Drought Tolerant Plants
 
      In the Sierra Foothills of California, summer drought is nothing new. Dry and hot are typical adjectives used to describe any July day in these regions. Those of us who live in these areas have learned to weather the low humidity and soaring temperatures that summer brings. But today, drought has taken on a new significance. With ongoing drought conditions, water becomes a more precious resource with each passing day.
Gardening Where you Are
The new way to garden is to acknowledge and plan for the place, the climate, the conditions, in which your garden exists. Living the mantra "Garden Where You Are" makes it easier on the gardener, while at the same time allowing a gentler approach to landscaping and minimizing the impacts on our environment. It recognizes that existing in harmony with our surroundings is not only useful, but essential. This time and space appropriate garden is the garden we are here to help you with. The drought tolerant plants below will add beauty and functionality to your garden while going easy on our taxed water resources and your water bill.
        
      
        This page lists the drought tolerant plants in our catalog by botanical name.
        To search by common name, go to our alphabetical plant listing pages
      or click on your selection below to learn more about the plant.
      
 
    



 Achillea millefolium
Achillea millefolium Nepeta faasenii-Dwarf
Nepeta faasenii-Dwarf Achillea millefolium "Sunny Seduction"
Achillea millefolium "Sunny Seduction" Nepeta faasenii 'Walker's Low'
Nepeta faasenii 'Walker's Low' Achillea millefolium ''Red Velvet'
Achillea millefolium ''Red Velvet' Nepeta tuberosa
Nepeta tuberosa Achillea millefolium 'Terra Cotta'
Achillea millefolium 'Terra Cotta' Oenothera caespitosa var. longiflora
Oenothera caespitosa var. longiflora Achillea taygetaya 'Moonshine'
Achillea taygetaya 'Moonshine' Oenothera elata
Oenothera elata Aesculus californica
Aesculus californica Oenothera fruticosa 'Fireworks'
Oenothera fruticosa 'Fireworks'
 Oenothera perennis
Oenothera perennis Agastache 'Bolero'
Agastache 'Bolero' Opuntia humifusa
Opuntia humifusa
 Origanum aurea
Origanum aurea Agastache rupestris
Agastache rupestris Origanum laevigatum 'Hopley's Purple'
Origanum laevigatum 'Hopley's Purple' Allium schoenoprasum
Allium schoenoprasum  Origanum marjorana
Origanum marjorana Allium schoenoprasm 'Forescate
 Allium schoenoprasm 'Forescate  Origanum rotundifolium
Origanum rotundifolium
 Origanum rotundifolium 'Kent Beauty'
 Origanum rotundifolium 'Kent Beauty'  Anthemis tinctora 'Susanna Mitchell'
Anthemis tinctora 'Susanna Mitchell' Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Howard McMinn'
Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Howard McMinn' Penstemon cardinalis
Penstemon cardinalis Arctostaphylos 'Emerald Carpet'
Arctostaphylos 'Emerald Carpet' Penstemon eatonii
Penstemon eatonii Arctostaphylos x 'Pacific Mist'
Arctostaphylos x 'Pacific Mist' Penstemon heterophyllus 'Catherine de la Mare'
Penstemon heterophyllus 'Catherine de la Mare' Armeria maritima 'Alba'
Armeria maritima 'Alba' Penstemon heterophyllyus
Penstemon heterophyllyus  Artemesia pycnocephala 'David's Choice'
Artemesia pycnocephala 'David's Choice' Penstemon laetus
Penstemon laetus Asclepias fascicularis
Asclepias fascicularis Penstemon newberryi
Penstemon newberryi Asclepias speciosa
Asclepias speciosa Penstemon newberryi 'St. Helena'
Penstemon newberryi 'St. Helena' Baccharis pilularis 'Pigeon Point'
Baccharis pilularis 'Pigeon Point' Penstemon palmeri
Penstemon palmeri Baptisia australis
Baptisia australis Penstemon pinifolius 'Mersea Yellow'
Penstemon pinifolius 'Mersea Yellow' Bergenia cordifolia
Bergenia cordifolia Briza media
Briza media Penstemon procerus
Penstemon procerus Brodiaea  laxa 'Corrina'
Brodiaea  laxa 'Corrina' Penstemon strictus
Penstemon strictus Calocedrus decurrens
Calocedrus decurrens Philadelphus microphyllus
Philadelphus microphyllus Calylophus berlandieri
Calylophus berlandieri Phlomis russeliana
Phlomis russeliana Canna x generalis
Canna x generalis Phygelius x rectus
Phygelius x rectus Carex divulsa
Carex divulsa Phygelius aequalis 'Yellow Trumpet'
Phygelius aequalis 'Yellow Trumpet' Carpenteria californica
Carpenteria californica Caryopteris incana
Caryopteris incana Phyla nodiflora
Phyla nodiflora Caryopteris x clandonensis
Caryopteris x clandonensis Ribes aureum
Ribes aureum Ceanothus gloriosus 'Anchor Bay'
Ceanothus gloriosus 'Anchor Bay' Ribes malvaceum 'Dancing Tassels'
Ribes malvaceum 'Dancing Tassels' Ceanothus 'Dark Star'
Ceanothus 'Dark Star' Ribes sanguineum glutinosum
Ribes sanguineum glutinosum Ceanothus 'Joyce Coulter'
Ceanothus 'Joyce Coulter' Ribes speciosum
Ribes speciosum Centranthus ruber 'Albus'
Centranthus ruber 'Albus' Rosa banksiae 'Lutea'
Rosa banksiae 'Lutea' Cercis occidentalis
Cercis occidentalis Rosa 'Highveld Sun'
Rosa 'Highveld Sun' Chaenomeles speciosa
Chaenomeles speciosa Rosmarinus officinalis 'Benenden Blue'
Rosmarinus officinalis 'Benenden Blue' Chaenomeles speciosa
Chaenomeles speciosa Rosmarinus officinalis 'Prostratus'
Rosmarinus officinalis 'Prostratus' Chilopsis linearis
Chilopsis linearis Rosmarinus officinalis 'Renzels'
Rosmarinus officinalis 'Renzels' x Chitalpa tashketensis 'Morning Cloud'
x Chitalpa tashketensis 'Morning Cloud' Rosularia sedoides
Rosularia sedoides x Chitalpa tashketensis 'Pink Dawn'
x Chitalpa tashketensis 'Pink Dawn' Rubus pentalobus
Rubus pentalobus Cistus x dansereaui decumbens
Cistus x dansereaui decumbens Rudbeckia fulgida ' Goldsturm'
Rudbeckia fulgida ' Goldsturm'  Cistus 'Jessamy Beauty'
Cistus 'Jessamy Beauty' Salvia azurea grandiflora
Salvia azurea grandiflora Cistus poplulifolius
Cistus poplulifolius Salvia apiana
Salvia apiana Cistus salvifolius prostratus
Cistus salvifolius prostratus
 Cistus pulverulentus 'Sunset'
Cistus pulverulentus 'Sunset' Salvia chamaedryoides
Salvia chamaedryoides Clematis lasiantha
Clematis lasiantha Salvia clevelandii
Salvia clevelandii Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'
Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam' Salvia clevelandii 'Pozo Blue'
Salvia clevelandii 'Pozo Blue' Cylindropuntia imbricata
Cylindropuntia imbricata Cynara cardunculus
Cynara cardunculus Salvia coahuilensis
Salvia coahuilensis Salvia gregii 'Pink'
Salvia gregii 'Pink' Ceratostigma griffithii
Ceratostigma griffithii Salvia greggii 'Red'
Salvia greggii 'Red' Cotinus coggygria 'Atropurpurea'
Cotinus coggygria 'Atropurpurea' Salvia x jamensis 'Hotlips'
Salvia x jamensis 'Hotlips' Delosperma cooperi
Delosperma cooperi Salvia x jamensis 'Sierra de San Antonio'
Salvia x jamensis 'Sierra de San Antonio' Delospema P001s
Delospema P001s Salvia microphylla 'Smoky Red'
Salvia microphylla 'Smoky Red' Dianthus cruentus
Dianthus cruentus Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Crimson Treasure'
Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Crimson Treasure' Salvia officinalis 'Berggarten'
Salvia officinalis 'Berggarten' Echinacea purpurea
Echinacea purpurea Salvia sclarea var turkestanica alba ‘Vatican White’
Salvia sclarea var turkestanica alba ‘Vatican White’ Erigeron glauca 'Wayne Roderick'
Erigeron glauca 'Wayne Roderick' Salvia spathacea
Salvia spathacea Erigeron karvenskianus
Erigeron karvenskianus
 Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve'
Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve'  Sambucus mexicana
Sambucus mexicana Erythronium tuolumnse x californicum 'Pagoda'
Erythronium tuolumnse x californicum 'Pagoda' Santolina rosmarinifolia 'Lemon Fizz'
Santolina rosmarinifolia 'Lemon Fizz' Euphorbia characias
Euphorbia characias Saponaria officinalis
Saponaria officinalis Euphorbia martinii 'Red Martin'
Euphorbia martinii 'Red Martin' Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue'
Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' Satureja montana
Satureja montana Fragaria californica
Fragaria californica Scabiosa columbaria 'Pink Mist'
Scabiosa columbaria 'Pink Mist' Fremontodendron californicum x mexicanum‘California Glory’
Fremontodendron californicum x mexicanum‘California Glory’ Sedum 'Autumn Joy'
Sedum 'Autumn Joy' Gaillardia aristata 'Burgundy'
Gaillardia aristata 'Burgundy' Sedum 'Bertram Anderson'
Sedum 'Bertram Anderson' Gaura lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies'
Gaura lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies' Sedum dasyphyllum 'Major'
Sedum dasyphyllum 'Major' Geranium cantabrigiense 'Rosalina'
Geranium cantabrigiense 'Rosalina' Sedum 'Frosty Morn'
Sedum 'Frosty Morn' Helianthemum 'Ben Hope'
Helianthemum 'Ben Hope' Helianthemum 'Henfield Brilliant'
Helianthemum 'Henfield Brilliant' Sedum humisifusum 'Tiny Urchin'
Sedum humisifusum 'Tiny Urchin' Helianthus 'Lemon Queen'
Helianthus 'Lemon Queen' Sedum moranense
Sedum moranense Helleborus hybridus
Helleborus hybridus Sedum obtusatum
Sedum obtusatum Hesperoyucca whipplei
Hesperoyucca whipplei Sedum rupestre 'Angelina'
Sedum rupestre 'Angelina' Heteromeles arbutifolia
Heteromeles arbutifolia
 Heuchera x briziodes 'Bressingham Hybrids'- Coral
Heuchera x briziodes 'Bressingham Hybrids'- Coral Sedum spectabile 'Matrona'
Sedum spectabile 'Matrona' Heuchera micrantha
Heuchera micrantha Sedum sediforme
Sedum sediforme Holodiscus discolor
Holodiscus discolor Sedum 'Vera Jameson'
Sedum 'Vera Jameson' Hymenoxys hoopesii
Hymenoxys hoopesii Sempervivum arachnoideum
Sempervivum arachnoideum Hyssopus officinalis
Hyssopus officinalis Sempervivum calcareum
Sempervivum calcareum Iris douglasiana
Iris douglasiana Sempervivum 'Jade Rose'
Sempervivum 'Jade Rose' Iris germanica
Iris germanica Sempervivum 'Pileosum'
Sempervivum 'Pileosum' Iris -Pacific Coast Hybrids-'Canyon Snow'
Iris -Pacific Coast Hybrids-'Canyon Snow' Sempervivum 'Ruby Heart'
Sempervivum 'Ruby Heart' Iris -Pacific Coast Hybrids-'Nearly Black'
Iris -Pacific Coast Hybrids-'Nearly Black' Sempervivum tectorum 'Rubrum'
Sempervivum tectorum 'Rubrum' Jasminum mesnyi
Jasminum mesnyi Sempervivum ' Twillight Blues'
Sempervivum ' Twillight Blues' Keckiella cordifolia
Keckiella cordifolia Sisyrinchium bellum 'Rocky Point'
Sisyrinchium bellum 'Rocky Point' Knautia macedonica
Knautia macedonica Solidago canadensis
Solidago canadensis Kniphofia 'Border Ballet'
Kniphofia 'Border Ballet' Stipa tenuissima
Stipa tenuissima Lagerstroemia indica x faurei 'Natchez'
Lagerstroemia indica x faurei 'Natchez' Teucrium x Ackermanii
Teucrium x Ackermanii Laurus nobilis
Laurus nobilis Teucrium flavum
Teucrium flavum Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote'
Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote' Teucrium cossoni-majoricum
Teucrium cossoni-majoricum Lavandula angustifolia 'Purple Bouquet'
Lavandula angustifolia 'Purple Bouquet' Teucrium fruticans
Teucrium fruticans Lavandula x chaytorae 'Lisa Marie'
Lavandula x chaytorae 'Lisa Marie' Teucrium hyrcanicum 'Purple Tails'
Teucrium hyrcanicum 'Purple Tails' Lavandula ginginsii 'Goodwin Creek Gray'
Lavandula ginginsii 'Goodwin Creek Gray' Thymus citriodora
Thymus citriodora Lavandula x intermedia 'Alba'
Lavandula x intermedia 'Alba' Thymus longicaulis
Thymus longicaulis Lavandula x intermedia 'Grosso'
Lavandula x intermedia 'Grosso' Lespedeza virginica
Lespedeza virginica Thymus vulgaris
Thymus vulgaris Limonium latifolium
Limonium latifolium Linum perenne lewisii
Linum perenne lewisii Verbena bonariensis
Verbena bonariensis Lonicera interrupta
Lonicera interrupta  Vitex agnus-castus
Vitex agnus-castus Mimulus aurantiacus
Mimulus aurantiacus Zauschneria californica
Zauschneria californica Miscanthus sinensis 'Adagio'
Miscanthus sinensis 'Adagio'  Zauschneria californica 'Catalina'
Zauschneria californica 'Catalina' Monardella macrantha
Monardella macrantha Zauschneria californica 'Solidarity Pink'
Zauschneria californica 'Solidarity Pink' Monardella odoratissima
Monardella odoratissima Zauschneria latifolia
Zauschneria latifolia
 Muhlenbergia capillaris
Muhlenbergia capillaris Muhlenbergia rigens
Muhlenbergia rigens