Best Drought-Tolerant Plants for Landscaping Your Yard

Landscaping your yard with drought-tolerant plants is a smart choice for creating a beautiful, low-maintenance garden that thrives even in dry conditions. Whether you're dealing with water restrictions, a hot climate, or simply looking to reduce water usage, there are plenty of hardy plants that can withstand drought while adding texture, color, and visual interest to your outdoor space.

From succulents to flowering perennials, these drought-tolerant plants are perfect for landscaping a yard that stays lush and vibrant with minimal watering.

What Are Drought-Tolerant Plants?

Drought-tolerant plants are species that have adapted to survive with little water, either by storing moisture in their leaves, reducing water loss, or drawing water from deep in the soil. These plants are ideal for gardens in arid climates or for homeowners looking to conserve water without sacrificing the beauty of their landscape.

Let’s take a look at some of the best drought-resistant plants that will thrive in your yard.

1. Lavender (Lavandula)

Lavender is a popular drought-tolerant plant known for its fragrant purple flowers and ability to thrive in hot, dry conditions. It's not only beautiful but also low-maintenance, making it a favorite for gardeners looking to conserve water. Once established, lavender requires minimal watering and prefers well-drained soil.

This Mediterranean native is perfect for adding a pop of color to your garden while attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Get lavender plants (available for $10–$25) to add a fragrant, drought-tolerant option to your yard.

Care Tips:

Light: Full sun.
Water: Water sparingly; lavender is drought-tolerant once established.
Soil: Prefers well-drained soil.

2. Agave (Agave americana)

Agave is a stunning, drought-resistant succulent that thrives in arid conditions. Known for its rosette of thick, fleshy leaves, agave adds a bold architectural element to your landscape. The plant stores water in its leaves, making it highly resilient to dry spells. There are many different species of agave, ranging in size from small varieties for containers to large statement plants for open spaces.

Agave is an excellent choice for rock gardens or xeriscaping—a landscaping style that reduces or eliminates the need for irrigation.

Order agave plants (available for $15–$50) to enhance your drought-tolerant garden with striking foliage.

Care Tips:

Light: Full sun.
Water: Requires very little water; ideal for dry areas.
Soil: Well-drained, sandy soil is best.

3. Sedum (Sedum spp.)

Sedum, also known as stonecrop, is a versatile and hardy succulent that thrives in dry conditions. It’s known for its thick, fleshy leaves that store water, making it a perfect choice for drought-tolerant landscaping. Sedums come in a variety of colors and forms, ranging from low-growing ground covers to tall, upright varieties.

They’re easy to care for, resistant to pests, and ideal for rock gardens, borders, or even containers.

Shop for sedum plants (available for $10–$30) to create a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant garden.

Care Tips:

Light: Full sun to partial shade.
Water: Water sparingly; thrives in dry conditions.
Soil: Prefers well-drained, rocky soil.

4. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)

Russian sage is a beautiful, drought-tolerant perennial with silvery foliage and tall, spiky purple flowers. It’s a favorite for adding color and texture to gardens while requiring minimal water. Russian sage thrives in hot, sunny conditions and is deer-resistant, making it perfect for drought-prone regions where wildlife is a concern.

This plant works well in borders, as a backdrop in flower beds, or even as a focal point in xeriscaped gardens.

Order Russian sage plants (available for $15–$35) to enjoy a drought-tolerant burst of purple blooms.

Care Tips:

Light: Full sun.
Water: Water deeply but infrequently; drought-tolerant once established.
Soil: Prefers well-drained, sandy soil.

5. Yucca (Yucca spp.)

Yucca is a dramatic, drought-tolerant plant known for its sword-shaped leaves and striking appearance. Yuccas are extremely hardy and can survive in even the driest conditions, making them ideal for low-water landscapes. They also produce tall, beautiful flower spikes that add visual interest to your yard.

With their low water requirements and architectural beauty, yucca plants are perfect for desert landscapes, rock gardens, or as a statement plant in a drought-tolerant yard.

Choose yucca plants (available for $20–$50) to bring a desert vibe to your garden.

Care Tips:

Light: Full sun.
Water: Very drought-tolerant; water sparingly.
Soil: Well-drained, sandy soil is best.

6. Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)

Blanket flower is a bright, colorful perennial that thrives in dry conditions. With its cheerful red, orange, and yellow blooms, this flower adds a burst of color to any drought-tolerant landscape. Blanket flowers bloom from late spring through summer, attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies.

They’re easy to grow, resilient, and perfect for garden borders, wildflower gardens, or as part of a low-maintenance landscape.

Find blanket flower seeds (available for $5–$20) to add colorful, drought-tolerant blooms to your yard.

Care Tips:

Light: Full sun.
Water: Water occasionally; drought-tolerant once established.
Soil: Prefers well-drained soil.

7. Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia)

Red hot poker, also known as torch lily, is a unique and eye-catching plant that’s perfect for drought-tolerant landscapes. This plant features tall spikes of red, orange, and yellow flowers that resemble burning torches, adding a vibrant focal point to your garden.

Red hot poker thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it ideal for hot, dry climates. It’s also deer-resistant and attracts hummingbirds, making it a great addition to wildlife-friendly gardens.

Order red hot poker plants (available for $10–$30) to create a striking visual impact in your garden.

Care Tips:

Light: Full sun.
Water: Drought-tolerant; water sparingly once established.
Soil: Well-drained, sandy soil is ideal.

8. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Purple coneflower, or echinacea, is a hardy perennial that’s well-known for its drought tolerance and medicinal properties. With its striking pink-purple petals and prominent orange centers, echinacea adds a bold pop of color to your garden while attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies.

This plant is extremely resilient and grows well in a variety of conditions, making it a versatile choice for low-water gardens.

Choose purple coneflower seeds (available for $6–$18) to bring color and drought tolerance to your landscape.

Care Tips:

Light: Full sun to partial shade.
Water: Water occasionally; drought-tolerant once established.
Soil: Prefers well-drained soil.

9. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Rosemary is not only a culinary herb but also a drought-tolerant shrub that’s perfect for dry gardens. This fragrant evergreen plant thrives in hot, sunny conditions and requires very little water once established. Rosemary’s blue-purple flowers bloom in the spring, and its aromatic foliage adds both texture and fragrance to your yard.

Rosemary is also great for hedges, borders, or rock gardens, making it a versatile plant for drought-tolerant landscapes.

Find [*rosemary plants](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rosemary+plants&linkCode=ll2&tag=onlinestorebo-20) (available

for $7–$25) to enjoy both culinary and landscape benefits in your garden.*

Care Tips:

Light: Full sun.
Water: Requires very little water; drought-tolerant once established.
Soil: Prefers well-drained, sandy soil.

10. Lantana (Lantana camara)

Lantana is a tough, drought-tolerant plant that produces clusters of brightly colored flowers in shades of red, orange, yellow, and purple. It’s a favorite for gardeners looking to add vibrant color to their landscape while using minimal water. Lantana attracts butterflies and is perfect for hot, sunny spots in the garden.

Lantana is also deer-resistant and works well in borders, containers, or as ground cover in a low-water garden.

Shop for lantana plants (available for $10–$30) to add vibrant, drought-tolerant blooms to your yard.

Care Tips:

Light: Full sun.
Water: Water occasionally; very drought-tolerant once established.
Soil: Prefers well-drained soil.

11. Mexican Feather Grass (Nassella tenuissima)

Mexican feather grass is a graceful, ornamental grass that adds texture and movement to drought-tolerant landscapes. With its delicate, feathery foliage, this grass sways beautifully in the breeze, making it a great choice for creating a natural, flowing aesthetic in your yard.

This drought-tolerant grass is low-maintenance, grows well in poor soils, and requires very little water, making it ideal for xeriscaping or dry gardens.

Order Mexican feather grass plants (available for $10–$25) to add texture to your drought-tolerant garden.

Care Tips:

Light: Full sun to partial shade.
Water: Water sparingly; drought-tolerant once established.
Soil: Well-drained soil is best.

12. Desert Marigold (Baileya multiradiata)

Desert marigold is a bright, cheerful plant that thrives in hot, dry environments. With its yellow, daisy-like flowers, desert marigold adds a pop of color to any drought-tolerant landscape. This perennial blooms throughout the summer and is highly resistant to drought, making it an excellent choice for low-water gardens.

Desert marigold is perfect for rock gardens, xeriscaping, or adding color to dry areas of your yard.

Find desert marigold seeds (available for $5–$15) to add drought-tolerant color to your yard.

Care Tips:

Light: Full sun.
Water: Very drought-tolerant; water sparingly.
Soil: Prefers well-drained, sandy soil.

13. Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca)

Blue fescue is a drought-tolerant ornamental grass that adds cool, blue-green color to your landscape. This clumping grass forms neat, compact mounds and is ideal for borders, rock gardens, or as ground cover in dry areas.

Blue fescue is easy to care for, low-maintenance, and can withstand periods of drought, making it a great choice for homeowners looking to conserve water.

Choose blue fescue plants (available for $8–$25) to add cool, drought-tolerant grasses to your landscape.

Care Tips:

Light: Full sun.
Water: Water occasionally; drought-tolerant once established.
Soil: Prefers well-drained soil.

14. Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis)

Aloe vera is a hardy, drought-tolerant succulent known for its medicinal properties. This plant thrives in hot, dry climates and requires very little water, making it an excellent addition to xeriscaped gardens or container gardens.

Not only does aloe vera add visual interest with its spiky, fleshy leaves, but it also provides soothing gel that can be used for burns, cuts, and other skin irritations.

Find aloe vera plants (available for $10–$30) to enjoy both beauty and healing properties in your drought-tolerant garden.

Care Tips:

Light: Full sun to partial shade.
Water: Water sparingly; drought-tolerant once established.
Soil: Well-drained, sandy soil is best.

15. Autumn Joy Sedum (Hylotelephium 'Autumn Joy')

Autumn Joy sedum is a popular, drought-tolerant succulent that blooms in late summer and fall. Its thick, fleshy leaves store water, making it highly resilient to dry conditions. The plant produces clusters of pink flowers that turn bronze in the fall, adding seasonal interest to your garden.

This sedum is perfect for borders, rock gardens, or xeriscaping and is a great choice for adding texture and color to your drought-tolerant landscape.

Order Autumn Joy sedum plants (available for $10–$25) to enjoy this colorful, low-water plant in your garden.

Care Tips:

Light: Full sun to partial shade.
Water: Water occasionally; drought-tolerant once established.
Soil: Prefers well-drained, sandy soil.

With these drought-tolerant plants, you can create a stunning, low-maintenance landscape that thrives even in dry conditions.