Drought-Tolerant Plants
Kathy Zuzek, University of Minnesota Extension Educator
Do you live in a geographic area with little rainfall? Do your sandy soils allow water to percolate away quickly? Are you looking for a drought-resistant landscape? Are attractive landscapes and water conservation both goals of yours? Below is a partial list of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials that once established, grow well with little supplemental watering. Within most of the species listed, there are cultivar choices that will provide you with a wide variety of ornamental traits.
Photo 1: Japanese tree lilac. Kathy Zuzek
Deciduous Trees
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Exposure* |
| Autumn Gold Ginkgo | Ginkgo biloba | ‘Autumn Gold’S |
| Black Walnut | Juglans nigra | S |
| Blue Beech | Carpinus caroliniana | S/Psh/Sh |
| Bur Oak | Quercus macrocarpa | S |
| Cockspur hawthorn | Crataegus crus-galli | S |
| Crabapple | Malus spp. | S |
| Dakota Pinnacle® Birch | Betula platyphylla ‘Fargo’ | S |
| Hackberry | Celtis occidentalis | S |
| Ironwood | Ostrya virginiana | S/Psh |
| Japanese Tree Lilac | Syringa reticulata | S |
| Kentucky Coffeetree | Gymnocladus dioica | S |
| MN Strain Redbud | Cercis canadensis | S/Psh |
| Northern Catalpa | Catalpa speciosa | S/Psh |
| Summertime™ Maackia | Maackia amurensis ‘Summertime’ | S |
| Thornless Honeylocust | Gleditsia triancanthos var. inermis | S |
Deciduous Shrubs
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Exposure* |
| Bearberry | Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | S |
| Black Chokeberry | Aronia melanocarpa | S/Psh |
| Bush Honeysuckle | Diervilla spp. | S/Psh |
| Lilac | Syringa spp. | S |
| Common Ninebark | Physocarpus opulifolius | S |
| Forsythia | Forsythia spp. | S |
| Gray Dogwood | Cornus racemosa | S/Psh |
| Gro-Low Fragrant Sumac | Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-Low’ | S |
| Hedge Cotoneaster | Cotoneaster lucidus | S |
| Japanese Barberry | Berberis thunbergii | S |
| Korean Barberry | Berberis koreana | S |
| Nannyberry Viburnum | Viburnum lentago | S/Psh/Sh |
| Potentilla | Potentilla fruticosa | S |
| Rugosa Rose | Rosa rugosa | S |
| Tiger Eyes® Sumac | Rhus typhina ‘Bailtiger’ | S |
Evergreen Trees & Shrubs
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Exposure* |
| Austrian Pine | Pinus nigra | S |
| Chinese Juniper | Juniperus chinensis | S |
| Common Juniper | Juniperus communis | S |
| Creeping Juniper | Juniperus horizontalis | S |
| Eastern Red Cedar | Juniperus virginiana | S |
| Eastern White Pine | Pinus strobus | S |
| Jack Pine | Pinus banksiana | S |
| Red Pine | Pinus resinosa | S |
| Savin Juniper | Juniperus sabina | S |
| Swiss Stone Pine | Pinus cembra | S |
| White Spruce | Picea glauca | S/Psh |
Herbaceous Perennials
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Exposure* |
| Aster | Aster spp | S/Psh. |
| Black-eyed Susan | Rudbeckia hirta | S |
| Butterfly weed | Asclepias tuberosa | S |
| Catmint | Nepeta x faassenii | S |
| Cranesbill | Geranium spp. | Psh/Sh |
| Daylily | Hemerocallis spp. | S/Psh |
| False Blue Indigo | Baptisia australis | S/Psh |
| Gayfeather | Liatris spp. | S |
| Globe Thistle | Echinops ritro | S |
| Hosta | Hosta spp. | Psh/Sh |
| Lamb's Ears | Stachys byzantina | S/Psh |
| Little Bluestem | Schizachryium scoparium | S |
| Pasqueflower | Pulsatilla patens | S |
| Peony | Paeonia lactiflora | S |
| Primrose | Oenothera spp. | S |
| Russian Sage | Perovskia atriplicifolia | S |
| Salvia | Salvia nemorosa | S |
| Stonecrop | Sedum spp. | S/Psh |
| Wormwood | Artemisia spp. | S/Psh |
| Prairie Dropseed | Sporobolus heterolepsis | S |
* S=Sun Psh= Part shade Sh=Full shade
For more information on drought-tolerant plants visit Perennials in Water-Wise Landscapes (pdf) and Tough Trees and Shrubs for Tough Sites.
Photo 2: Tiger Eyes® Sumac. Kathy Zuzek
Photo 3: Butterfly weed. Kathy Zuzek
Photo 4: Swiss stone pine. Kathy Zuzek