18 Proven Drought Tolerant Perennials

By Judy Stout

In recent years there are parts of the United States that have endured some of the hottest, driest summers on record. This trend towards drought conditions has made caring for home landscapes especially challenging. As a result, more and more gardeners are seeking heat and drought tolerant perennials as a way to reduce maintenance and conserve water, while still maintaining an attractive landscape.

What are “Survivor Perennials”?

Matt Guthrie and Tim Fleischer are Assistant Horticulturists with the City of Dublin in Ohio, and they also produce the popular podcast, “Shrubby Buddies”. Their job responsibilities include overseeing the parks of Dublin, Ohio (USDA Zone 6B) and making sure the landscapes are beautiful and healthy in every season.

Because of the large amount of property involved, perennial plants that can survive the summer without special attention are of particular interest to Guthrie and Fleischer. They track which perennial plants not only survive the summer but also return in good condition the following spring.

Thanks to their data collection gardeners have access to a solid list of reliable drought-tolerant flowering perennials and ornamental grasses. These “survivor perennials” may be the perfect solution for your home landscape if you are also experiencing gardening challenges resulting from high heat and drought.  

Heat and Drought Tolerant Perennials

The following is a list of some of the perennial plants that consistently survived the heat and drought of Midwest summers without any special attention, including supplemental water. For more plant suggestions and other great gardening information, be sure to check out the Shrubby Buddies podcast.

Drought Tolerant Flowering Perennials

Ornamental Onion (Allium species)

Ornamental onions include many Allium species that are especially prized for their whimsical, long-lasting flower globes. They’re a real standout in the landscape, adding strong vertical lines and unusual shapes that are impactful even at a distance. The height and leaves of ornamental onions vary by species, but all produce basal clumps of long narrow foliage. Alliums have been a focus of hybridizers for years and many unique varieties are available. Perfectly sized for rock gardens and flower borders.

Giant Ironweed, Tall Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea)

Giant ironweed is a native perennial that can be found growing wild from the Southeastern United States through the Central states into Canada. This is one of the tallest of the ironweed species and it’s common to see it growing in wide open spaces such as pastures, meadows, and along the side of roads. Panicles of vibrant rosy-purple flowers appear from summer into fall. Formerly known as Vernonia altissima.

Giant Coneflower, Large Coneflower (Rudbeckia maxima)

Giant coneflower is a perennial plant native to the south-central regions of the United States. It’s very common to see this plant growing wild in ditches along roads, and in pastures and prairies. Plants produce a dense clump of large, silvery-green foliage with tall stems of golden yellow flowers in late summer. You can cut the stems down to the base after flowering or leave the seed heads for small birds to feed on in the fall and winter.

Calamint (Calamintha nepeta)

Calamint is a plant sure to be adored by gardeners dealing with the challenges of hot, dry growing conditions. No matter how tough things get, calamint retains its lovely mounded form, soft gray-green color, and in a true display of resilience, it produces flowers throughout the growing season. Very desirable herb garden addition also looks great in any bed, border or container. Popular for sachets and potpourri. The dry leaves can be used for tea.

Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica)

A fun plant for brightening up dull, shady situations. This North American native is found growing in moist wooded locations, ravines and along stream banks. Produces unique red and yellow tubular flowers with petals that flare into a perfect five-point star. Hummingbirds love this plant so situate it where these winged visitors can be viewed and enjoyed. Especially nice in woodland gardens and shady borders.

Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

A versatile member of the mint family, Anise Hyssop produces licorice scented foliage and showy spikes of lavender blooms that are both edible and beautiful. This perennial plant is a magnet for bees and butterflies!Foliage can be used to flavor teas and the edible flowers are an attractive addition to salads. Dried flowers are perfect for potpourri. Plant near walkways, decks and patios where scent can be enjoyed.

Blue Star, Threadleaf Blue Star (Amsonia hubrectii)

Blue star is a tough and durable selection featuring fine, thread-like foliage and clusters of sky blue flowers. Foliage turns a lovely golden yellow in autumn. This is a native wildflower of the Central and Northeastern United States. Beautiful in woodland settings, borders and containers. Makes a dependable mixed border plant. Perfectly suited to informal, naturalized settings.

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Butterfly weed’s brilliant orange flowers attract butterflies and other beneficial pollinators to the garden. Butterfly weed, also known as orange milkweed, is a native perennial plant that can be found growing in prairies, fields, and along roadways over a wide range of North America. The only Asclepias species to have clear sap and alternate leaves. Perfectly suited to informal, naturalized settings or flower borders.

Liriope (Liriope muscari)

Liriope is an evergreen selection that forms a dense clump of dark green foliage. Spikes of bright violet flowers bloom throughout autumn. Provides a welcome burst of color to the late season landscape. Liriope is a reliable groundcover for just about any location. Perfectly sized for rock gardens and border fronts. Effective under trees where lawn has difficulty establishing.

Gayfeather, Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)

This unique looking perennial brings color and vertical interest to the garden with stalks of feathery blooms that open from the top down. Gayfeather is perfect for adding a bit of whimsy and fun to any setting. An excellent choice for butterfly gardens. Great for mixed borders, naturalized areas, and for strong vertical accent. Impressive in large groups. Provides long lasting cut flowers.

Perovskia, Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)

Russian sage is a bushy, perennial subshrub with a multitude of upright stems. Has a delicate yet definite presence with its fine, silvery leaves and dainty lavender colored blooms. A striking companion to broad-leaf plants or plants with golden foliage or flowers. Not a true herbal sage. Not a true herbal sage. Makes a dependable mixed border plant. Ideal for specimen, foundations, and mass plantings. Combines beautifully with small ornamental grasses.

Stonecrop, Upright Sedum (Sedum spectabile)

An upright growing sedum species with tight clusters of starry blooms appearing in mid to late summer. Sedum’s scallop-edged, succulent leaves look great throughout the season and the dense flower clusters brighten the autumn landscape. Sedum are classic plants for rock gardens and perennial borders. The flowers are a magnet for butterflies and beneficial insects.

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Drought Tolerant Ornamental Grasses

Autumn Moor Grass (Sesleria autumnalis)

Autumn moor grass is a densely tufted, finely textured ornamental grass native to the moors of southeastern Europe. (Moors are large, open areas of uncultivated land typically with poor soil.) Plants produce erect bright green leaves with airy panicles of silvery white flowers from late summer into fall. This is a splendid choice for adding soft texture to the landscape. Can tolerate growing near black walnut trees. A dependable plant for a border, groundcover, rock garden or for naturalizing.

Blue Grama Grass (Bouteloua gracilis)

Blue grama grass is a North American native grass that forms dense clumps of narrow green leaves. Brownish purple flower spikes appear in summer. This grass provides an important food source for many birds, animals, and butterfly larvae. Perfectly suited to informal, naturalized settings. Provides dramatic color and form to autumn and winter landscapes.

Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum)

Switch Grass is a North American native grass. It forms a dense clump with a narrow, upright habit that provides a strong vertical accent in the landscape. It grows in just about any type of soil, but prefers sandy loam. Several varieties are available offering a range of foliage and panicle colors from which to choose. Provides good winter cover for small mammals and nesting material for birds in the spring.

Big Blue Stem (Andropogon gerardii)

Big blue stem is an upright, clump-forming selection with arching blue-green leaves. Purplish flower spikes appear late in the season. The foliage turns bronze-red in autumn. An excellent specimen, foundation, or border plant. Provides dramatic color and form to autumn and winter landscapes.

Little Bluestem Grass (Schizachyrium scoparium)

Native prairie grass displays bluish-green foliage that turns red by autumn. Silvery-white seed stalks are produced in late summer. They shimmer beautifully in bright sunlight. Makes a dependable mixed border plant, especially suited as a tall background plant. Creates a pivotal accent point in any garden. Provides dramatic color and form to autumn and winter landscapes.

Feather Grass (Stipa species)

Feather grass is a fine-textured, clumping grass with bright green, wispy tufts of foliage. Produces very thin, arching stems of silvery green flowers in summer. A splendid choice for adding soft texture to the landscape. This low-maintenance selection is great for accent or mass plantings. Nice for larger patio containers. The flower panicles make wonderful dried and/or dyed cut flowers.

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Established Plants Survive Better Than New Plantings

Established plantings are more likely to survive weather and temperature extremes. This is because they typically have deeper root systems that can access moisture further beneath the surface. For this reason, it’s important to pamper newly planted perennials with sufficient water to get them off to a good start and encourage healthy root growth.

It’s important to note that even well-established, drought tolerant perennials can display signs of stress when conditions become extreme. If you are unable to provide supplemental water during exceptionally dry periods you might see a range of symptoms that can include wilting, leaves browning, and even premature leaf drop.

In the best case a plant may go dormant for the rest of the season and reemerge in the spring. But it’s a gamble. You may not know whether the plant is dead or dormant until spring.

If you live in a region that often experiences summer drought conditions, the best way to ensure that your flowering perennial plants make it through the summer in good shape is by first choosing drought tolerant perennials. With the right plant choices, watering may only be needed during the most extreme periods when rainfall is sparse. Of course, it is still fine to water more frequently to ensure your plants thrive, rather than just survive.

Colorful Annuals for Heat and Drought

Most perennial plants have specific bloom seasons that leave them as foliage plants for much of the summer. To keep your garden colorful all season long, you’ll want to grow flowering annuals along with your perennial plants.

Annuals are the perfect companions to drought tolerant perennials because they guarantee there will be color in your garden as your flowering perennial plants go in and out of bloom. See our list of Heat and Drought Tolerant Annuals to discover which flowering annuals would best complement your drought tolerant perennial varieties.