This is a list of plants which tolerate drought conditions better than most. Just like any other plants, however, they’ll do best when properly watered.
Deciduous Trees
Acer griseum – Paperbark maple
Carpinus caroliniana – American hornbeam
Cornus kousa – Kousa dogwood
Cotinus obovatus – American smoketree
Crataegus phaenopyrum – Washington hawthorn
Ginkgo biloba – Ginkgo
Halesia tetraptera – Carolina silverbells
Koelreuteria paniculata – Goldenraintree
Liquidambar styraciflua – American sweetgum
Malus spp. – Crabapple
Platanus x acerifolia – London planetree
Quercus spp. – Oak
Sophora japonica – Japanese pagodatree
Tilia spp. – Linden
Shrubs
Aesculus parvifolia – Bottlebrush buckeye
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi – Bearberry
Aronia spp. – Chokeberry
Buddleia davidii – Butterfly bush
Calluna spp. – Heather
Chaenomeles x superba – Japanese flowering quince
Clethra alnifolia – Sweet pepperbush
Comptonia peregrina – Sweetfern
Cornus mas – Corneliancherry dogwood
Cotinus coggygria – Smokebush
Cotoneaster spp. – Cotoneaster
Erica spp. – Heath
Exochorda racemosa – Pearlbush
Forsythia sp. – Forsythia
Hydrangea paniculata – Panicle hydrangea
Hypericum prolificum – Shrubby St. John’s wort
Itea virginica – Virginia sweetspire
Myrica pensylvanica – Bayberry
Philadelphus coronarius – Mockorange
Physocarpus opulfolius – Ninebark
Potentilla fruticosa – Bush cinquefoil
Rhus spp. (aromatica, copallina, typhus) –
Ornamental sumac
Rosa rugosa – Saltspray rose
Rosa virginiana – Virginia rose
Spirea spp. – Spirea, many species
Syringa spp. – Lilac
Vaccinium angustifolium – Lowbush blueberry
Viburnum dentatum – Arrowwood
Needled Evergreens
Abies concolor – White fir
Cedrus atlantica – Atlas cedar
Cephalotaxus harringtonia – Japanese plum yew
Chamaecyparis pisifera – Sawara false cypress
Juniperus spp. – Junipers, most species
Picea spp. – Spruce, most species
Pinus spp. – Pine, most species
Taxus spp. – Yew, most species
Thuja occidentalis – Eastern arborvitae
Broadleaf Evergreens
Ilex crenata – Japanese holly
Ilex glabra – Inkberry
Ilex x meserveae – Meserve holly
Ilex opaca – American holly
Vines
Aristolochia macrophylla (durior) – Dutchman’s pipe
Campsis radicans – Trumpet creeper
Clematis montana – Anemone clematis
Lonicera sempervirons -Trumpet honeysuckle
Parthenocissus quinquefolia – Virginia creeper
Wisteria frutescens – American wisteria
Perennials
Asclepias tuberosa – Butterflyweed
Agastache foeniculum – Anise hyssop
Amsonia spp. – Amsonia
Artemisia spp. – Artemisia
Aster spp. – Asters
Baptisia australis – False blue indigo
Centauria montana – Perennial bachelor’s button
Coreopsis spp.- Coreopsis
Dianthus spp. – Pinks
Echinacea purpurea – Purple cone flower
Echinops ritro – Globe thistle
Erygium spp. – Sea holly
Euphorbia sp. – Spurge
Gaillardia spp. – Blanket flower
Geranium macchrorhizum – Bigroot geranium
Helleborus sp. – Hellebores
Hemerocallis spp. – Daylily
Hibiscus moscheutos – Common mallow
Hosta sp. – Hosta
Iris sibirica – Siberian iris
Lavendula angustifolia -Lavender
Liatris spp. – Gay feather
Nepeta spp. – Catmint
Paeonia sp. – Peony
Perovskia atriplicifolia – Russian sage
Phlox spp.- Phlox
Rudbeckia spp. – Black-eyed Susan
Salvia spp. – Sage
Sedum spp. – Sedum
Sempervirens tectorum – Hens and chicks
Stachys byzantina – Lamb=s ears
Stokesia laevis – Stoke=s aster
Thymus spp. – Thyme
Verbascum spp. – Mullein
Yucca spp. – Yucca
Annuals
Calendula officinalis – Pot marigold
Canna x generalis – Canna
Capsicum spp. – Ornamental peppers
Celosia cristata – Cockscomb
Cleome – Spider plant
Cosmos – Cosmos
Digitalis purpurea – Foxglove
Eschscholzia californica – California poppy
Gazania rigens – Gazania
Helianthus sp. – Sunflowers
Helichrysum bracteatum – Strawflower
Lantana spp. – Lantana
Limonium spp. – Statice
Nicotiana alata – Flowering tobacco
Pelargonum x hortatum – Geranium
Petunia x hybrida – Petunia
Portulaca grandiflora – Moss rose
Rudbeckia hirta – Gloriosa daisy
Senecio cineraria – Dusty miller
Tagetes spp. – Marigolds
Verbena spp. – Verbena
Begonia semperflorens – Wax begonia
Ornamental Grasses
Calamagrostis x acutiflora – Feather reed grass
Festuca glauca – Blue fescue
Panicum virgatum – Switch grass
Schizachyrium scoparium – Little bluestem