive at least six hours of sunlight each day to survive. Beds, borders, pots, rock gardens, and cottage gardens are all good places to grow these tough plants.
Flower types include tickseed varieties. Clumping plants make excellent borders for some species. Beds or borders are better suited for other Coreopsis flowers that stand tall. Tickseed blooms are all perennials that don’t need much water, which is one thing that distinguishes them. USDA zones up to 10 are suitable for growing tickseed perennials.
Clematis
Clematis is a climbing or creeping flowering perennial that thrives in hanging baskets. Clematis flowers are magnificent, fragrant, and colorful, with over 300 species recognized. Clematis blooms may be star-shaped, ruffled double blooms or small bell-like blossoms depending on the species. In zones 4 through 9, grow clematis perennials in full sun.
Walls, trellises, and arbors are ideal places for Clematis perennials to grow. To grow on a balcony, porch, or paved yard, you may also plant clematis perennials in pots.
Perennial Russian Sage (Salvia yangii)
Russian sage is a superb hardy and drought-tolerant flowering perennial for full sun that you can plant in your garden. Since it barely requires any water, this plant species is an excellent xeriscaping plant. The little aromatic green leaves and light blue-purple flowers bloom on this herbaceous shrub throughout arid summers.
Russian sage bushes may grow to be up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall and broad. In dry to medium moist soil, this hardy water-wise perennial is ideal for dry or sunny gardens. You’ll need to cut the Russian sage in the spring to limit its bushy growth, despite the fact that it is a low-maintenance plant.
Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow has decorative and aromatic properties, as well as being drought tolerant. White, red, pink, yellow, and pastel-colored blooms create a flat flowerhead on the tall perennial plant. Yarrow thrives in full sun on dry to medium wet soil. You’ll rarely have to water yarrow because it’s one of the best drought-tolerant plants.
Yarrow blossoms range from 1 to 3 feet (0.3 to 1 m) in height and are perennial. From early spring till late fall, the aromatic feathery-looking leaves pique your attention. Yarrow cut flowers make wonderful dried flower combinations, and they flourish in borders or mixed beds.
Speedwell (Veronica)
Speedwell perennials are drought tolerant and have beautiful spiky blooms. This bushy little shrub-like plant thrives in full sun to partial shade. Without much effort, you can add a lot of color to your garden with violet-purple, crimson, or pink blooms. Speedwell perennials prefer to grow in borders or pots, growing to a height of 2 feet (0.6 meters).
In zones 4 through 8, Hardy drought-tolerant speedwell plants are ideal for sunny gardens. You can enjoy the flowers of these long-blooming perennial plants throughout the summer.
A low-growing, semi-evergreen perennial, prostrate speedwell (Veronica ‘Whitewater’) Ground cover plants for shade or full sun will appreciate the creeping stems and white flowers. Yet, creeping speedwell is only planted in zones 7 and lower, and it isn’t as cold hardy.
Ornamental Onion (Allium)
For the back of summer borders or flower beds, tall alliums (ornamental onions) are excellent perennial flowers. From late spring until summer, the magnificent purple flower heads on upright stems produce a spectacular show. Summer blooms reach a height of 2 to 5 feet (0.6 to 2.5 meters).
Mixed beds or perennial borders with ornamental onions are optimum growing conditions. Zones 10 and below are ideal for ornamental onion perennials. Sun-loving perennials flourish in moist but well-draining soil, and they need very little water to live.
Golden Marguerite (Anthemis tinctoria)
The beautiful golden marguerite is a tough low-maintenance blooming perennial that thrives in drought conditions. Throughout the summer, the orangey-yellow blooms bring a lot of variety to your garden. The attractiveness of Anthemis tinctoria is further enhanced by its delicate, fern-like leaves.
Golden marguerite has the advantage of requiring little water and care, which is a characteristic they share. Full sun is required for golden marguerite to thrive in poor soil. The aromatic plant can grow up to 3 feet (1 metre) tall. Plant anywhere else in your garden where other plants don’t grow.
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Attract pollinators like butterflies, honey bees, and other insects by planting butterfly weed. You wouldn’t mind having this kind of weed in your garden. The top of stems with lance-shaped leaves have clusters of showy orange flowers. Mixed beds, colorful borders, and butterfly gardens are ideal habitats for butterfly weed.
Beautiful floral bouquets can be made from long-blooming stalks. Butterfly weed is a drought-tolerant perennial that can grow in zones 3 through 9 and thrives in full sun. Butterfly weed is a fantastic option if you want an simple-care, colorful perennial plant.
Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)
Butterfly bush is a long- blooming perennial that thrives in a variety of soil conditions, including drought. The blooms of this plant, which is a shrubby, attract butterflies. In eye-catching long panicles, clusters of white, magenta, yellow, and purple flowers bloom.
From summer until the first frost, you can enjoy these massive flower displays. In zones 5 through 9, all plant species in the genus Buddleia thrive on arid to damp soil. In tiny gardens, grow butterfly bush specimens as border shrubs, foundation plants, or containers.
Hardy Ice Plant (Delosperma)
Ice plants are low-growing, drought-tolerant flowering perennials that may reach a height of 6 inches (15 cm). Rock gardens, colorful ground cover, and low-growing flowers are all perfect for ice plants. Around a yellow core, the magenta petals spread out. The daisy-like flowers of ice plants make them seem to cover the whole plant when they bloom.
Xeric plants have a lot in common with ice plants. These are exceptionally drought tolerant because of their tiny, flattened hairy leaves that don’t release much moisture. In zones 6 to 10, Delosperma plants are best.
Globe Thistle (Echinops bannaticus)
Globe thistle plants are easy-to-care-for perennials that thrive in dry conditions, with beautiful flowers. The blooms are capped with a magnificent blue dome. Globular spiky blooms appear at the base of 4 ft. (1.2 m) tall upright stalks. Dry conditions and poor soil are ideal for these hardy plants. These perennials continue to brighten up garden landscapes even in the hottest summer weather with little rainfall.
Borders, cottage gardens, and gravel gardens are the best places to grow globe thistles. These long-lasting flowers may also be used to attract butterflies and other pollinators to your front or back yard. In zones 3 through 8, Echinops bannaticus thrives.
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)
Long-blooming perennials with excellent drought tolerance include blanket flowers, which are low-maintenance and easy to care for. Beautiful hues of yellows, oranges, and reds decorate the showy flowers. When blooming from early summer until fall, the spreading plant produces a blanket of color.
The stems are thin and grow up to 3 feet (1 meter) tall, with large flowers up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) broad. For optimum results, grow Gaillardia plants in full sun. Dry-tolerant perennials prefer sandy soil, although they may also flourish in moist soil with good drainage. For zone 10 and below, blanket flowers are the best drought-tolerant perennial flower.
Hellebores (Helleborus)
Helleborus plant species are drought tolerant blooming perennials that are suitable for landscaping shady or partially shady settings. From late winter to early spring, hellebores bloom. These evergreen Mediterranean plants are suited for growing in hot, dry, arid conditions and are appealing all year round.
Hellebores are shade-loving flowering perennial plants, which is unusual for many of the drought-tolerant perennials on this list. Shady borders, beneath trees, and on shaded patios are ideal growing conditions for easy-care flowering hellebores plants. In zones 3 through 9, hellebores are the best kind of perennial to grow.
Snow in Summer (Cerastium tomentosum)
Snow in summer is a tough low-growing perennial that thrives in cool summers and copes with drought. Dainty white flowers bloom on this spreading plant every year after year. The spreading perennial, when it is in full bloom, covers gardens in a sea of white—akin to snow in the summer. In the winter, the evergreen plant offers excellent ground cover.
It’s important to remember that perennial snow plants prefer cool summers when growing them in the summer. The delicate plant will wilt as a result of heat and humidity. So, in zones 9 and 10, this perennial isn’t feasible.
Hyssop (Agastache)
Hyssop is a species of scented colorful spiky flowers that thrives in full sun and resists drought. It is a heat and drought tolerant plant. At the ends of long stems, Hyssop produces dainty pink or purple flowers. This low-maintenance plant will blossom and flourish with minimal care. To appreciate hyssop’s lengthy summer and autumn blooms, planting them in vast quantities is the best approach.
Borders, mixed beds, herb gardens, and butterfly gardens all benefit from Hyssop perennial flowers. Hyssop plants are drought-tolerant and heat-tolerant, and they flourish in dry soil. In zones 5 through 10, grow hyssop in hot, bright gardens.