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

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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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
Gardening Without Water by Charlotte Green
Call Number: SB475.83 .G74 1999
ISBN: 0855328851
Publication Date: 2004-01-01
Plants for Dry Climates by Mary Rose Duffield; Warren D. Jones
Call Number: SB427.5 .D8 2001
ISBN: 1555612512
Publication Date: 2001-09-26
The Conscientious Gardener by Sarah Hayden Reichard
Call Number: SB319.95 .R45 2011
ISBN: 0520267400
Publication Date: 2011-01-19
Waterwise 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