Drought Tolerant Plants
With summer heatwaves becoming more frequent, selecting plants that can handle dry conditions is more important than ever. Whether you’re dealing with water restrictions, a sandy soil base, or just want a lower-maintenance landscape, drought-tolerant plants are a smart—and beautiful—choice.
Why Choose Drought-Tolerant Plants?
Drought-tolerant (or drought-resistant) plants are able to survive and even thrive in low-water conditions once established. Many of these plants have deep root systems, waxy or fuzzy leaves to reduce water loss, and a natural ability to withstand stress. They’re perfect for eco-conscious gardeners looking to reduce water usage while still enjoying lush, vibrant garden beds.
Great Drought-Tolerant Options for Southwestern Ontario
Here are some of our top picks for drought-tolerant perennials, shrubs, and ornamental grasses that do well in our region:
Perennials
Grasses
Grasses such as Calamagrostis, Festuca and Miscanthus flourish under hot and dry conditions. Bring depth and height to your garden by adding these grasses this summer. Also adds great fall and winter interest.
Lavender and Thyme
These herbs love the hot sun. Add colour and delicious scents to your summer garden with either of these drought-resistant picks.
Sedum and Sempervivum
These are perfect for adding unique and interesting plants to your summer garden. With a huge selection of different varieties, you’ll never get bored with these drought-tolerant succulents.
Echinacea (Coneflower)
Brighten up your summer garden with every colour of cone flower you can think of. It’s not just purple and pink anymore! They also come in several different sizes now, from under a foot to over 3 feet tall.
Perovskia (Russian Sage)
Want long-lasting blooms in your summer garden? Russian sage provides a long bloom time with great colour for those hot and dry areas.
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)
The blanket flower is a part of the sunflower family, and its large flowers show you why. With several varieties in store, you’ll have lots of colours to choose from.
Agastache (Hyssop)
Featuring aromatic foliage and spiky flowers in shades of purple, pink, and orange, hyssop is both drought-tolerant and attractive to pollinators.
Catmint
With its grey-green foliage and spikes of blue or purple flowers, catmint is a resilient perennial that requires minimal water once established.
Yarrow
Yarrow is known for its feathery foliage and clusters of tiny flowers. It’s a tough plant that can handle dry conditions and poor soil.
Rudbeckia (Black Eyed Susan)
These sunny, yellow flowers are not only drought-tolerant but also attract pollinators, making them a great addition to any garden.
Vines
Honeysuckle
This heat-loving vine attracts hummingbirds and butterflies with its masses of fragrant flowers. Honeysuckle is a twining vine and will need some support in the garden, such as a trellis or fence.
Flowering Shrubs
Smokebush
Add outstanding deep purple foliage all season to your hot and dry garden, with smoke-like puff flowers in late summer. Grows 3m by 3m at maturity.
Beauty Bush
A graceful choice for this hot summer. Arching branches are covered with an abundance of pink flowers in June. Grows 3m by 3m at maturity.
Ninebark
A compact, sun-loving shrub that provides excellent colour in the garden. Foliage and flowers come in several different colours depending on the variety. June blooms are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Height varies depending on the variety.
Dwarf Burning Bush
Once established, this shrub is perfect for your hot and dry garden. The dark green summer foliage turns a brilliant red in the fall. Compact and undemanding. Grows 1.25m by 1.5m at maturity.
Trees
Honey Locust
Once established, the honey locust is a drought and heat-tolerant tree that can provide shade as well as fragrant flowers in late spring. Relatively fast growing, this medium-sized tree can tolerate a variety of soil conditions, including alkaline soil.
Weeping Caragana
A small weeping accent tree with fine green foliage and yellow flowers in spring. Very hardy and heat tolerant. Grows 2m by 1.25m at maturity.
Evergreens
Junipers
There are several varieties of juniper, spreading and upright, that tolerate hot and dry conditions. Blue and green tones provide excellent accents in the garden.
Pines
Several varieties of pine, whether shrub or tree form, are heat-loving and drought-tolerant. With so many different varieties of pines available, there’s something for every garden!
Yuccas
A striking accent plant with broad sword-like leaves that last year-round. White flowers bloom on a very tall stake in summer. Green and yellow varieties are available.
Tips for Success with Drought-Tolerant Plants
- Start with good soil: While many drought-tolerant plants can handle poor soils, amending with compost helps roots establish more quickly.
- Water deeply to establish: New plantings still need regular watering during their first season. Water deeply but infrequently to encourage deep root growth.
- Mulch matters: A 2-3 inch layer of mulch helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and keep roots cool.
- Group plants by needs: Place drought-tolerant varieties together to reduce water use and make maintenance easier.
