I love summer gardening… until my plants start to look like they’ve had enough. And I can’t really blame them. My garden is currently hotter than a frying pan and even my oldest and most faithful plants are having a hard time putting on a brave face…except for my favorite drought tolerant bloomers, that is.
Considering this is one of the hottest summers in decades, I doubt I’m the only one who finds that leaves droop in the afternoon sun, flowers fade faster than you can throw them away, and every trip outside becomes a mental calculation of which plants need water first. Because when the temperatures rise and the dry spells continue, even the most carefully planned garden can start to look a little tired.
The solution? Besides leaning hard on rain harvesting, slow watering and rotting, of course? Choosing plants that are built for the conditions.
These 6 drought-tolerant plants stay lush all summer long
Some flowers seem to spring to life when the weather turns warm, positively thriving despite dappled sunshine and long dry spells without rain. And many of them come with an added bonus: they’re loved by bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
That’s why I’ve always had a soft spot for drought-tolerant blooms. They are colourful, reliable and extremely low maintenance, a holy trinity which means I can spend less time worrying and more time enjoying my garden.
So if your yard is starting to feel less like a relaxing outdoor retreat and more like a frying pan every summer, these are the hardworking flowers I recommend planting. Good luck!
1. Salvia
(Image credit: Mariia Ostashuk/Getty Images)
If there’s one drought-tolerant bloom that seems designed for summer, it is salvia. With tall spikes of vibrant blooms and a remarkable ability to handle heat and dry conditions, it has quietly replacing lavender on the block as the hot new thing perennial which brings instant energy to borders, containers and pollinator gardens.
One of my favorite things about salvia is that it looks delicate but behaves like a horse in the garden. Once established, many varieties can continue to bloom in the warmer months, attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds along the way.
There are hundreds of varieties to choose from, with blooms ranging from deep purples and blues to pinks and reds, making it easy to find one that suits your space.
Buy Salvia:
Nature Hills Nursery
May Night Salvia
Little to no skull is needed here, just lots of purple flowers!
Nature Hills Nursery
Bumbleberry Salvia
This bold salvia promises all-season color and happy bees to their damsels.
Nature Hills Nursery
Marcus Salvia
This compact dwarf variety proves that size doesn’t matter when it comes to salvia.
2. Conifers
(Image: Molly Shannon/Shutterstock)
Conifers it’s one of those plants that instantly makes the garden feel happier. Their daisy-like blooms add cheerful color to the height of summer, but their real superpower is how little they ask in return.
Once established, conifers are remarkably drought tolerant, standing tall in warm weather while continuing to attract butterflies and bees. They also offer something to the garden beyond the flowering season, as their seed heads can provide food for birds later in the year.
It’s proof that a tough plant doesn’t have to sacrifice beauty. As always and always, I recommend it Magnus Purple Coneflower from Nature Hills for those who want drought-tolerant blooms that won’t wilt in the heat.
3. Coreopsis
(Image credit: Niwes Suthamnatpong/Getty Images)
If you want a flower that keeps the color coming in incredibly hot weather, coreopsis (aka tick) is hard to beat. Its cheerful yellow, pink or red flowers seem to appear non-stop all summer long, creating a bright display even when conditions turn rough.
Coreopsis thrives in full sun and copes well with dry spells once established. It’s also wonderfully versatile, working just as happily in cottage gardens as it does in containers or along paths.
To me, it’s one of those plants that quietly earns its spot every year because it just keeps on working. Go for something like PERMATHREAD™ Red Satin Coreopsis by Nature Hills if you want satiny red flowers, yellow fall foliage and a perennial that pollinators instantly call the trendiest, most frequent spot in the neighborhood.
4. Egg
(Image credit: Almacron/Shutterstock)
I have some degree of self-awareness, I assure you. I know I write about its myriad benefits yarrow more than is absolutely necessary. And yet, while this drought bloomer may not always get the same attention as roses or hydrangeas, it deserves a place in most gardens.
With flat clusters of tiny flowers and delicate fern-like foliage, it brings a softer, more natural look while still being incredibly tough. It can handle heat, drought, poor soil and plenty of neglect – exactly the qualities you want when summer weather turns unpredictable. It’s also a pollinator favorite, adding even more life to your garden.
All the hail, then! Especially when it looks as good as the Strawberry Seduction™ Yarrow from Nature Hills.
5. Sedum
(Image: Maria Evseyeva / Shutterstock)
Sedum it’s the drought-tolerant bloomer I turn to when I want something that looks pretty without needing constant attention. Its thick, water-storing leaves help it cope with dry conditions, while its clusters of tiny flowers provide late-season interest when many summer blooms begin to fade.
From low-growing ground covers to taller varieties that add structure to borders, there’s a streamer for nearly every garden style. And as a bonus? Many varieties look fantastic even when not in bloom, thanks to their interesting foliage and architectural shape.
THE Angelina Rock Plant by Burpee it is widely considered one of the easiest plants to grow. Or, if you prefer something with a little more drama, go for it Steel the Show Sedum from Nature Hills; those pink blooms should see you through to fall.
6. Blanket Flower
(Image: Iva Vagnerova / Shutterstock)
Bright, bold and practically made for sunshine, the blanket flower is just the kind of drought-tolerant bloomer you want when your garden starts to feel the heat.
Its vibrant red, orange and yellow flowers bring a burst of summer color and can continue to bloom for months under the right conditions. It’s also extremely heat and drought tolerant, making it a favorite for gardeners who want maximum impact with minimum effort (aka me, I refuse to be ashamed of it).
The name itself seems fitting, as these cheerful flowers have a way of spreading across a garden like a colorful blanket. Something like that SpinTop® Orange Halo Blanket Flower by Nature Hills it will bloom from spring until frost in Zones 5-9, making it a must.
Shop flower blankets below:
They Sow Right Seeds
Blanket Flower seeds
This variety produces beautiful red flowers with yellow tips.
Shamrock garden
Arizona Sun Plants Flower Blanket – Two
No time for seeds? Get some live flowers!
Everwild Farms
Yellow Gaillardia wildflower seeds
A lesser known blanket flower variety, these pretty yellow blooms look great!
I guess all I really need to remind you is this: a heat wave doesn’t have to mean a tired garden. In fact, by choosing drought-tolerant blooms that naturally love the sun and can handle less water, you can create a garden that stays colorful, supports pollinators, and requires much less maintenance in the warmer months.
What could be better, honestly?
