Drought tolerant plants add beauty and color to your garden even when the sun is beating down and there isn’t a raincloud in sight. Whether you live in an area that’s dry and arid all year long or just need to find some plants that can survive the hottest parts of the summer when the rain seems to completely disappear, we have something for you. In many climates, drought tolerant plants will be a key part of your overall gardening plan, as they can keep the show going even when other plants and flowers succumb to the lack of moisture and oppressive heat. We’ve curated a wide range of drought-resistant options for you to choose from, including colorful flowers, ornamental grasses, and evergreen shrubs. Check out our favorite drought tolerant plants and flowers below!
#1 Milkweed

Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is one of our favorite drought tolerant flowers. Why? This beautiful perennial isn’t just able to handle a lack of rainfall, it’s also a great way to attract Monarch butterflies. Milkweed does best in full sun and is hardy in Zones 3 – 9.
#2 Catmint

Live in an area prone to drought? Catmint is a great choice. The drought tolerant plant features aromatic flowers that are great for attracting both bees and butterflies. It blooms from early summer to early fall and is hardy in Zones 3 – 8.
#3 Firecracker Plant

Firecracker Plant (Vermillionaire cuphea) is one of our favorite drought tolerant plants because it’s such a showstopper. It offers stunning, bright orange-red flowers that are extremely popular with hummingbirds. Bonus? Firecracker Plant is long-blooming and loves the heat. It is an annual.
#4 Yucca

Looking for a shrub that can tolerate hot, dry environments? Yucca is an eye-catching choice. Its sword-like leaves will add visual appeal to any garden and its impressive drought tolerance makes it the perfect choice for areas prone to extreme dryness. Notably, yucca does well in the desert as well as in coastal environments. Hardiness varies depending on the cultivar you choose.
#5 Black-Eyed Susan

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) offers gorgeous golden-yellow blooms that attract pollinators like bees. These flowers prefer lots of sun and are drought resistant and easy to care for. There are several varieties available, so chances are good that you’ll be able to find one that suits your gardening needs! Be aware that varieties can be annual, biennial, or perennial; the popular Rudbeckia hirta cultivar is treated as a short-lived perennial that is generally hardy in Zones 3 - 9.
#6 Blue Fescue

Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca) is tolerant of heat, drought, and salt, making it a great choice when you’re faced with challenging growing conditions. However, it is best to avoid planting this ornamental grass in places with poor drainage. Blue Fescue features silvery foliage and is hardy in Zones 4 – 8.
#7 Mugo Pine

Mugo Pine (Pinus mugo) is one of the hardiest conifers available. It tolerates drought as well as heat and wind. Dwarf cultivars like Corley’s Mat, Sherwood Compact, and Slowmound make great additions to even the smallest yards. However, you’ll want to keep an eye out for pine needle scale, which is common, and disease issues, particularly during hot, humid summers. Mugo Pine is hardy in Zones 2 – 7.
#8 Bergenia

Bergenia features large, glossy green leaves and pretty pink blooms in spring. It does well in dry soil and can tolerate drought, too! It’s also a great choice if you have issues with deer or rabbits in your garden, because it is largely unappealing to them. It is hardy in Zones 3 – 8.
#9 New Jersey Tea

New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) is a great choice! This native shrub offers pretty white flowers, attracts a range of pollinators, and isn’t popular with deer. It’s drought tolerant and its deep root system also helps it avoid many difficult-to-manage conditions. You can even plant several in a row to create a low-growing hedge! New Jersey Tea is hardy in Zones 3 – 8.
#10 Plumbago

Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata) can handle drought once it is established and boasts truly stunning blue flowers set against pretty green leaves. It thrives in the heat and prefers full sun. Plumbago is hardy in Zones 9 – 11.
#11 Zydeco Fire Zinnia

Zydeco Fire Zinnia (Zinnia marylandica) offers striking, summery blooms in a vibrant orange hue. Drought tolerant, it is also resistant to powdery mildew. You can easily grow Zydeco Fire Zinnia from seed. It is an annual.
#12 Common Bearberry

Common Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) is drought tolerant and a great choice if you have rocky or sandy soil. It offers pretty white or pink flowers in summer and vibrant red berries in the fall. Common Bearberry is hardy in Zones 2 – 6.
#13 Mandevilla

Mandevilla (Mandevilla) is a vine plant that hummingbirds love. It comes in cultivars with white, pink, maroon, crimson, or even bicolor flowers. It is drought tolerant and thrives in full sun to partial shade. Just be sure to provide well-draining soil! It is hardy in Zones 10 – 11, but can be overwintered indoors or grown as an annual in other areas.
#14 Pasque Flower

Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla) offers pretty mauve (P. vulgaris) or silvery-purple (P. halleri) petals and does well with lots of sun. It’s also drought tolerant and perfect for adding some unique blooms to your early spring gardenscape! Pasque Flower is hardy in Zones 4 – 8.
#15 Creeping Phlox

Looking for a border plant that’s soft and whimsical but also drought tolerant? Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata) is a great choice! It looks especially gorgeous when allowed to organically spill over rocks in mounds of purple flowers. Creeping Phlox prefers full sun and is hardy in Zones 3 – 9.
#16 Sea Holly

Sea Holly (Eryngium selections) boasts blue to lavender flowerheads surrounded by impressive blue bracts. It’s not only drought tolerant, but is also resistant to deer and rabbits. It can even handle frequent cuttings for vases and bouquets! Sea Holly prefers full sun and is hardy in Zones 4 – 10, although this can vary slightly depending on which cultivar you select.
#17 Chocolate Fountain Sedum

Chocolate Fountain Sedum (Sedum) features dark, chocolate-colored leaves and rosy-pink flower clusters that appear in mid- to late-summer. It’s a favorite among butterflies and bees in the summer and if you let the seed heads dry out in the fall and winter, you’ll attract plenty of songbirds looking for a snack! Chocolate Fountain Sedum is drought tolerant and hardy in Zones 4 – 9.
#18 Winter Jasmine

Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) can handle both drought and shade and is resistant to common pests and diseases. Unlike the spring and summer bloomers on this list, this semi-evergreen shrub flowers in late winter to early spring and features long vines that can be grown on a trellis or used as groundcover on a slope. It is hardy in Zones 6 – 10.
#19 Weigela

Weigela (Weigela florida) is drought tolerant once established and is also generally unpopular with deer and most other pests. Newer varieties offer pretty blooms in shades of pink, red, yellow, and white set against glossy oblong leaves. Weigela is hardy in Zones 4 – 9.
#20 Baptisia

Baptisia (Baptisia australis) boasts tall spires of indigo-blue flowers that show up in early spring and bloom well into the summer. Tolerant of both drought and heat, Baptisia is easy to grow. Bonus? Deer and other pests leave it alone. Baptisia does best in full sun and is hardy in Zones 3 – 8.
Want even more flower inspiration? Check out our favorite colorful picks! Happy growing!