Adapting to Climate Change: 8 Drought-Resistant Plants to Add to Your Garden

Adding drought-resistant plants to every level of your garden this fall is a great way to create a resilient, low-maintenance garden that conserves water and stands up to dry spells. Drought-tolerant ground cover, shrubs, and flowers will attract season-long pollinators, withstand the scorching heat, and prevent erosion. Here’s a guide to some of the best drought-resistant plants for fall planting in each category.

Drought-Resistant Ground Cover

For a more traditional drought-resistant ground cover, consider Creeping Thyme. This aromatic ground cover forms a low, dense mat with tiny purple flowers in spring and early summer. Once established, creeping thyme is highly drought-tolerant and thrives in full sun, making it an ideal choice for sunny areas where you want a ground cover that requires little to no irrigation. It can withstand sandy and rocky soil, making it a versatile addition wherever you live.

Creeping Thyme, native to northern Europe, western Asia, and North Africa.

Golden Ragwort is a hardy, spreading ground cover that adds a lush layer of foliage in shaded or partially shaded areas. It produces bright yellow flower clusters in early spring, adding color while conserving soil moisture and protecting against erosion. Although it tolerates moderate moisture, it’s fairly resilient and can withstand drier conditions once established. Planting this perennial in the fall will give its roots the head start they need to establish before the warmer spring temperatures arrive.

Golden Ragwort, native to the East Coast of the United States

Drought-Resistant Shrubs

For a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant shrub, Butterfly Bush is an excellent choice. Known for its colorful, fragrant blooms that attract butterflies, this shrub thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Once established, butterfly bush is highly drought-tolerant, making it ideal for drier climates or areas with limited water availability.

Butterfly Bush, native to east Asia.

Another drought-resistant shrub option is the Texas Ranger (Leucophyllum frutescens). Its silver-grey foliage helps it conserve water in hot, dry conditions. Texas Ranger is well-suited to sunny, dry areas, and its compact, bushy growth habit makes it an ideal choice for shrub borders. Because its purple flowers have such eye-popping color, this plant serves vegetable garden boarders well.

Texas Ranger, native to Central America

For a more dramatic addition to a drought-resistant flower bed, consider Russian Sage. It thrives in full sun and tolerates poor, dry soil, making it an excellent choice for hot, dry areas with little rainfall. This variety is both heat and cold-tolerant, so the leaves give off fragrance late into the fall and early again in the spring. It is also known for its medicinal properties.

Russian Sage, native to central Asia

If you love the size and spread of Russian Sage, be sure to check out its cousin, Scarlet Sage. This plant's flowers are deep red and pair well with other blue, purple, and white salvia varieties. It is as drought-tolerant as the other sage plants but brings an extra pop of color to the garden bed.

Red Scarlet, native to Central America

Drought-Resistant Perennials

When it comes to drought-resistant flowers, Black-Eyed Susan is a popular choice. With its sunny yellow petals and dark center, black-eyed Susan brings a cheerful look to garden beds, meadows, and pollinator gardens. It’s highly adaptable to a range of soil types and thrives in full sun with minimal watering, making it a low-maintenance option for any dry garden bed. Black-eyed Susans spread from year to year and are easy to divide and replant during the fall.

Black Eyed Susan, native to North America

Milkweed is another hardy, drought-tolerant flower option. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil and requires minimal watering once established. Blanket flower blooms throughout the growing season and is tolerant of poor soils, making it a versatile and colorful addition to drought-resistant gardens. It's also a major butterfly attractor!

Milkweed, native to North and Central America

Tips for Successful Fall Planting of Drought-Resistant Plants

To give these plants a strong start, prepare your soil by loosening it and adding a layer of compost to improve soil health. Apply a layer of mulch or hay to retain soil moisture and reduce the need for watering, especially during dry periods. Water newly planted drought-resistant plants regularly during their establishment phase, then reduce watering once they are established to encourage deep root growth. Fall planting allows these plants to root deeply, so they’ll be better able to withstand dry spells when spring and summer arrive. With these drought-resistant selections, you can enjoy a garden that is both beautiful and climate-wise, even in the hottest months. Happy planting!