Gardening with native plants can be incredibly rewarding. Native wildflowers, ferns, grasses, shrubs, and trees are beautiful, versatile, and easy to grow. You may be surprised how many drought tolerant native plants don’t mind dry soils or a lack of irrigation.
Native plants tend to be low-maintenance and hardy because they are already ideally suited to the local environment. Many wildflowers are easy to start from seed, division, or young plants from a reputable nursery or garden center that stocks native species. Do not dig plants from their natural habitats!
Let’s take a look at 37 fantastic native plants that you can grow this year.
How to Choose the Best Native Plants for Your Garden
Gardening in areas with prolonged or occasional droughts can pose challenges. Rather than relying on regular irrigation to keep your garden watered, choose drought-tolerant plants that will withstand dry soil.
You will probably need a little extra water after transplanting, but once they become established, many drought-tolerant plants will not require extra water at all.
But how do you choose the most ideal plants for your home garden? Here are a few tips for selecting plants that will grow well for you:
- Learn your USDA plant hardiness zone.
- Choose plants that are recommended for your local USDA plant hardiness zone.
- Notice and identify local plants in wild places.
- Prepare your planting area (including soil amendments) before planting.
- Choose sun-loving plants for sunny spots, and shade-tolerant plants for shadier areas.
- Pay attention to a plant’s preferred soil type and prepare your soil to match.
- Pay attention to a plant’s watering needs and provide ideal moisture levels.
- Transplant most plants in early spring or fall.
- Keep the garden area free of weedy competition.
- Choose the right plants (shape, size, spreading) for your available space.
Native Plant Garden Design Tips
Once you have chosen your plants and prepared your garden site, it’s time to design a thriving oasis of native plants. Remember to:
- Give each new plant plenty of space to grow.
- Plant lower-growing ground covers in the front of your display.
- Place taller plants and shrubs towards the back.
- Group clusters of flowering plants together to attract pollinators.
- Grow a variety of plants that flower at different times so you can enjoy a colorful landscape throughout the season.
37 Drought-Tolerant Native Plants
These plants are all relatively easy to grow and drought-tolerant. Many can be started from seed or divided from clusters – don’t be afraid to ask gardening friends if they have any plants they are willing to share!
Adam’s Needle
| BOTANICAL NAME | Yucca filamentosa |
| PLANT TYPE | Broadleaf evergreen |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun |
| HEIGHT | 4 to 8 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 5 to 10 |
Adam’s needle is a large succulent plant native to the southeastern United States. The evergreen leaves are long and stiff with fine filaments that peel away at the edges of the leaf, like thick strands of thread. Mid-summer, the jumbo-sized flower stalks appear filled with showy, creamy white blossoms. The flowers attract an assortment of butterflies and pollinators.
It is low-maintenance and easy to grow. This plant does best in full sun but will tolerate some dappled afternoon shade. Adam’s needle is not picky about soil quality as long as the soil is well-drained. Plants will spread slowly over time, so give them plenty of space to grow. If they outgrow their allotted space, you can easily divide and propagate them from basal offshoots.
Anise-Scented Goldenrod
| BOTANICAL NAME | Solidago odora |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun to part shade |
| HEIGHT | 2 to 4 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 4 to 9 |
Anise-scented goldenrod, or sweet goldenrod, is an easy-to-grow perennial that starts readily from seed. In ideal conditions, this plant will self-seed and spread, generating a mass of neighboring plants. This goldenrod produces plenty of bright yellow flowers each year in late summer. Contrary to popular belief, goldenrod does not cause hay fever. It simply blooms simultaneously with other plants (like ragweed), which may cause respiratory issues.
Anise-scented goldenrod has sweetly fragrant leaves. The flowers bloom in masses of long, bright yellow clusters, attracting many pollinators, including butterflies. This plant grows best in full sun but will grow well with some partial shade. It is tolerant of many soil conditions but prefers medium-moisture, well-drained soil. If plants become crowded or grow beyond where you want them, you can thin and divide them to keep their population in check.
Beebalm
| BOTANICAL NAME | Monarda fistulosa |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun |
| HEIGHT | 2 to 4 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 3 to 9 |
Beebalm, also known as wild bergamot, is a fragrant member of the mint family. This native wildflower is widespread throughout North America, where it grows in open grasslands. It likes plenty of direct sunlight. Soil should be of average-to-rich quality and well-drained. Beebalm can be easily grown from seed and can spread via self-seeding and rhizomes.
Beebalm is an excellent native plant choice for attracting hummingbirds and butterflies. Its flowers develop as masses of thin pale purple tubular blossoms and bloom from mid-summer until the first frost. If plants grow too densely, they can develop powdery mildew, so thin dense clusters to improve air circulation. Beebalm is not bothered by deer and rabbits.
Big Bluestem
| BOTANICAL NAME | Andropogon gerardii |
| PLANT TYPE | Ornamental grass |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun |
| HEIGHT | 4 to 6 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 4 to 9 |
Big bluestem is a tall native grass that is quite ornamental. It is found naturally in prairie and grassland regions throughout most central and eastern North America. It is both drought-tolerant and long-standing well into the winter months. If you have a large, sunny, naturalized area and want to add plant diversity, consider some native grasses. Grasses provide excellent erosion control on hillsides or bare areas prone to soil loss.
Big bluestem is easy to grow and to start from seed. It is somewhat slow to establish but will eventually spread by seed and vegetative growth. Flowers bloom in the fall and add some reddish-brown color to this grass. Grow big bluestem in full sun with rich, well-drained soil for best results.
Black-Eyed Susan
| BOTANICAL NAME | Rudbeckia hirta |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun |
| HEIGHT | 2 to 3 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 3 to 7 |
Black-eyed Susan is a familiar wildflower. It is a widespread native plant that grows in grasslands and meadows. In the home garden, black-eyed Susan is a wonderful addition to an ornamental landscape. It is beautiful, drought-tolerant, resistant to browsing deer, and easy to grow from seed.
Black-eyed Susan blooms from mid-summer until early fall. If started from seed in the spring, this plant can be grown as an annual or a short-lived perennial.
However, you probably won’t notice that it’s a short-lived perennial because plants readily self-seed, and you will always have new black-eyed Susans popping up. The bright yellow flowers attract birds, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Blazing Star
| BOTANICAL NAME | Liatris spicata |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun |
| HEIGHT | 2 to 4 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 3 to 8 |
Do you have a butterfly garden or a pollinator garden? Try blazing star for a burst of colorful summertime color that’s also a pollinator magnet. Tall spikes of feathery or fluffy-looking purple flowers are the standout feature of the blazing star.
Each plant forms a tall, sturdy stem densely lined with thin leaves. The flower heads form at the terminal end of each stem, blooming from the top down. After blooming, the flower spikes become a dense mass of cattail-like seedheads, which last into the fall and attract seed-eating birds.
Blazing star is readily grown from seed. This plant prefers moist soils, but once established, it tolerates drought. If the stems become too top-heavy while blooming, stake them to maintain an upright position. Blazing star is also sometimes known as gayfeather.
Blue False Indigo
| BOTANICAL NAME | Baptisia australis |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun to part shade |
| HEIGHT | 3 to 4 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 3 to 9 |
This beautiful perennial wildflower is native to woodland edges in the central and eastern United States. Plants grown in full sun will be more compact and bushier than those grown in shaded areas.
Ideal growing conditions for the blue false indigo are full sun or dappled afternoon shade, with rich, dry to medium-moisture, well-drained soil. Blue false indigo develops a long taproot, so mature plants will be difficult to transplant but quite drought-tolerant.
Blue false indigo blooms in late spring. Plants produce spectacular spikes of indigo-blue pea-like flowers. The flowers attract butterflies, and blue false indigo is the host plant for several butterfly species. The flowers and the long-lasting mature seed pods are quite showy and unique.
Butterfly Weed
| BOTANICAL NAME | Asclepias tuberosa |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun |
| HEIGHT | 1 to 1.5 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 3 to 9 |
There are many benefits to growing butterfly weed in your garden. Butterfly weed, also known as butterfly milkweed, is one of the host plants for the monarch butterfly caterpillar. The clusters of bright red-orange flowers are pollinator magnets, attracting many species of butterflies and bees. This plant is also low-maintenance and easy to grow in the home garden in the southwestern US and along the east coast.
Grow your butterfly weed in full sun. Give it average-quality, dry to medium-moisture, well-drained soil. Milkweeds are easy to grow from seed and will self-seed in ideal conditions.
Plants slowly spread over time, forming larger and larger clusters. These plants are not bothered by deer and rabbits; once established, their deep taproots make them drought-tolerant.
Carolina Wild Indigo
| BOTANICAL NAME | Baptisia cinerea |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun to part shade |
| HEIGHT | 1 to 3 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 8 to 9 |
As its name implies, the Carolina wild indigo is native to a small region extending from Virginia’s coastal plain through North and South Carolina to Georgia. This beautiful plant grows best in full sun or partial shade. Give it well-drained soil where it can establish itself for the long term. Wild indigo develops a long tap root, making it quite difficult to transplant but very drought-tolerant. Start plants from seed.
Carolina wild indigo has the appearance of a tiny shrub with stiff, semi-woody stems. The leaves provide host plant nourishment for a few species of butterfly larvae, and the flowers attract pollinators. Flowers bloom from late spring into early summer. The flowers are bright yellow and pea-like, forming a loose cluster at the end of the flowering stem. After flowering, large dark-colored seed pods provide long-season interest.
Common Dittany
| BOTANICAL NAME | Cunila origanoides |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun to part shade |
| HEIGHT | 0.75 to 1.5 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 5 to 8 |
Common dittany may not be the most well-known native plant, but it is worthy of consideration in a native plant garden. Grow it in full sun or partial shade with dry to medium-moisture, well-drained soil. It is easily started from seed and will naturalize quickly in ideal conditions, but its native range is the central and eastern US.
Common dittany has loose clusters of pale lilac-colored flowers that bloom from late summer until early fall. The flowers are small and trumpet-shaped and attract butterflies. The leaves are pleasantly fragrant. Plants that spread and develop into messy clusters can be pruned and thinned to keep them more controlled and tidy.
Image Credit: Eric Hunt, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Common Sunflower
| BOTANICAL NAME | Helianthus annuus |
| PLANT TYPE | Annual |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun |
| HEIGHT | 3 to 10 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 2 to 11 |
The common sunflower is a super showy native annual wildflower. Its large, showy yellow flowers will demand plenty of attention from passersby! It can grow very tall and naturally occurs in grasslands, prairies, and meadows of western North America. Plants are easily grown from seed and will readily self-seed in ideal conditions. Grow common sunflowers in full sun with dry to medium-moisture, well-drained soil.
Common sunflowers would be a good option for a larger area where you can grow them in a cluster. Use stakes to help support them if they grow very tall and top-heavy. Flowers bloom in mid-summer and attract butterflies and other pollinators. After blooming, when the seeds mature, your sunflowers will become a food source for seed-eating birds!
Dew Flower
| BOTANICAL NAME | Penstemon cobaea |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun |
| HEIGHT | 1 to 2 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 5 to 8 |
This incredibly showy perennial wildflower is native to the prairies and meadowland of the central United States. Dew flower, also called beardtongue, is a low-maintenance plant that thrives in full sun. Give it dry to medium-moisture soil that is well drained, as soggy soils will cause root rot.
Dew flower blooms in the spring and has dazzling flowers. Tall flower spikes sport numerous large trumpet-like pink or purple flowers.
The blossoms attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Plants are not bothered by deer or rabbits. This plant would be an excellent addition to a prairie garden or a standout in your perennial wildflower or pollinator garden.
Downy Phlox
| BOTANICAL NAME | Phlox pilosa |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun |
| HEIGHT | 1 to 1.5 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 4 to 9 |
Downy phlox, or prairie phlox, is a low-growing perennial wildflower. There are many subspecies of this plant, which are native throughout the central and eastern United States.
Downy phlox grows best in full sun with medium-moisture, well-drained soil. It is not bothered by browsing deer and rabbits. Once established, plants become more tolerant of drought.
Downy phlox is an excellent addition to a butterfly, prairie, or rock garden. Plants bloom from late spring through mid-summer. The flowers range from bright pink to pale purple, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. This plant is easy to grow from seed and will spread over time by underground rhizomes.
Eastern False Aloe
| BOTANICAL NAME | Agave virginica, synonym Manfreda virginica |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun to part shade |
| HEIGHT | 2 to 6 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 6 to 9 |
The eastern false aloe, also called American agave, is an intriguing plant for the home gardener. It is native to dry areas of southeastern North America. In the home landscape, grow it in a rock garden or other xeriscape-themed garden setting. Eastern false aloe thrives in full sun with well-drained soil.
Plants form a basal rosette with long, rigid leaves with pointy tips and serrated edges. They flower from mid-summer until early fall. The flowers form on tall spikes that rise several feet taller than the basal leaves. While the flowers are not particularly showy, they add a unique element to the garden. After blooming, the fruit capsules are long-lasting and interesting to look at.
Fragrant Sumac
| BOTANICAL NAME | Rhus aromatica |
| PLANT TYPE | Deciduous shrub |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun to Part shade |
| HEIGHT | 2 to 6 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 3 to 9 |
Fragrant sumac should not be confused with poison ivy. This plant is a cousin of poison ivy and bears some visual resemblance but contains no irritating oils. On the contrary, it is an excellent plant for the home landscape. It is easy to grow, beautiful and provides great value for wildlife.
This deciduous shrub blooms in the spring with clusters of small yellowish flowers that attract butterflies and other pollinators. Small red fruits develop in the fall, persisting into winter, and provide a food source for birds and other wildlife.
In the fall, fragrant sumac puts on a spectacular color display as its leaves change from yellow to orange to brilliant shades of red.
Hearts-A-Burstin’
| BOTANICAL NAME | Euonymus americanus |
| PLANT TYPE | Deciduous shrub |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Part shade |
| HEIGHT | 4 to 6 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 6 to 9 |
Hearts-a-burstin’, also known as the American strawberry bush, is an unusual plant to add to your drought-tolerant native plant garden. This deciduous shrub is somewhat scraggly-looking, forming several sparsely-leaved, upright, green stems.
Small white flowers bloom in the spring but are not particularly showy. The primary interest in growing this plant is the bright red fruits that burst out of deep pink capsules. The fruits and capsules are attractive and long-lasting on the stems. The small red fruits are also favorites among birds.
Deer love to eat the leaves of this plant, so if you live in an area with deer, you will need to protect your hearts-a-burstin’ with a fence or plant something else entirely. These plants will spread over time and look nice when planted in a naturalized woodland area. They prefer dry to moist soil and tolerate occasional drought.
Indian Blanket
| BOTANICAL NAME | Gaillardia pulchella |
| PLANT TYPE | Annual |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun |
| HEIGHT | 1 to 1.5 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 2 to 11 |
Indian blanket is a familiar flower, widely available in garden centers and easily grown from seed. It is typically grown as an annual, although in warmer climates, it can be treated as a short-lived perennial. Plants will readily reseed themselves and will naturalize in large undisturbed areas.
This annual native Gaillardia grows throughout eastern and south-central North America. Gaillardia cultivars are available commercially, and some are more hardy perennials.
Indian blanket blooms during the summer and continues until the first frost. The flowers are red and orange, very showy, and quite prolific. While blooming, they attract butterflies and an assortment of pollinators. After flowering, the seedheads attract seed-eating birds. Indian blanket is best grown in a location with full sun and well-drained soil.
Largeflower Aster
| BOTANICAL NAME | Symphyotrichum grandiflorum |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun |
| HEIGHT | 1 to 3 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 5 to 9 |
The largeflower aster (also called the big-headed aster) is native to Virginia and the Carolinas but can be grown in a much wider region. Plant it in full sun with average-quality, well-drained soil. Largeflower aster is a low-maintenance plant that grows easily from seed. Over time, plants will spread and look particularly stunning en masse during full bloom.
The largeflower aster is a fairly small plant that looks insignificant during most of the growing season. Small leaves grow along somewhat stiff woody stems.
When many other plants have finished flowering in late fall, this one bursts into bloom with numerous 1-inch-wide, deep purple flowers with yellow centers. The flowers attract late-season butterflies.
Large-Flowered Tickseed
| BOTANICAL NAME | Coreopsis grandiflora |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun |
| HEIGHT | 1.5 to 2.5 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 4 to 9 |
Large-flowered tickseed is a beautiful wildflower native to much of North America. The bright yellow flowers bloom throughout the summer and attract butterflies and bees.
Plants form clusters of upright stems with thin leaves that remain deep green throughout the growing season. These plants are low-maintenance and easy to grow from seed. They will spread and naturalize but can be easily controlled by removing unwanted seedlings.
Grow your large-flowered tickseed in full sun. They do well with dry to medium-moisture, well-drained soil. Excess moisture can be a problem for these plants. Wet soil will cause root rot, and overly crowded plants in humid environments are susceptible to powdery mildew. Plants tolerate drought and are not bothered by deer or rabbits.
Mapleleaf Viburnum
| BOTANICAL NAME | Viburnum acerifolium |
| PLANT TYPE | Deciduous shrub |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun to part shade |
| HEIGHT | 3 to 6 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 3 to 8 |
The mapleleaf viburnum is a deciduous shrub that doesn’t mind shade. This plant is native to eastern North America, typically growing as an understory shrub in open woodlands and moist forests. Once established, mapleleaf viburnum is drought-tolerant. It is a welcome addition to the home landscape, providing an attractive form with flowers and leaves throughout the growing season.
Clusters of white flowers bloom in early summer, attracting butterflies. After flowering, prune your plants, as needed, to maintain the desired size and shape. In the fall, the maple-leaf-shaped foliage turns brilliant shades of pinkish-orange. If two different viburnums are grown nearby, they can cross-pollinate and set fruits in the fall. The dark purple, berry-like fruits will attract birds.
Maryland Goldenaster
| BOTANICAL NAME | Chrysopsis mariana |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun to part shade |
| HEIGHT | 1 to 2.5 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 4 to 9 |
Maryland goldenaster is native to the southeastern United States. It is best grown in full sun with gritty, well-drained soil. Established plants are drought-tolerant.
Maryland goldenaster is a short-lived perennial that is easily grown from seed. The plants will die back after a couple of years but will continue to reseed themselves and will naturalize in larger areas with ideal growing conditions.
Maryland goldenaster grows low basal rosettes. From these, several upright leafy stems emerge. From late summer until mid-fall, bright yellow flowers bloom. Each plant can produce many showy flowers, displaying an attractive autumn burst of color. The flowers also attract late-season pollinators.
Nodding Onion
| BOTANICAL NAME | Allium cernuum |
| PLANT TYPE | Bulb |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun to part shade |
| HEIGHT | 1 to 1.5 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 4 to 8 |
This delicate-looking wild onion has beautiful, nodding pink flower heads. Nodding onion blooms in the summer and typically sends up one flower stalk per bulb.
Plants will slowly multiply by self-seeding and bulb division, creating small clusters of onion plants. When crushed, the long, thin leaves have a slight onion smell and are not bothered by browsing herbivores.
Nodding onions can be grown as part of an herb garden, rock garden, pollinator garden, or wildflower garden. These plants need low-moisture, well-drained soil, as the bulbs will rot if grown in wet soil. Nodding onion prefers full sun but will tolerate some partial afternoon shade, especially in warmer climates. Flowers attract butterflies and bees.
Pale Purple Coneflower
| BOTANICAL NAME | Echinacea pallida |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun to part shade |
| HEIGHT | 2 to 3 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 3 to 10 |
Pale purple coneflower is an attractive perennial wildflower native to dry grasslands of central and eastern North America. This plant is a welcome addition to a prairie garden, sunny naturalized area, or butterfly and bird garden. Grow it in full sun with average-quality, well-drained soil.
The pale purple coneflower blooms in mid-summer. Tall flowering stems appear well above the lower foliage. A single flower forms at the end of each tall stem.
The flowers are large and showy with prominent central disks and long, downward-slanting, pale purple petals. The flowers are very attractive to butterflies, and seed-eating birds will feast on the seeds later in the season. You can prune or deadhead for more bloom production.
Pink Muhly Grass
| BOTANICAL NAME | Muhlenbergia capillaries |
| PLANT TYPE | Ornamental grass |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun to part shade |
| HEIGHT | 2 to 3 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 5 to 9 |
Pink muhly grass is a beautiful native grass. It grows in dense clusters of thin, fine leaves. From mid-to-late fall, a fine haze of delicate pink grassy flowers blooms across the top of each plant, creating the image of a fine pink mist.
Plants grown in full sun will have much better blooms than those grown in shaded areas. The pink blossoms fade to brown but remain standing on the plant throughout the winter months.
Pink muhly grass is easy to grow in full sun and average, well-drained soil. Once established, it is very drought-tolerant and withstands less-than-ideal growing conditions. New plants may occasionally sprout from seed, and larger clusters can be divided if desired. A large group of pink muhly grass plants in full bloom makes an eye-catching sight in the landscape!
Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus
| BOTANICAL NAME | Opuntia humifusa |
| PLANT TYPE | Cactus |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun |
| HEIGHT | 0.5 to 1 foot |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 4 to 9 |
The Eastern prickly pear cactus is one of the few cactuses native to the eastern and central United States. This easy-to-grow plant offers some unique vegetation to the landscape, but be cautious around this plant; its spines are long and very sharp! Round, flattened clusters of tiny spines are also very painful to the touch. Grow your prickly pear cactus in full sun with dry, well-drained soil.
Prickly pears develop numerous large, fleshy pads that tend to sprawl more than stand upright. If a healthy pad falls off, it can be propagated by simply touching the lower end to the soil surface, where it will root and grow a new cactus plant!
In mid-summer, prickly pear blooms with large, showy yellow flowers. Plants are not bothered by herbivores, and the flowers attract pollinators. The leaves stay evergreen throughout the winter.
Purple Coneflower
| BOTANICAL NAME | Echinacea purpurea |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun |
| HEIGHT | 2 to 4 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 3 to 8 |
This native wildflower is found in prairies and grasslands throughout central and eastern North America. Grow purple coneflower in your home landscape in any sunny location with well-drained soil. Deer may nibble small, tender, young plants, but they are no longer bothered as the plants become larger and tougher.
Purple coneflower blooms throughout the summer. The flowers are large and very showy. They have prominent central disks that look like a sizeable reddish-orange pincushion, surrounded by bright pinkish-purple petals. Butterflies and other pollinators love the flowers, and after blooming, seed-eating birds (especially the American Goldfinch!) will hungrily forage on the seed heads.
Purple Poppy Mallow
| BOTANICAL NAME | Callirhoe involucrata |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun |
| HEIGHT | 0.5 to 1 foot |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 4 to 8 |
Purple poppy mallow is a beautiful wildflower native to the central United States. Its deep pink flowers are very showy and bloom in late spring or early summer.
Purple poppy mallow is easy to grow from seed and will self-seed and naturalize in ideal conditions. An established patch of purple poppy mallow makes an effective ground cover. When in bloom, it provides an eye-catching display.
Grow purple poppy mallow in a rock garden, native plant garden, or as a low-growing border plant. It thrives in full sun and will become leggy with fewer flowers if grown in a shaded area. Plants are not picky about soil type as long as the location is well-drained. They will tolerate shallow or rocky soil, as well as drought conditions.
Rattlesnake Master
| BOTANICAL NAME | Eryngium yuccifolium |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun |
| HEIGHT | 4 to 5 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 3 to 8 |
Rattlesnake master is an unusual plant found naturally occurring in tallgrass prairies of the central and eastern United States. Ideal conditions for this plant include full sun and dry to medium-moisture, well-drained soil. Plants develop a long taproot and are difficult to transplant but can be easily started from seed. Once established, they are very resilient to drought conditions.
Rattlesnake master develops a basal rosette of long, thin, yucca-like leaves. Flowers bloom from mid-summer through early fall. The flowers are showy and unique, looking more like spiky orbs than a traditional flower form. Regardless of their unique appearance, they are quite showy and attract butterflies and many other pollinators.
Rose Verbena
| BOTANICAL NAME | Glandularia canadensis |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun |
| HEIGHT | 0.5 to 1.5 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 5 to 9 |
Rose verbena makes an excellent ground cover for a butterfly garden, rock garden, or along borders and edges. This plant is also a great choice for containers and hanging baskets. This low-maintenance plant has showy rounded clusters of pinkish-purple flowers. The flowers bloom throughout the summer months and attract butterflies.
Rose verbena, also known as rose mock vervain, is native throughout the central and eastern United States. This plant is easily grown from seed and will self-seed in ideal conditions.
Grow it in a location with full sun and dry to medium-moisture soil. Soil can be average quality or rocky but must be well-drained. While it can be very drought-tolerant, you’ll see more vibrant shows of color if it’s given occasional watering!
Shrubby Evening Primrose
| BOTANICAL NAME | Calylophus serrulatus |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun |
| HEIGHT | 0.5 to 1.5 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 3 to 8 |
The shrubby evening primrose, also called the plains evening primrose, is native to western North America and grows across the great plains in dry prairie habitats. Once established, it is well-adapted to drought conditions. Grow this primrose in a location with full sun and very well-drained soil.
The showy, bright yellow flowers of shrubby evening primrose bloom in mid-summer. Some varieties of evening primrose display open flowers only in the evenings, but the shrubby evening primrose flowers remain open throughout the day. The leaves are narrow and toothed, adding a bit of diversity to your drought-tolerant garden plot.
Shrubby St. John’s Wort
| BOTANICAL NAME | Hypericum prolificum |
| PLANT TYPE | Deciduous shrub |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun to part shade |
| HEIGHT | 1 to 5 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 3 to 8 |
Shrubby St. John’s wort is a medium-sized shrub native to eastern North America. It grows best in full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Be sure to give your shrub plenty of space because plants grown in full sun will flower better than those grown in more shaded locations. Shrubs generally grow in a rounded shape and make excellent hedges or borders.
Prune shrubby St. John’s wort in early spring. Flowers develop on new growth, so you must prune annually for the best flowering. The bright yellow flowers are very showy and attract butterflies and other pollinators. The seed pods are also attractive for late-season interest. While this plant prefers moist soil, it will tolerate occasional drought once established.
Spiderwort
| BOTANICAL NAME | Tradescantia ohiensis |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun to part shade |
| HEIGHT | 2 to 3 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 4 to 9 |
Spiderwort may be a familiar roadside plant. It is native to eastern North America and grows in prairies, woodland edges, and grassy meadows. It is best grown in full sun. Plant it in a location with average-quality, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil. In ideal conditions, spiderwort will spread by seed and offshoots and form large clumps.
Spiderwort blooms in late spring or early summer. The deep purple flowers are showy and attract butterflies and other pollinators. After flowering, the vegetation may look a bit messy and ragged. This plant would do well in a larger naturalized area. Spiderwort appreciates regular soil moisture but is also tolerant of occasional drought.
Southern Sundrops
| BOTANICAL NAME | Oenothera fruticosa |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun |
| HEIGHT | 1.5 to 2.5 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 3 to 8 |
Southern sundrops, also known as narrow-leaf evening primrose, is a beautiful plant for your native wildflower garden. It is best grown in full sun with dry to medium-moisture, well-drained soil. This drought-tolerant wildflower is native to eastern North America and easy to grow throughout the region.
Southern sundrops blooms from mid-summer until early fall. The bright yellow flowers are showy and cheerful. Although many members of the primrose family bloom only at night, the sundrops flowers stay open throughout the daytime.
Each flower is short-lived, but each plant will produce many flowers quickly for a long-lasting bloom season. Plants are easily grown from seed and will readily self-seed in the garden.
Stiff Aster
| BOTANICAL NAME | Ionactis linariifolia |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun |
| HEIGHT | 1 to 2 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 4 to 9 |
The stiff aster is a welcome addition to a native plant garden. Native to eastern North America, stiff aster is easy to grow and low-maintenance. As a fairly low-growing plant, the stiff aster can be easily incorporated into a sunny rock garden or used along borders and garden edges. Give it a location with full sun and gritty, well-drained soil.
Leaves are thin and somewhat stiff, growing off a semi-woody stem. Unlike many asters that bloom late in the season, stiff aster blooms mid-summer.
The flowers are showy, with pale purple petals surrounding a bright yellow center. The flowers are not profuse but add some mid-season color and attract butterflies and other pollinators.
Switchgrass
| BOTANICAL NAME | Panicum virgatum |
| PLANT TYPE | Ornamental grass |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun |
| HEIGHT | 3 to 6 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 5 to 9 |
Switchgrass, also sometimes called panic grass, is a tall ornamental native grass that grows wild throughout North America. In the home landscape, it does best in full sun with medium-moisture soil. Once established, however, it tolerates dry soil and occasional droughts.
Switchgrass can grow into wide clumping bunches of stems up to 6 feet tall. This grass flowers in mid-summer, with seed heads lasting well into the winter. Native grasses can help control erosion and are useful for larger naturalized areas. This variety can be a bit too large for a smaller garden area.
Threadleaf Coreopsis
| BOTANICAL NAME | Coreopsis verticillata |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Full sun |
| HEIGHT | 2.5 to 3 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 3 to 9 |
Threadleaf coreopsis is easy to grow and low maintenance. This plant grows readily from seed and will reseed itself in ideal conditions. Any unwanted or sprawling growth can be controlled by hand-pulling. Self-seeding can be minimized by deadheading spent flowers. Grow your threadleaf coreopsis in full sun with dry to medium-moisture, well-drained soil.
The threadleaf coreopsis has a relatively long blooming period. You will see the bright yellow flowers anytime throughout the summer months. The showy flowers attract butterflies and plenty of other pollinators. The plants are not bothered by browsing deer and rabbits. Plants are also tolerant of drought and poor soil conditions.
Woodland Sunflower
| BOTANICAL NAME | Helianthus divaricatus |
| PLANT TYPE | Herbaceous perennial |
| SUN REQUIREMENTS | Part shade |
| HEIGHT | 2 to 6 feet |
| HARDINESS ZONES | 3 to 8 |
Woodland sunflower, sometimes called rough sunflower, can be found in grasslands and open woodlands throughout eastern North America. This plant is best grown in partial shade with well-drained soil. It is not picky about soil quality and, once established, doesn’t mind drought. This plant is also not bothered by browsing deer.
The woodland sunflower is a beautiful native wildflower. Masses of bright yellow flowers bloom from mid-summer into fall. Each plant produces several flowers on short stems.
They make excellent cut flowers and also attract butterflies. Later in the season, birds come to feed on the seeds. This would make an ideal plant to grow in a large mass along a woodland border. If plants become top-heavy and flop over, stake them to maintain an upright position.
Final Thoughts
When looking for drought-tolerant plants that are easy to grow, there are plenty of native species to choose from. Gardening in drought conditions can be a challenge, but native plants are a great choice for challenging conditions because they are naturally well-adapted to the local and regional environmental ranges.
When choosing plants for your garden, select the species that are accustomed to your specific growing conditions:
- Choose sun-loving plants for a garden patch in full sun.
- Choose shade-tolerant plants for your shade garden or for growing in partially-shaded areas near trees, fences, and buildings.
- Prepare your site before planting to create the ideal soil conditions for your garden plot.
Give your plants some extra attention and care until they are well-established, and then you can enjoy your garden to its full extent!
