The Always Green Nursery Guide to Drought tolerant Plants:

While some gardeners continue the uphill battle of keeping their gardens watered, many gardeners are now choosing to work with the changing climate rather than fight it. They are replacing water-hungry annuals with drought tolerant perennials that will thrive with little attention in their landscape for many years to come. With such a wide selection of drought tolerant plants now available in garden centers nationwide, gardeners can choose from an array of beautiful flowering plants in a rainbow of colors and sizes.
Be sure to check out the extensive list of drought tolerant perennials below. Keep in mind that some are more drought tolerant than others.

Aren't drought tolerant plants ugly though?
The words "drought tolerant" often conjure up images of barrel cacti and aloe plants growing in the desert. While these plants are certainly drought tolerant, there are many others to consider. Often, drought tolerant plants have a unique leaf structure such as:
Fine lacy foliage--reduced leaf surface means less water lost through surface evaporation
Thick, succulent or waxy leaves--thick leaves store more moisture
Hairy or fuzzy leaves--fine hairs keep moisture trapped at the leaf surface
Many drought tolerant plants also have deep roots that seek moisture well below the soil surface. Some send up masses of fine feeder roots to collect available moisture at the surface and send it down below to the main roots.

Where do drought tolerant plants grow best?
Most drought tolerant plants perform best in hot, dry climates in full sun and well-drained soil. The most obvious form of this climate is desert, but you might not realize that parts of the average homeowner's yard which are perpetually dry are ideal places to grow drought tolerant plants. They can be used quite effectively where it is difficult to water or where water evaporates quickly such as on sunny slopes or next to pavement. It's best to group drought tolerant plants together in the landscape so they're easier to manage.

Some of the most popular Drought tolerant plants include:

• Ajuga
• Astilbe
• Buddleia
• Coreopsis
• Dianthis
• Echinacea
• Gaillardia
• Guara
• Helleborus
• Hermerocallis (daylilies)
• Heuchera
• Hosta
• Lavender
• Nepeta (catmint)
• Garden Plox
• Rudbeckia (black eyed susan)
• Thymus (Creeping thyme)
• Many of the plants listed are available most months of the year from Always Green Nursery. Please view our other guides for more helpful advise on plants and gardening!