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Drought-Tolerant Plants for the Conscientious Gardener: Drought Tolerant Plants List

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Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairie Sun'; Photo by Ivo Vermeulen
Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairie Sun'; photo by Ivo Vermeulen

Perennials for Sunny Dry Conditions

Botanical Name

Common Name

Achillea
yarrow
Agastache
anise-hyssop
Allium
ornamental onion
Anthemis
golden marguerite
Armeria
sea thrift
Achillea
yarrow
Asclepias
butterfly weed
Baptisia
false indigo
Bergenia
bergenia
Boltonia
boltonia
Calamintha
calamint
Coreopsis
coreopsis
Crambe
sea-kale
Dianthus
pink
Echinacea
coneflower
Echinops
globe thistle
Eryngium
sea holly
Euphorbia
spurge
Geranium sanguineum
hardy geranium
Helictotrichon
blue oat grass
Schizachyrium
little blue stem
Panicum
switch grass
Stipa
Mexican feather grass
Hypericum
St. John's wort
Ibiris
candytuft
Iris
bearded iris
Kniphofia
torch lily
Lavandula
lavender
Liatris
gay feathers
Nepeta
catmint
Oenothera
sundrop
Origanum
oregano
Perovskia
Russian sage
Platycodon
balloon flower
Salvia
ornamental sage
Santolina
cotton lavender
Sedum
stonecrop
Sempervivum
hens and chicks
Solidago
goldenrod
Stachys
lamb's ear
Thermopsis
southern lupine
Verbascum
mullein

Perennials for Dry Shade

Botanical Name

Common Name

Aster divaricatus
wood aster
Brunnera
Siberian bugloss
Epimedium
barrenwort
Gallium odoratum
sweet woodruff
Geranium macrorrhizum
geranium
Helleborus
hellebore
Liriope
turf-lily
Polygonatum
Solomon's seal
Alchemilla mollis
lady's mantle
Bergenia cordifolia
bergenia

Trees and Shrubs for Dry Conditions

Botanical Name

Common Name

Amelanchier
serviceberry
Chionanthus
fringe tree
Caryopteris
blue mist shrub
Cotinus
smokebush
Buddleja
butterfly bush
Rosa rugosa
rugose rose
Philadelphus
mock orange
Physocarpus
ninebark
Kolkwitzia
beauty bush
Cornus mas
cornelian cherry
Fothergilla
witch alder
Ilex opaca
American holly
Lespedeza
bushclover
Viburnum carlesii
Korean spice viburnum
Vitex
chaste tree
Pinus strobus
white pine

Annuals for Sunny Dry Conditions

Botanical Name

Common Name

Osteospermum
African daisy
Rudbeckia
black-eyed Susan
Cosmos
cosmos
Nicotiana
flowering tobacco
Gazania
gazania
Pelargonium
geranium
Gomphrena
globe amaranth
Lantana
lantana
Tagetes
marigold
Verbena
verbena
Zinnia
zinnia

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  • NYBG Garden Navigator
    Use this resource to explore the NYBG grounds, including information about specific plants, bloom times, and garden features.
  • NYBG Garden Guides
    Guides from the Plant Information Office related to specific NYBG gardens, including their history, design, and current plantings.

Related Plant Society

  • The Mediterranean Garden Society

Noteworthy Books on Drought-Tolerant Plants

  • Creating the Prairie Xeriscape by Sara Williams
    Call Number: SB439.8 .W55 1997
    ISBN: 0888803575
    Publication Date: 1997-07-22
  • Book CoverGardening Without Water by Charlotte Green
    Call Number: SB475.83 .G74 1999
    ISBN: 0855328851
    Publication Date: 2004-01-01
  • Book CoverPlants for Dry Climates by Mary Rose Duffield; Warren D. Jones
    Call Number: SB427.5 .D8 2001
    ISBN: 1555612512
    Publication Date: 2001-09-26
  • Book CoverThe Conscientious Gardener by Sarah Hayden Reichard
    Call Number: SB319.95 .R45 2011
    ISBN: 0520267400
    Publication Date: 2011-01-19
  • Book CoverWaterwise Plants for Sustainable Gardens by Lauren Springer Ogden; Scott Ogden
    Call Number: SB439.8 .O34 2011
    ISBN: 1604691697
    Publication Date: 2011-09-06
  • Xeriscape Plant Guide by Rob Proctor (Contribution by); Denver Water Staff (Contribution by); American Water Resources Association Staff (Contribution by); Fulcrum Publishing Staff (Contribution by); Denver Water Board Denver Water Board
    Call Number: SB439.8 .P76 1998
    ISBN: 1555912532
    Publication Date: 1996-03-08

Useful Websites

  • NYC Parks -- Drought-Tolerant Species
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  • Last Updated: Mar 23, 2020 3:58 PM
  • URL: https://libguides.nybg.org/droughttolerant
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