{"id":8394,"date":"2022-03-14T14:29:59","date_gmt":"2022-03-14T14:29:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/?p=8394"},"modified":"2025-09-13T11:59:27","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T11:59:27","slug":"what-makes-plants-drought-tolerant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-makes-plants-drought-tolerant\/","title":{"rendered":"What Makes a Plant Drought Tolerant?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All plants need <em>some water<\/em>, but drought-tolerant plants have special features \u2014 like deep roots, waxy leaves, and the ability to store water \u2014 that help them survive with little moisture. This makes them perfect for low-maintenance gardens or landscapes in arid climates.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Drought-tolerant plants save water, money, and keep your garden looking beautiful even when the weather isn\u2019t cooperating.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this guide, you\u2019ll learn what gives these hardy plants their edge, including their roots, leaves, and even cells adaptations to stay strong in dry conditions.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want help picking the right plants for your garden, LawnLove can connect you with a <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/gardener\">local gardening expert<\/a> to guide you in making the best choices.&nbsp;<\/p>   <div class=\"wp-block-ub-table-of-contents-block ub_table-of-contents\" id=\"ub_table-of-contents-5cb823f2-3e4e-4cc9-9d55-d4f6300d8bea\" data-linktodivider=\"false\" data-showtext=\"show\" data-hidetext=\"hide\" data-scrolltype=\"auto\" data-enablesmoothscroll=\"false\" data-initiallyhideonmobile=\"false\" data-initiallyshow=\"true\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header-container\" style=\"\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header\" style=\"text-align: left; \"> \t\t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-title\" style=\"\"><strong>In this article:<\/strong><\/div> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-extra-container\" style=\"\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-container ub_table-of-contents-1-column\"> \t\t\t\t<ul style=\"\"><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-makes-plants-drought-tolerant\/#0-root-systems\" style=\"\">Root systems<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-makes-plants-drought-tolerant\/#4-leaf-adaptations\" style=\"\">Leaf adaptations<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-makes-plants-drought-tolerant\/#9-cellular-adaptations\" style=\"\">Cellular adaptations<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-makes-plants-drought-tolerant\/#13-faqs-about-drought-tolerant-plants-\" style=\"\">FAQs about drought-tolerant plants<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"0-root-systems\"><span id=\"root-systems\">Root systems<\/span><\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/plant-root-system.jpg\" alt=\"A young green seedling grows in soil with a visible underground taproot system, showing root structure and plant growth stages.\" class=\"wp-image-41096\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/plant-root-system.jpg 800w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/plant-root-system-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/plant-root-system-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/plant-root-system-510x382.jpg 510w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/plant-root-system-610x458.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Taproot system. Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/images\/young-seedling-of-vegetable-grows-in-fertile-soil-sprout-with-underground-root-system-in-ground-on-blue-sky-background-green-shoot-illustration-spring-sprout-of-healthy-cucumber-plant\/398409428\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Elena<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Roots do more than anchor plants; they help find and hold water. Drought-tolerant plants have root systems that let them survive with little moisture. Some grow deep taproots to reach underground water. Others spread roots wide near the surface to quickly absorb rain. Some even have root structures that store water for later use.&nbsp;<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-deep-reaching-taproots\"><span id=\"deep-reaching-taproots\">Deep-reaching taproots<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some drought-tolerant plants grow a strong, central root that pushes deep into the soil. This is called a taproot. It allows the plant to reach water far below the surface. Brittnay Haag, a horticulture educator at the University of Illinois Extension, notes that \u201cWith deep, well-developed root systems, these plants source water from deeper in the soil, which is beneficial during dry conditions.\u201d<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Read more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-drought-tolerant-annuals\/\">9 Best Drought-Tolerant Annuals<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-extensive-lateral-root-system\"><span id=\"extensive-lateral-root-system\">Extensive lateral root system<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many drought-tolerant plants develop wide, shallow lateral roots that quickly absorb moisture from light rain, irrigation, or dew before it evaporates. Often, these plants have both types of roots, a deep taproot and a shallow lateral root system. Researchers say this kind of root architecture, combining deep and lateral roots, is a major reason some plants thrive during droughts.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As Mikaela Boley, master gardener coordinator at the University of Maryland\u2019s College of Agriculture &amp; Natural Resources, points out, plants with dense, fibrous root systems, like bunch-forming grasses, exemplify this adaptation. She notes that grasses such as poverty oat grass endure drought conditions, stabilize soil, and prevent erosion.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Read more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-drought-tolerant-perennials\/\">11 Best Drought-Tolerant Perennials<\/a><\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-specialized-root-structures\"><span id=\"specialized-root-structures\">Specialized root structures<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some drought-tolerant plants survive dry spells by storing water underground. One way they do this is with bulb-like roots. These are thick, rounded roots that hold onto moisture and nutrients like a built-in backup supply. These storage roots work like a water tank. When it doesn\u2019t rain for a while, the plant can draw on the water stored in its roots to stay alive.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Read more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/drought-tolerant-grass-alternatives\/\">Drought-Tolerant and Drought-Resistant Grass Alternatives<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-leaf-adaptations\"><span id=\"leaf-adaptations\">Leaf adaptations<\/span><\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/leaf-closeup.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up of a green succulent plant with water droplets on its waxy leaves, showing adaptation for drought tolerance and moisture retention.\" class=\"wp-image-41098\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/leaf-closeup.jpg 800w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/leaf-closeup-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/leaf-closeup-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/leaf-closeup-610x406.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Closeup of succulent plant leaf. Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/images\/raindrops-on-a-green-succulent-plant\/1374806604\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Charles Ellinwood<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In drought-tolerant plants, leaves are adapted to retain water and make the most of the water they get. These adaptations come in many forms, from shape and size to surface texture and color. By adjusting how they breathe, reflect sunlight, or store moisture, leaves help the whole plant stay healthy when water is scarce.<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-reduced-leaf-surface\"><span id=\"reduced-leaf-surface\">Reduced leaf surface<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Drought-tolerant plants conserve water by having smaller or narrower leaves. Less leaf area means fewer pores for water to escape from.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to Michael V. Mickelbart and Matthew A. Jenks at Purdue University Extension, \u201cPlants have a number of ways to reduce water loss that occurs through transpiration. One is to simply reduce leaf area. When water stress is an issue, large leaf areas can be detrimental to growth and survival because there is more surface area from which water can be lost.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Read more<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-drought-tolerant-ground-covers\/\">9 Best Drought-Tolerant Ground Covers<\/a><\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6-waxy-or-reflective-coatings\"><span id=\"waxy-or-reflective-coatings\">Waxy or reflective coatings<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many drought-tolerant plants have a waxy or reflective coating on their leaves. This coating, often appearing as a shiny or bluish layer, acts like a natural sunscreen, reflecting sunlight and reducing water loss.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLeaf wax creates a boundary between the plant leaf and the atmosphere and reflects the plant\u2019s adaptation and response to environmental stresses, including drought,\u201d explains Xuejun Dong, research crop physiologist at the Texas A&amp;M AgriLife Research.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Read more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-drought-tolerant-shrubs\/\">9 Best Drought-Tolerant Shrubs<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"7-fuzzy-or-hairy-leaf-surfaces\"><span id=\"fuzzy-or-hairy-leaf-surfaces\">Fuzzy or hairy leaf surfaces<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some drought-tolerant plants have tiny hairs, or trichomes, on their leaves, giving them a soft, fuzzy look. These hairs help trap moisture near the leaf surface and reflect sunlight, reducing water loss.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mickelbart and Jenks explain that \u201cWhile we still don\u2019t fully understand how leaf hairs affect plant water loss, leaves that are covered with these small hairs typically lose less water than those that do not.\u201d<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Read more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-drought-tolerant-ornamental-grasses\/\">9 Best Drought-Tolerant Ornamental Grasses<\/a><\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"8-leaf-dropping\"><span id=\"leaf-dropping\">Leaf dropping<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To conserve water, some drought-tolerant plants shed their leaves during dry spells. This process helps reduce water loss by limiting evaporation from the leaf surface, a process called transpiration.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Laura Lukes, master gardener at the University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, notes that \u201cA good example of this is the buckeye shrub (Aesculus), which is one of the first plants to lose its leaves before summer heat and drought.\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Read more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-drought-tolerant-trees\/\">10 Best Drought-Tolerant Trees<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"9-cellular-adaptations\"><span id=\"cellular-adaptations\">Cellular adaptations<\/span><\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/closeup-leaf.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up of a green leaf surface with visible cell-like texture and veins, highlighting plant structure and microscopic adaptations.\" class=\"wp-image-41100\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/closeup-leaf.jpg 800w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/closeup-leaf-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/closeup-leaf-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/closeup-leaf-610x406.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Close-up of a green leaf surface. Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/images\/macro-photography-of-a-freen-plant-leaf-with-structure-detail-and-depth-of-field\/540024158\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Holger<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Inside drought-tolerant plants, cells are specially adapted to store water, regulate moisture movement, and control water loss. These microscopic adjustments help the plant stay hydrated, protect its tissues, and continue functioning even when water is scarce.&nbsp;<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"10-specialized-water-storing-cells\"><span id=\"specialized-water-storing-cells\">Specialized water-storing cells<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some drought-tolerant plants, like <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-cold-hardy-outdoor-succulents\/\">succulents<\/a>, have specialized cells in their leaves, stems, or roots that store water during wet periods. Researchers say these cells allow plants to stay hydrated and keep functioning when water is scarce.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Read more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-drought-tolerant-fruits\/\">10 Best Drought-Tolerant Fruits<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"11-adjusted-osmotic-pressure\"><span id=\"adjusted-osmotic-pressure\">Adjusted osmotic pressure<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During a drought, some plants use osmotic adjustment to stay hydrated.&nbsp; Robert Sharp at the University of Missouri Extension explains this process as the accumulation of certain substances, like sugar and amino acids, within their cells. By increasing the concentration of these solutes, the plant can pull water back into the cell to maintain moisture.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Read more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-drought-tolerant-vegetables\/\">9 Best Drought-Tolerant Vegetables<\/a><\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"12-efficient-stomata-control\"><span id=\"efficient-stomata-control\">Efficient stomata control<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stomata are tiny leaf openings that let plants exchange gases, but they also allow water to escape. Drought-tolerant plants can regulate their stomata, closing them to conserve water, reduce transpiration, and prevent dehydration. By controlling stomatal openings, these plants balance the need for carbon dioxide intake with the necessity of conserving water.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Read more:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-drought-tolerant-grasses\/\">Best Drought-Tolerant Grasses<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/signs-of-drought-stressed-lawn\/\">8 Signs of a Drought-Stressed Lawn<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-prepare-lawn-for-drought\/\">How to Prepare Your Lawn for Drought<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-help-lawn-recover-from-drought\/\">How to Help Your Lawn Recover from Drought<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"13-faqs-about-drought-tolerant-plants-\"><span id=\"faqs-about-drought-tolerant-plants\">FAQs about drought-tolerant plants&nbsp;<\/span><\/h2>    <div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1757381373233\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What are the benefits of planting drought-tolerant plants?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Some of the benefits of planting drought-tolerant plants are that they reduce water usage, which is great in areas with <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/outdoor-watering-restrictions\/\">water restrictions<\/a> or drought seasons. These plants are also low maintenance. Many resist pests and diseases.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1757381381181\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Are all cacti and succulents drought-tolerant?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Not all cacti and <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-low-maintenance-outdoor-succulents\/\">succulents<\/a> are equally drought-tolerant. While most are adapted to dry conditions, their tolerance can vary depending on the species, climate, and soil they\u2019re grown in.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1757381388499\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Will drought-tolerant plants stay green even in drought?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Many drought-tolerant plants can stay green during dry periods. However, some may slow their growth, turn slightly duller, or drop leaves to conserve water. These changes are normal survival strategies and don\u2019t mean the plant is unhealthy.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"14-contact-an-expert-to-build-a-resilient-landscape\"><span id=\"contact-an-expert-to-build-a-resilient-landscape\">Contact an expert to build a resilient landscape<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Choosing drought-tolerant plants is a sustainable way to create a beautiful garden even when water is limited. If you\u2019re unsure where to start or need help selecting the best plants for your yard, LawnLove can connect you with a <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/gardener\">local garden expert<\/a> to help you design a water-wise garden.&nbsp;<\/p>   <div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle wp-block-ub-content-toggle-block\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-block-76673d5a-9961-42ab-b6ee-648fbb60c5f8\" data-mobilecollapse=\"false\" data-desktopcollapse=\"true\" data-preventcollapse=\"false\" data-showonlyone=\"true\"> <div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion\" style=\"border-color: #f1f1f1; border-top-left-radius: 8px; border-top-right-radius: 8px; border-bottom-left-radius: 8px; border-bottom-right-radius: 8px; \" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-block-\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap\" style=\"background-color: #f1f1f1;\" aria-controls=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-76673d5a-9961-42ab-b6ee-648fbb60c5f8\" tabindex=\"0\"> \t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-76673d5a-9961-42ab-b6ee-648fbb60c5f8\" style=\"color: #000000; \"><strong>Sources:<\/strong><\/p> \t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down\"><\/span><\/div> \t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap ub-hide\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-76673d5a-9961-42ab-b6ee-648fbb60c5f8\">  <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/agnr.umd.edu\/about\/directory\/mikaela-boley\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mikaela Boley<\/a>, Master Gardener Coordinator. College of Agriculture &amp; Natural Resources. University of Maryland. Personal Interview.<\/li>    <li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/extension.illinois.edu\/news-releases\/build-drought-tolerant-gardens-fall-next-summers-blooms#:~:text=With%20deep%2C%20well%2Ddeveloped%20root%20systems%2C%20these%20plants%20source%20water%20from%20deeper%20in%20the%20soil%2C%20which%20is%20beneficial%20during%20dry%20conditions.%20Many%20drought%2Dtolerant%20plants%20have%20smaller%20leaves%20to%20reduce%20the%20leaf%20surface%20area%2C%20and%20less%20surface%20area%20means%20less%20exposure%20to%20water%20loss.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Build drought-tolerant gardens this fall for next summer\u2019s blooms<\/a>.\u201d By Brittnay Haag. Horticulture educator. University of Illinois Extension.\u00a0<\/li>    <li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/journals\/plant-science\/articles\/10.3389\/fpls.2024.1358163\/full#:~:text=has%20revealed%20that%20narrower\/steeper%20root%20angles%20improve%20the%20root%20architecture%2C%20which%20leads%20to%20deeper%20roots%20and%20the%20enhanced%20uptake%20of%20deeper%20water%20resources.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The crucial role of lateral root angle in enhancing drought resilience in cotton<\/a>.\u201d Frontiers in Plant Science.<\/li>    <li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/ag.purdue.edu\/department\/hla\/extension\/_docs\/ho-252-w.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Drought-tolerant Plants<\/a>.\u201d By Michael V. Mickelbart, horticulture and landscape architecture, and<\/li>    <li>Matthew A. Jenks, USDA Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, Arizona. Purdue University Extension.\u00a0<\/li>    <li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/ucanr.edu\/blog\/real-dirt\/article\/what-makes-plant-drought-tolerant\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What Makes a Plant Drought Tolerant?<\/a>\u201d By Laura Lukes, UC Master Gardener. University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources.\u00a0<\/li>    <li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/hort.ifas.ufl.edu\/floriculture\/pdfs\/crop_production\/Cacti%20and%20Succulents_ENHFL04-006.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Warm Climate Production Guidelines for Succulents<\/a>.\u201d By Rick Schoellhorn, Marc Frank. University of Florida\u2019s IFAS Extension.<\/li>    <li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/cafnr.missouri.edu\/directory\/robert-sharp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Plant roots under drought \u2013 no longer the hidden half<\/a>.\u201d By Robert Sharp, Chancellor&#8217;s Professor and Curators&#8217; Distinguished Professor Emeritus. University of Missouri Extension.\u00a0<\/li> <\/ul>  <\/div> \t\t<\/div> <\/div>   <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Main Image: Close-up of lamb\u2019s ear plant. Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/pburka\/19476837192\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Peter Burka<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Drought-tolerant plants conserve moisture thanks to three characteristics: deep and wide root systems, water-saving leaf adaptations, and efficient cellular strategies.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":94,"featured_media":8399,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[298],"tags":[222],"class_list":["post-8394","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-landscaping","tag-landscaping"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/rsz_119476837192_3dc43f69ff_h.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Cecilia Acevedo","author_link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/author\/cecilia-acevedo\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8394","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/94"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8394"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8394\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41196,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8394\/revisions\/41196"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8394"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8394"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}