If your summers are hot and rain is scarce, it’s important to consider drought tolerance when selecting shrubs so they can handle harsh conditions without looking fried by mid-July.
Drought-tolerant shrubs are smart plants that save water in different ways. Creosote Bush has waxy leaves that stop water from escaping, and it can live for hundreds of years in the desert. Texas Rangers have fuzzy, silver leaves that reflect sunlight and retain moisture. Jojoba stores water in its thick stems and roots. These tough shrubs survive dry weather by having special leaves, deep roots, or water storage systems that help them use every drop of water they can find.
In this guide, I’ve rounded up the 15 best drought-tolerant shrubs for your landscape. You’ll find details such as hardiness zones, sun and soil requirements, and size, so you know exactly what fits your space and needs.
- 1. Creosote bush (larrea tridentata)
- 2. Desert spoon (dasylirion wheeleri)
- 3. Brittlebush (encelia farinosa)
- 4. Texas ranger (leucophyllum frutescens)
- 5. Jojoba (simmondsia chinensis)
- 6. Rabbitbrush (ericameria nauseosa)
- 7. Apache plume (fallugia paradoxa)
- 8. Mountain mahogany (cercocarpus betuloides)
- 9. Adam’s needle (yucca filamentosa)
- 10. Manzanita (arctostaphylos spp.)
- 11. Juniper (juniperus communis)
- 12. Leadplant (amorpha canescens)
- 13. Stansbury cliffrose (purshia stansburiana)
- 14. Desert sumac (rhus microphylla)
- 15. Fernbush (Chamaebatiaria millefolium)
1. Creosote bush (larrea tridentata)
- Hardiness zones: 7-11
- Growing region: Southwest (Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah)
- Size: 4-8 feet tall and wide
- Sun/Shade: Full sun
- Soil needs: Well-drained, rocky, sandy, or gravelly soils
- Foliage: Evergreen, small, resinous, dark green leaves with 2 leaflets each
- Best for: Foundation plantings, beds, borders, and rock and water-wise gardens
Thanks to deep roots and waxy leaves, the creosote bush doesn’t need much water and stays hydrated in tough conditions. It’s also a great ground cover for erosion control, making it both functional and drought-resistant.
According to experts at Arizona State University, creosote produces and releases certain toxins into the soil that inhibit growth in nearby plants, allowing it to protect its water supply.
2. Desert spoon (dasylirion wheeleri)
- Hardiness zones: 8-11
- Growing region: Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas)
- Size: 3-5 feet tall, 4-5 feet wide
- Sun/Shade: Full sun
- Soil needs: Well-drained soils; tolerates chalk, clay, loam, and sand
- Foliage: Thick, rigid, fibrous, waxy, long leaves (up to 5 feet long)
- Best for: Beds, borders, and city, coastal, or Mediterranean gardens
Desert spoon can survive with very little water and still look beautiful. Its spiky sword-like leaves have a waxy texture that minimizes water loss, and its trunk stores water for use during drought conditions.
This shrub thrives in various soil types, often requiring minimal care once established. Its unique form and low-maintenance traits make it a great pick for drought-tolerant landscapes.
3. Brittlebush (encelia farinosa)
- Hardiness zones: 8-11
- Growing region: Southwest (Arizona, California, Nevada)
- Size: 2-4 feet tall and wide
- Sun/Shade: Full sun
- Soil needs: Well-drained, sandy or rocky soils
- Foliage: Pale green in early spring, velvety-white in summer
- Best for: Banks, slopes, borders, native gardens, and desert restoration projects
Ideal for dry gardens, brittlebush survives intense drought by going dormant and dropping most of its leaves. Once it rains, it quickly produces new foliage. With a shallow, but extensive root system, it can quickly absorb surface moisture from even brief rainstorms. To keep its flowers blooming, give it a deep soak every few months.
4. Texas ranger (leucophyllum frutescens)
- Hardiness zones: 8-10
- Growing region: Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas)
- Size: 5-8 feet tall, 4-6 feet wide
- Sun/Shade: Full sun
- Soil needs: Well-drained, loamy or sandy soil
- Foliage: Evergreen, silvery-gray leaves covered in fine hair
- Best for: Functional and ornamental landscaping
Texas ranger thrives in dry conditions and is perfect for the blazing Southwestern sun. Its pretty, silver, hair-covered foliage helps it withstand intense heat, but during extreme dry spells, it enters dormancy and sheds some leaves to reduce its water needs.
It also has an extensive root system that can access water far below the surface during drought periods.
5. Jojoba (simmondsia chinensis)
- Hardiness zones: 8-10
- Growing region: Southwest (Arizona, California)
- Size: 3-7 feet tall, 4-7 feet wide
- Sun/Shade: Full sun
- Soil needs: Well-drained, sandy, or rocky soil; can tolerate strongly acidic or very alkaline soil, poor soil, and saline conditions
- Foliage: Leathery, thick, oval or elliptical gray-green leaves
- Best for: Hedges, screens, patios, containers, and gravel or rock gardens
Jojoba is incredibly drought-tolerant thanks to its deep taproot, which can reach over 10 feet down to access underground water sources. Its small, waxy leaves help reduce water loss by minimizing evaporation.
Native to desert regions, it’s naturally adapted to survive in hot, dry conditions. Even in long dry spells, jojoba can thrive with little to no supplemental watering.
6. Rabbitbrush (ericameria nauseosa)
- Hardiness zones: 4-9
- Growing region: Mountain West (Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming)
- Size: 4-7 feet tall and wide
- Sun/Shade: Full sun
- Soil needs: Well-drained, dry to medium moisture soil
- Foliage: Very narrow, green or blue-gray leaves
- Best for: Banks, slopes, low hedges, screens
With yellow flowers that brighten up dry landscapes, rabbitbrush thrives on little to no water. This native shrub is perfect for creating a wild, natural look in your yard, and it can withstand both drought and the colder temps typical of the Mountain West extremely well. It’s the kind of plant that needs little care, attracts pollinators, and improves curb appeal.
7. Apache plume (fallugia paradoxa)
- Hardiness zones: 6-8
- Growing region: Mountain West (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, Utah)
- Size: 4-6 feet tall, 4-5 feet wide
- Sun/Shade: Full sun
- Soil needs: Well-drained, sandy, dry, and gravelly soil
- Foliage: Small, lobed, dark green leaves that have silver undersides
- Best for: Beds and borders
Apache Plume is a shrub that excels in dry conditions and is ideal for tough, rocky areas where other plants struggle. The small, divided leaves prevent moisture loss and retain their vigor during water stress.
This plant needs little water once established. During extreme drought, it goes dormant temporarily, but resumes growth as soon as water becomes available.
8. Mountain mahogany (cercocarpus betuloides)
- Hardiness zones: 5-9
- Growing region: Mountain West (California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming)
- Size: 8-20 feet tall, 10-12 feet wide
- Sun/Shade: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil needs: Well-drained, very acidic to slightly alkaline soil; tolerates loam and sand
- Foliage: Evergreen, alternate, round, serrated leaves that are dark green on top and white with fine hairs underneath
- Best for: Hedges, screens, banks, slopes
Mountain mahogany thrives in dry, rocky conditions. Its dense, evergreen foliage can withstand drought due to leathery leaves that don’t mind some dehydration. The roots are deep and wide, with new shoots constantly emerging from the central system. It’s well-suited for erosion control and low maintenance, making it ideal for very dry spots.
9. Adam’s needle (yucca filamentosa)
- Hardiness zones: 4-11
- Growing region: Southeast (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia)
- Size: 3-8 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide
- Sun/Shade: Full sun
- Soil needs: Well-drained, medium-moisture soils; can handle poor, sandy soils and a few hours of shade
- Foliage: Rigid, spine-tipped, sword-shaped, dark green leaves that have curly filaments on the edges
- Best for: Beds, borders, and city, coastal, rock, or Mediterranean gardens
Adam’s needle is right at home in hot, dry climates, particularly in loose, sandy soils along the coast. With its long, spiky leaves and tall flower stalks, it can handle drought without breaking a sweat. Its deep taproots can access water deep underground, regardless of soil depth.
Once established, Adam’s needle needs very little attention, making it a no-fuss, drought-tolerant native option for xeriscapes and other water-wise landscapes.
10. Manzanita (arctostaphylos spp.)
- Hardiness zones: 8-10
- Growing region: Pacific Northwest (California, Oregon, Washington)
- Size: 10-12 feet tall and wide
- Sun/Shade: Full sun
- Soil needs: Well-drained, poor, rocky, clay soil
- Foliage: Evergreen with silver-green, glossy leaves
- Best for: Hillsides, erosion control, native plant gardens
Manzanitas are eye-catching shrubs or small trees that grow naturally in dry parts of the Western U.S. and do well in poor soil without much water. With deep roots and waxy, leathery leaves that reduce moisture loss, manzanitas thrive in xeriscaped gardens and require minimal maintenance once established.
According to Penny Pawl, a master gardener from Napa County, it’s best to avoid planting manzanitas near big trees. They’ll block the sun, and your manzanitas won’t be happy.
11. Juniper (juniperus communis)
- Hardiness zones: 2-6
- Growing region: Northeast (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont)
- Size: 5-25 feet tall, 3-12 feet wide
- Sun/Shade: Full sun
- Soil needs: Most well-drained soils, even poor ones
- Foliage: Needle-like, prickly, aromatic, gray-green leaves
- Best for: Stony or sandy sites, ground cover
Juniper is a shrub you can count on when you need a drought-tolerant plant. Whether you need a ground cover or a shrub for some height, Juniper easily handles drought. It’s low maintenance, doesn’t require much water once established, and can tolerate dry, rocky soil.
The gray-green needles prevent water loss due to the small surface area, and the waxy coating reduces leaf temperature and water needs.
12. Leadplant (amorpha canescens)
- Hardiness zones: 2-9
- Growing region: Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin)
- Size: 2-3 feet tall and wide
- Sun/Shade: Full sun
- Soil needs: Well-drained, average, dry or medium moisture soil
- Foliage: Feathery, fragrant, gray-green leaves
- Best for: Borders, beds, wildflower gardens, slopes
Leadplant is a native shrub that does wonders in dry prairie areas. Its roots can reach more than 15 feet into the soil, tapping into moisture reserves that most plants can’t access. That makes it incredibly drought-tolerant, perfect for areas with hot, dry summers or poor, sandy soils. The silvery-green foliage withstands the heat well, and the purple blooms add a bold splash of color in summer.
13. Stansbury cliffrose (purshia stansburiana)
- Hardiness zones: 4-7
- Growing region: Mountain West (Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah)
- Size: 3-7 feet tall, 3-4 feet wide
- Sun/Shade: Full sun
- Soil needs: Well-drained, rocky, infertile soil
- Foliage: Leathery, pinnately compound green leaves on top, hairy white underneath
- Best for: Naturalistic landscaping, wildlife gardens
Once established, the Stansbury cliffrose can tolerate neglect and drought without issue. It’s a perfect choice for steep, rocky slopes where water is scarce. Its leathery leaves help it conserve moisture and thrive in the harshest, driest conditions.
The bright yellow flowers it produces in spring are a pleasant surprise and a great option for adding color to dry areas.
14. Desert sumac (rhus microphylla)
- Hardiness zones: 8-11
- Growing region: Southwest (Texas, Arizona, New Mexico)
- Size: 3-10 feet tall, 4-8 feet wide
- Sun/Shade: Full sun
- Soil needs: Well-drained, rocky or sandy soil, acidic to neutral; tolerates poor soil, too
- Foliage: Small, compound, evergreen leaves with tiny leaflets and a thick, leathery texture
- Best for: Hedges, privacy screens, native or wildlife gardens, xeriscaping, erosion control
If you’re after a low-maintenance shrub that won’t flinch in the heat, desert sumac is a great pick. Part of the hardy sumac family, it’s known for surviving harsh conditions with little help and efficient water use.
Thanks to deep, extensive roots, desert sumac is a great addition to dry-climate gardens; once established, it barely needs any water. The leaves are small and leathery, designed to retain water, and they often shift to avoid direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day.
15. Fernbush (Chamaebatiaria millefolium)
- Hardiness zones: 4-7
- Growing region: Mountain West (California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah)
- Size: 3-6 feet tall and wide
- Sun/Shade: Full sun
- Soil needs: Well-drained, moderate to dry soil; tolerates gravel, sand, loam, and clay
- Foliage: Fern-like, silvery-gray leaves
- Best for: Beds and borders
Fernbush is low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and grows well in poor soil. It thrives even when water is limited, making it ideal for those dry patches that other plants can’t handle. That said, occasional deep waterings during very hot, dry weather can help you maintain the dense foliage.
Visually speaking, its fern-like appearance gives it a soft, graceful look that contrasts nicely with more rugged plants.
Hire a pro for easy installation
Drought-tolerant shrubs bring color and texture to your yard while reducing watering time and maintenance. Whether you need privacy screening, ground cover, or eye-catching blooms, these hardy plants deliver results with minimal care.
Choosing and planting the right shrubs takes know-how. Lawn Love can match you with experienced pros in your area who’ll handle everything from selection to installation, so you can enjoy a beautiful, water-wise garden without the work.
Read related:
- Best Ways to Water During a Drought
- How to Help Your Lawn Recover From Drought
- How to Prepare Your Lawn for Drought
Main Photo Credit: Shakzu | Adobe Stock
Sources:
“Manzanita in Your Garden.” By Penny Pawl, UC master gardener of Napa County. University of California.
Gardenia plant database.
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.
Wildflower Center. The University of Texas at Austin.
“Drought Tolerant Trees and Shrubs (and more).” By Erik Desotelle, trainer with the University of Wisconsin Extension.
“Stansbury’s Cliffrose.” Colorado Springs Utilities.
“Dry Plants.” By Dr. Biology. Ask a Biologist – Arizona State University.
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