List of Drought Tolerant Perennials for a Stellar Yard

If you need ideas for plants that don’t need constant attention or watering and also return year after year, then check out this list of drought-tolerant perennials. Be sure to add a few of these to your landscaping plans for a stress-free and beautiful yard.

Drought tolerant perennials are plants that don’t require much water and they will grow, bloom or remain evergreen year after year. In other words, these are must-have plants for your low maintenance yard. A few examples include Liriope, Creeping Thyme, Sedum, and Salvia.

Every landscape needs a few plant varieties that don’t require a ton of babysitting. Those set it and forget it plants are my faves when it comes to my style of gardening. When you don’t have hours each week to tend to your plants, drought-tolerant flowers and shrubs will shine despite little water or attention.

Now, most of these will require initial attention and need water to get established but once established, you will enjoy colorful blooms, evergreen foliage, or a combo of both!

Check your planting zones and be sure you’re planting in the quality of the soil the plants require for optimum growth. Well-drained soil is generally a must for these flowers and plants.

Drought Tolerant Perennials

Liriope

Zones 6-11
Also known as “monkey grass”
Some varieties have purple-hued blooms
Grows 12-18 inches tall
Perfect for borders and walkways
Mounding grass-like plant that requires little water once established
Can easily be divided, but it also won’t go crazy on you and invade all your areas. It’s a nice, well-contained border plant.

Creeping Thyme

Creeping thyme is suitable for Zones 4-9
low growing perennial
deer resistant
does not like soggy soil
grows 3-12 inches tall
excellent ground cover option
prefers full sun

Sedum

Sedum refers to a group of plants with several varieties
A group of plants with succulent characteristics including water-storing leaves and stems
There is a variety suitable for every growing zone and also in varying heights
Best for full to part sun
Can tolerate minimal care once established

Salvia

Salvia plants are available in a variety of colors from purple to red
Members of the mint family and also include the herb sage (commonly used in cooking)
Drought tolerant
Hundreds of varieties and there is one for every growing zone, although the perennial varieties tend to favor the warmer zones
Deer resistant
Can get between 18 inches and 5 feet tall making them perfect for any type of flower garden

Catmints

Drought and disease-resistant plants
Flowers in the summer with bluish-purple blooms most commonly
Suitable for Zones 3-11
Prefers full sun
Grows between 1-3 feet wide and 1-3 feet tall
Can be divided every two or three years to produce more plants
Cut back halfway after blooming to encourage later blooms

Lunarias (Money Plant)

Zones 4-8
Full sun to partial shade
Biennial (this means you won’t get flowers until the 2nd year, but it’s worth the wait)
Called “Money Plant” due to the look of the iridescent seed pods
Grows 2-3 feet tall
Very easy to grow – they will drop seeds and grow new plants year after year
Grown from seeds
Seed pods can be dried for indoor decorations

Cactus

What drought tolerant perennial list would be complete without Cacti?

Members of the succulent family
Drought tolerant and heat tolerant
Some varieties are cold hardy to Zone 4
Prefers full sun
Hundreds of varieties including ones suitable for indoor and outdoor

Thrift (aka Sea Pinks)

Zones 3-8
Prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade in hotter climates
Grow in well-drained sandy soil
Good as a mounding plant for borders, walkways, and front low lying plants in flower gardens
Evergreen
Available in hues of red, white and pink flowers

Butterfly Bush

Zones 5-10
Can reach mature heights of 6-12 feet in just a few years
Fast-growing and evergreen
Drought tolerant, prefers full sun
Attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies
Can tolerate neglect once established

Lantana

Lantana are suitable for Zones 3-11 but only perennial in 8-11
Available in pink, yellow, purple, red, orange, and mixtures
They will spread several feet so give them room
Evergreen in hotter climates, otherwise they die out in the winter and return in the spring
Drought, disease, and deer resistant
Dense and continuously flowering shrub
Can tolerate full sun to partial shade

Coneflower

Drought tolerant
Coneflowers are suitable for Zones 4-9
Once established, requires little care other than dividing every few years
Full sun
Long blooming flowers that bees and butterflies love
Available in a variety of colors from red, white, yellow, purple, and green
Deadheading the flowers encourages new blooms
Can grow from 12-36 inches tall so it makes a great backdrop for a low lying flower garden
Excellent cutting flowers

Red Hot Fire Poker

Drought and disease resistant
Once established, prefers dry conditions – soggy soil will contribute to root rot
Can get up to 5 feet tall
Prefers full sun
Suitable for Zones 5-9
Several varieties are late bloomers to add to autumn color

So hopefully you’ve found a few drought-tolerant perennial plants that are suitable for your area. As always, I love to know your favorites! Email me at melissa @ createandfind dot com with your top choices for perennial plants that don’t require a lot of water.