Summer Blooms that Stay Resilient in Dry Conditions: Top 10 Flower Choices for a Drought-Resistant Garden
Flower power, baby! Say goodbye to wilting plants this summer with a frickin' amazing garden full of drought-tolerant beauties. No need to freak out if you're jaunting off for a holiday or residing in a bone-dry climate. Get ready to embellish your outdoor space with gorgeous, drought-loving plant babies. Here are our top picks, curated by expert gardeners so you can catch that summer vibe.
Ready to bloom? Step right up as we introduce you to 15 drought-loving annuals that will keep your garden looking fresh all season long.
Tip-top gardening gurus:
- Angela Judd: Certified master gardener, author of How to Grow Your Own Food, and founder of Growing in the Garden.
- Jan Johnsen: Landscape designer and author of Floratopia: 110 Flower Garden Ideas for Your Yard, Patio or Balcony.
- Teri Speight: Landscape gardener, garden coach, podcast host, and author of The Urban Garden.
Drought-proof Anaflowers:
- Globe Amaranth A tough (and stylish) flower reminiscent of chives, these globe-shaped blooms can be found in various pastel hues. Garden expert Angela Judd vouches, "These dime-store balloons are impossible to kill, even in the sweltering heat—plus, they don't ask for much H2O once they're settled."
- Zones: 9-11 as a perennial, adaptable for most zones as an annual
- Size: 24 inches tall x 12 inches wide
- Sunlight and Soil: Full sun, well-draining soil
- Sunflowers Brighten up your space, thanks to these iconic happy flowers. Shoo away critters eager for your sunflower seeds and enjoy their drought-tolerant magic. "Once they've got some height, sunflowers are wonderfully resilient in the summer heat," Judd affirms. "Choose branching types for a longer bloom period and more flowers!"
- Zones: 3-9
- Size: Varies by variety, typically 2-10 feet tall x 1-3 feet wide
- Sunlight and Soil: Full sun, well-draining, sandy or loamy soil
- Blanket Flower Prepare to be amazed by this beauty from the daisy family. "Above average drought tolerance once established, this bad boy will put on a prolific show with hardly any fuss," Judd boasts.
- Zones: 3-10
- Size: 24 inches tall x 24 inches wide
- Sunlight and Soil: Full sun, well-draining soil
- Bidens A lover of dry conditions and perfect for containers, these cheerful yellow blooms steal the show in containers or hanging baskets. "You don't even need to deadhead these easy-peasy plants to keep them looking gorgeous in the summer sun," says Jan Johnsen. She proudly presents the 'Goldilocks Rocks' cultivar, featuring large golden-yellow flowers and bright green foliage.
- Zones: 9-11 as a perennial, adaptable for most zones as an annual
- Size: 8-14 inches tall x 10-20 inches wide
- Sunlight and Soil: Full sun, well-draining soil
- Fan Flower Let these striking blue, pink, or white blooms cascade from your plant containers with swagger. "I simply adore these drought-tolerant flowers, which make their non-stop debut in the heart of summer and continue until the first nip of frost," Johnsen croons. "Even in suspended planters or hanging baskets, they aren't fussed by dry conditions!"
- Zones: 10-11 as a perennial, adaptable for most zones as an annual
- Size: 18 inches tall x 24 inches wide
- Sunlight and Soil: Full sun to partial shade, well-draining soil
- Red Hot Poker Plant Get ready to heat up your garden with this "fiery and fearless" flower. Deer-resistant and thriving under dry conditions, it's just the plant you need for full sun and poor soil. "I simply can't resist these torch-like blooms, which adore baking in the mid-summer sun," Johnsen states. "And the best part? They produce flower spikes long after the first round of blooms—just be sure to snip off the spent blooms to encourage more flowers!"
- Zones: 5-9
- Size: 3-4 feet tall x 3 feet wide
- Sunlight and Soil: Full sun, well-draining soil
- Sea Holly Wow your friends with the cool blue hue of this elegant plant, preferably used as a cutting flower. "Architectural interest is the name of the game with this blue- Beauty," affirms Teri Speight. "Paired with its attractive foliage and deer-resistance, this one's a winner in low-maintenance gardens throughout summer!"
- Zones: 4-9
- Size: 3 feet tall x 2 feet wide
- Sunlight and Soil: Full sun, dry soil
- Brown-Eyed Susan Behold a perennial relative to the more commonly known black-eyed Susan! "This gem is a darling of my dry garden," Speight effuses. "Once it's settled in, it doesn't budge—even during drought—and it can't keep the bees off its sweet blooms. I love letting it self-sow for year-after-year return!"
- Zones: 3-9
- Size: 2-5 feet tall x 1-2 feet wide
- Sunlight and Soil: Full sun to partial shade, well-draining soil
- Coral Bells Making for a stunning addition to your garden, coral bells outshine their blooms with eye-catching foliage. "Too many Heuchera varieties keep this garden designer enthralled," says Speight. "They adore well-drained soil and are practically no-maintenance!"
- Zones: 3-9
- Size: 18 inches tall x 18 inches wide
- Sunlight and Soil: Full sun to partial shade, well-draining soil
- October Daphne Stonecrop Of the stonecrop family, this low-maintenance beauty blooms late in summer and excels as a ground cover. "Sedum sieboldii is another full sun plant that revels in minimal attention," says Speight. "I'm fond of a grouping of three or five in a corner or lower level of a tiered garden bed." You can even go rogue and let it sprawl in a pot! Just remember: stay far from too much water or moisture, as it can rot.
- Zones: 3-9
- Size: 12 inches tall x 12 inches wide
- Sunlight and Soil: Full sun, well-draining soil
- Dianthus These flowers call for regular watering at first but go from strength to strength as they get going. Then, they'll happily bloom until the frost hits. Dianthus is cherished for its charming pink blossoms and versatile size range. It thrives in well-draining soil.
- Zones: 3-8
- Size: 6-36 inches tall x 6-24 inches wide
- Sunlight and Soil: Full sun, well-draining soil
- Coneflower The iconic coneflower enchants with its vibrant colors and size. "My batteries never run low when it comes to coneflowers," Speight admits. "Blooms for both the container garden and the bed, easily last 6-9 weeks during summer in full sun and the sweltering heat!"
- Zones: 3-9
- Size: 48 inches tall x 36 inches wide
- Sunlight and Soil: Full sun, well-draining soil
Bonus Drought-Tolerant Blooms Beyond Annuals:
- Butterfly Weed (Milkweed) Drought-resistant and a haven for monarch butterflies, this plant takes center stage with its vibrant orange hue.
- Bougainvillea A winner for dry conditions, this plant lights up any location with limited access to water.
- Russian Sage Its herbal-sounding common name might suggest otherwise, but it’s inedible. Instead, marvel at its subtle blooms from spring to autumn and note Russian sage’s ability to withstand dry weather.
Martha Stewart's lifestyle magazine recommends drought-tolerant flower gardens to combat wilting plants during summer. These gardens, filled with resilient annuals, are ideal for those traveling or living in arid regions. Some of the top picks include Globe Amaranth, Sunflowers, Blanket Flower, Bidens, Fan Flower, Red Hot Poker Plant, Sea Holly, Brown-Eyed Susan, Coral Bells, October Daphne Stonecrop, Dianthus, and Coneflower. Other drought-resistant blooms include Butterfly Weed (Milkweed) and Bougainvillea. Moreover, experts like Angela Judd, Jan Johnsen, and Teri Speight suggest these plants as they are low-maintenance and survivable in dry conditions. Additionally, these gardens can contribute to environmental-science discussions on climate-change and its impact on water conservation in fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, travel, and sports sectors.
