There are many native plants and flowers that are resilient in dry areas or tolerate naturally occurring droughts. Native plants have thrived in every type of landscape for thousands of years—they have the resiliency to survive in dry areas. If you live east of the Rocky Mountains, here are some native plants to consider, whether you are looking to conserve water or plant a garden in a dry spot.
No matter where you live in 2023, water is in the news. Droughts and record rainfalls are changing some environments, including those closest to home: our yards, parks, and communities.
If you’re planting a garden in a dry spot, the best flowers, shrubs, and trees to plant are native plants. A native plant is a plant that has lived in its home area for thousands of years. Their DNA knows the soil, weather, and seasons better than any other plant organism on the planet. Native plants are the best choice for dealing with droughts or planning water-conserving gardens.
If you live east of the Rockies, the plants on this list are perfect for planting in dry areas. These plants are gorgeous and drought-tolerant. They can happily thrive in almost all gardens in the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast, or South.
Best native plants for dry areas
Listed in alphabetical order; follow the links to learn more about each plant!
Black-Eyed Susan
Black-Eyed Susans are drought superstars. These bright flowers can withstand full sun and dry places. In return, they bloom for over a month in the summer.
Blazing Star
Blazing Stars are known for being bright and joyful—even in dry gardens. Their tall stalks are covered in flowers. Plant them in groups of 5 or more and watch the pollinators throw a party.
Butterfly Weed (Milkweed)
Butterfly Weed is a type of Milkweed known for its bright orange blooms. These drought-tolerant flowers are also the host plants for monarch butterflies.
Coneflower
Coneflowers offer knockout flowers that bloom for 6-9 weeks in the summer. They are fine with dry, sunny spots in your garden and extremely easy to plant—even from seed!
Coreopsis (Tickseed)
Coreopsis is great in dry spots (and don’t worry, they don’t attract ticks!) Their tiny flowers cover the plants in the summer, making them a pollinator favorite.
Heuchera (Alumroot)
Heuchera or Alumroot is a short, mostly-evergreen native plant that is perfect for borders. Cultivars come in a neverending variety of leaf colors. In the spring, they send up delicate flowers on tall stalks.
An added benefit of all these plants: almost every single one is a perennial, meaning it will come back year after year. (Only Black-Eyed Susans are the exception; they can reseed themselves, otherwise, you’ll need to replant every few years.) Spend an hour planting these beauties and they will return years and years of beauty.
Tips for planting in dry spots
The best thing you can do to ensure garden success in a dry spot is to pick plants that can withstand dry areas—like the plants above. After this, there are a few additional steps you can take to ensure they thrive for years and years:
Add compost when you plant
When you come home from the nursery, plant sale, or neighbor’s garden with these plants, grab some compost. After you dig the hole to plant, add compost to the soil and then add the new plant. Compost helps retain moisture in the soil.
Add mulch around the plant
Mulch is a garden time saver. Adding mulch around the plant on top of the soil helps keep the water underground and near the roots—instead of evaporating in the sun. Mulch has the added benefit of smothering weed seeds, which helps save time weeding. It’s a win-win for our gardens.
If you’re looking to conserve water or plant in a dry spot, these native plants will thrive in the eastern half of the United States. Their DNA and thousands of years of experience living in North America give them the resiliency required to withstand drought while helping conserve water. Planting native ensures our gardens look beautiful in our changing climate while providing the homes and food for some of our most cherished animals, like butterflies, hummingbirds, and songbirds.
Looking for shrubs, trees, and other native inspiration? Find your region and get going:
Sources
- Stokes, Donald and Lillian. The Wildflower Book: East of the Rockies — A Complete Guide to Growing and Identifying Wildflowers. (1992), 24.
- Harstad, Carolyn. Go Native! Gardening with Native Plants and Wildflowers in the Lower Midwest. (1999), 209-210.