34 Drought-Tolerant Plants That Will Improve Your Home's Curb Appeal

Lantana (Lantana camara)

A heat-loving bloom known for its colorful palette and vine-like structure, lantana is an excellent choice for gardeners who want a pollinator-friendly plant that will establish itself quickly in the landscape. "Lantana is one of the best options for color," says Johnson. "They come in ground cover and shrub forms, easily attract butterflies, and will continue to bloom over a long period."

Hardiness Zone: Perennial in Zones 9 through 11, but can be grown as a summer annual in Zones 1 through 8

Coneflower (Echinacea)

Bold, cheery, and able to grow practically anywhere, coneflower is a hearty little bloom that thrives on near-neglect while adding a punch of playful color to your landscape. "Coneflower is a fantastic option for a drought-tolerant flower that stands up well to high heat and dry conditions," says Iappini. "It also attracts loads of butterflies!"

Hardiness Zone: Zones 3 through 8

Pink Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)

Characterized by dream-like wisps of cotton candy-colored grass, pink muhly grass adds an ethereal vibe to any landscape. "I like to plant these grasses in groups of three or five," suggests Johnson. "They also have beautiful burgundy plumes in fall that add cool-season interest."

Hardiness Zone: Zones 5 through 11

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

"This plant flowers most actively in May and June, so use it in your garden as a seasonal color accent since they come in different colors like pink, purple, and yellow," says Chris Lambton, professional landscaper, and host of DIY Network's Yard Crashers. "Place it near plants that flower earlier in the spring, such as tulips, or ones that flower later in the summer, like black-eyed Susans." It thrives in hot conditions and can also be grown in high elevations.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 3 through 9

Lavender (Lavandula)

A charming cottage garden staple, lavender plants contribute an effortless, wildflower effect in your yard without sacrificing buckets of water. "Lavender is a great plant that prefers full sun and well-drained soil," says Iappini. Choose from a range of colors, including blue, purple, and white. "Lavender smells wonderful, attracts beneficial insects, and will only get better and more vigorous from year to year."

Hardiness Zone: Zones 5 through 9

Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Often thought of as a vegetable garden crop, sage can make a great landscape addition for homeowners on the hunt for drought-friendly plants. "Bush sage, meadow sage, and Russian sage are all stunning, flowering perennial plants that happen to be drought-tolerant," says Iappini. "They're a great way to add visual interest to your landscape and help to provide food for hummingbirds and other pollinators."

Hardiness Zone: Zones 5 through 8

Red Emu Bush (Eremophila maculata 'Valentine')

Delivering both vibrant color and desirable greenery, the red emu bush is a drought-tolerant plant that produces eye-catching, bell-like red flowers. "Red emu bush is a must-have for winter color that extends into spring," says Johnson. "Reddish-pink flowers add interest around the home when not much else is in bloom. I recommend planting them in groups of three in bare spots throughout the garden."

Hardiness Zone: Zones 8 through 11

Shrubby Germander (Teucrium fruticans)

A member of the mint family, the shrubby germander is a full, woody bush with gray-green leaves and a sweet, mild scent. "The gray-blue foliage of shrubby germander creates nice color contrast with green ground covers and shrubs and is a good option for planting under a window," says Johnson. "Their startling blue flowers are a delight when they appear from winter into spring."

Hardiness Zone: Zones 8 through 9

Lamb's Ear (Stachys byzantina)

This flowering perennial herb has a unique fuzzy texture. "It does well in partial-to-full sun," says Lambton. "It doesn't love hot and humid, so it's a great choice for dry climates." In colder climates, it will appear "dead" in the winter, but will come back to life in the spring. A word of caution from Lambton: This herb spreads as it grows, so keep that in mind when you're deciding where to plant it.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 4 through 9

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

"These plants yield beautiful clusters of bright orange flowers that attract butterflies, especially monarchs," says garden expert Christy Dailey of christygardens. This perennial prefers well-drained, sandy soils, requires very little water, and blooms from May to September.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 4 through 9

Russian Sage (Perovskia atiplicifolia)

"These billowy and fragrant woody stems produce pretty purple flowers that bees and butterflies love," says Dailey. "They bloom from late spring through October." A mature plant grows to 3 to 5 feet tall and requires plenty of sun. It's sturdy enough to withstand wind and cold weather.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 4 through 9

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Rosemary is a great addition to your garden because it's nice to look at and edible. "Since this is an evergreen plant, you'll want to prune it regularly to maintain a good shape—and if you're using it to cook, the freshest taste," says Lambton. "It loves the sun and can hold up well in dry conditions." If you live in a warmer region, rosemary will have no problem growing year-round. In colder climates, replace the in-ground plant when the weather starts getting chilly, or bring the plant inside if it's grown in a container.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 7 through 10, but can be grown as an annual or brought indoors for the winter in colder zones

Stonecrop (Sedum)

The fleshy leaves on this plant help it retain water in dry conditions. "It comes in all shapes and sizes," says Dailey. "Some are upright, while others creep low to the ground, but all have attractive blooms of hot pink, lime green, and other vibrant colors." They thrive in soil that can drain well.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 4 through 9

Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia)

These daisy-like blooms feature bold golden petals surrounding a brown-black center, and thrive in even the toughest conditions—including dry and sunny spots. "Black-eyed Susans have a wide native range and are a pollinator favorite," says Kevin Lenhart, design director at Yardzen. "It's a go-to plant for meadow planting designs."

Hardiness Zone: Zones 3 through 10

Bougainvillea

If you're living in the hottest parts of the country, this vibrant (yet super tough) climbing plant can add lots of bold color to your garden. (They can grow up to 40 feet in width!) You can find bougainvillea in a number of colors, including bold pinks, purples, oranges, yellows, and whites. If you live in colder climates and want a touch of this tropical plant, you can use it as an annual or a container that you overwinter.

"Bougainvillea is an extremely hard-working shrub and vine," says Kate Singleton, director of design for Tilly. "Noted for actually blooming more when very dry, this is a show-stopper in the landscape."

Hardiness Zone: Zones 9 through 11

Trumpet Vine (Campsis Radicans)

Once it's established in your garden, the trumpet vine and its bold orange and red blooms will thrive even in drought conditions. It grows quickly, and can reach up to 40 feet long—so it's great for covering structures like trellises.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 4 through 10

Asters

Long-blooming flowers with pretty purple petals and gold centers attract pollinators to this hardy plant, which can thrive in a variety of sun, soil and water conditions—including in drought.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 3 through 8

Sweet Potato Vine

No, you won't actually get any sweet potatoes off of this pretty vine, but it comes in an array of fun colors (including a vibrant lime green and deep purple), to add some interest to your landscaping—no flowers required.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 9 through 11

Agave

Succulents in general are great drought tolerant plants, but the spiky agave can be a bold addition to your landscaping, with some versions growing up to 10 feet in size. "There are more than a few agaves to choose from," Lenhart says. "We favor the compact form of the A. victoria reginae, and the graceful (and less sharp) structure of the A. attenuata."

Hardiness Zone: Zones 9 through 11

Summer Snapdragon (Angelonia)

These bright and bold flowers look like snapdragons, but bloom for much longer—and return year after year. While it prefers a bit of moisture, it'll still keep blooming in drought conditions.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 9 through 11 (as a perennial)

Dianthus

These pretty and long-blooming plants (with varieties that can serve as annuals, biennials, or perennials) can tolerate drought—though they definitely do best in cooler temperatures.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 4 through 9

Salvia

Whether you opt for the annual or perennial varieties (which come in shades of indigo, red, white, and violet), salvia produce long-lasting blooms and thrive even in drought conditions. (Bonus: They're a pollinator-friendly plant that's popular with bees and butterflies.)

Hardiness Zone: Zones 5 through 10

Honeysuckle (Lonicera)

Honeysuckle's super-fragrant blooms make it a popular climbing plant for adorning trellises and pergolas. While it'll need regular watering when it's getting established, after a few years, it can tolerate drought.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 6 through 8

Catmint (Nepeta)

"Gently sprawling stems packed with pale lavender flowers make this a great edging plant," Lenhart says. Catmint is a full-sun plant (though it can handle some shade), and can bloom all summer and into fall.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 3 through 8

Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia Nummularia)

A member of the primrose family, creeping Jenny (AKA moneywort) is a lush plant that'll fill in the spaces around other plants, does well in both full sun and part shade—and can handle a bit of drought. "Creeping Jenny can be a beautiful addition to the landscape with the striking lime green color," Singleton says. "It's especially impactful when planted at the forefront of a raised bed where it can trail over."

Hardiness Zone: Zones 3 through 8

Bergenia (Bergenia Cordifolia)

Another drought tolerant perennial, bergenia thrives in the shade, helping to fill out your shade garden. While bergenia plants do best with moist soil, plants that are located in deep shade can handle stretches without.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 3 through 8

Coreopsis

Bright coreopsis blooms are a long lasting (and sunny) addition to a drought tolerant garden. They're a great easy-care plant option for beginner gardeners, as they require little maintenance. You'll need to water them regularly in the first year, but they'll tolerate drought every year after.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 2 through 11

Hardy Geranium (Geranium Sanguineum)

Also known as bloody geranium or bloody cranesbill, the hardy geranium creates sizable mounds of foliage and flowers that can thrive in pretty much any condition, from full sun to part shade, moist soil to drought conditions.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 3 through 9

Bearded Iris (Iris X Germanica)

Irises bloom beautifully in the spring and summer, in shades of white, gold, and purple. The perennial bearded iris is particularly hardy—it's disease resistant and drought tolerant.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 4 through 9

Juniper (Juniperus Communis)

Juniper comes in many forms—but whether it serves as ground cover or a taller landscape item, this hardy shrub can deal with neglect, poor soil, and a lack of water. "Junipers are a very good drought tolerant option for the landscape," Singleton says. "From upright, to branching, to sprawling along the ground, junipers are a very versatile evergreen option."

Hardiness Zone: Zones 2 through 8

Oregano (Origanum Vulgare)

Many Mediterranean herbs thrive in drier conditions, including the perennial oregano. Oregano also produces pretty (edible) flowers that you can use in your cooking, in addition to the leaves.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 4 through 8

Hellebore

If you're looking for a drought-tolerant shade plant, the hellebore is a perfect addition to your garden. This perennial plant will require some watering early in their life cycle, but can tolerate drought after they're established.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 5 through 8

Marigold (Tagetes)

These long-blooming annual blooms are a gardener favorite (especially as they tend to help keep pests out of the garden!). They'll need regular watering early on, but can tolerate drought later in the summer.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 2 through 11

Santolina (Santolina Chamaecyparissus)

"Santolina is a Mediterranean transplant that works well in dry conditions," Lenhart says. "The bold yellow flowers are toned down a bit by its pale, sunbleached foliage." This hardy plant can tolerate not only drought, but poor soil conditions as well.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 6 through 9