13 Drought-Tolerant Trees to Consider Planting in Your Yard

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If your climate is grow drier and hotter , or has always been desert - like , do n’t resign yourself to a brown landscape painting . Instead , choose for drought - resistant Tree , such as the following baker ’s dozen , which can cope with circumscribed rainfall , not to mention bake in the sunshine .

As to why you require such tree , Sandy Feather , an pedagog on Penn State ’s annex ’s Green Industry Team , say , “ While drouth impacts all plant , woody plants can have those shock for year to number in the form of susceptibleness to disease and dirt ball damage . extensive drought cut photosynthesis , which in twist interpose with the product of secondary metabolites that are essential for flora denial . ” Planting Tree that are designed for the environment in which they are imbed helps ensure a healthier landscape painting .

Purple Crap Myrtle tree on a sunny day.

Photo: by Chakarin Wattanamongkol via Getty Images

1. Caddo Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum‘Caddo’)

While there are many varieties ofsugar maple treesthat require peck of irrigation , this Oklahoma aboriginal is an exception . It grows to 50 feet marvellous and produces leathery leaves that are more resistant to scorching . Keep in idea that , as theUniversity of Massachusetts Extensionemphasizes , “ any plant , no matter of how drought tolerant it may be , will require supplemental watering during its period of establishment in the landscape . ”

Best For : Lawn tree , shade tree , syrup treeHardiness Zones:5 - 9

2. Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus castus)

Chaste treesnumber among the drought immune trees that grow fast , though they usually do n’t surpass 25 feet and may die back to the ground during wintertime in Zone 6 , making themdrought tolerant marvellous plantsthere instead . With scented silvery palmate foliage and also fragrant pale purple , pinkish , or white panicles of summertime heyday , they can — according toThe New Sunset Western Garden Book—”take drought and heat , are cuss - liberal , and attract butterflies and honeybees . ”

Best For : blossoming tree diagram , terrace tree , pollinator gardenHardiness Zones:6 - 9

3. Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)

Blooming from midsummer to other fall , French pancake myrtleproduces glossy , sometimes red - tinged green foliage and 1 to 1 ½ inch French pancake newspaper - corresponding flowers in a variety of colors on 6 to 18 - column inch panicles . unremarkably get no tall than 30 feet , the tree also is valued for its decoratively peeling bark , and its foliage may turn entirely red-faced — or orange or yellow — in the fall . grant toNorth Carolina Extension , this tree “ resists cervid , drought and pollution . ”

Best For : blossoming tree , lawn tree diagram , specimen treeHardiness Zones:6 - 9

4. Cutleaf Lilac (Syringa x laciniata)

Described byUC Davis Arboretumas “ more drouth liberal and disease resistant than other lilacs , ” thecutleaf typealso has more finely dilute foliage than those other varieties and 3 - in panicles of sweetly perfumed pallid purple bloom in late outflow . It abide heat considerably than other lilac varieties do . Cutleaf lilac top out at about 8 feet , and is sometimes separate among drouth resistant bush rather than trees .

Best For : Flowering shrub , patio Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , privacy treeHardiness Zones:4 - 8

5. Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)

With narrow leaves and orchidaceous plant - alike flowers more reminiscent of rain forest blooms than desert one , this “ willow”manages to produce those nosegay on and off from late spring to early autumn on very niggling water . It grows to 30 feet , its fragrant , cattleya - similar , bicolor or tricolor flowers varying in chromaticity from white to pink to lavender . Depending on how it is prune , it can be list among modest tree diagram or low maintenance drought broad shrubs .

Best For : efflorescence Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , patio Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , xeriscaping plantHardiness Zones:7 - 9

6. Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo)

Although it does n’t actually bring about strawberries but rounder and rougher red yield , this drought tolerant treeis highly appealing — partly due to its peeling bark . It especially shines in autumn when its panicle of pinkish or blank flowers appear at the same clock time as the showy and edible but bland fruits from the former year ’s heyday . If you favour a smaller tree than this at long last 35 - metrical foot variety , prefer a dwarf cultivar such as ‘ Compacta . ’

Best For : inflorescence tree diagram , terrace tree , songster treeHardiness Zones:7 - 10

7. Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)

Among drouth resistive evergreen plant trees , this one — according toNorth Carolina Extension—”has the good drouth resistance of any conifer aboriginal to the eastern United States . ” Growing to 40 foot with blue - green foliage and cone and the scent of the cedar tree chests constructed from its insect and putrefaction - repelling heartwood , this native juniperalso produces berries for the birds . Best of all , such drought tolerant privacy tree can continue evergreen without a never - end supplying of water .

good For : aboriginal garden , privacy tree , wintertime gardenHardiness Zones:2 - 9

8. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

Most people would n’t expect to regain a specimen as ferny front asgingkoamong the drought resistant trees . Also cognise as the maidenhair tree for its foliage ’s resemblance to the maidenhair fern , this “ dinosaur ” has last for thousands of eld by being a survivor . It grows to 100 feet with fan - shaped leafage which turn amber and drop in autumn . You ’ll want to institute male trees because the females drop malodourous and mildly toxic fruits .

Best For : Children ’s garden , wraith tree , street treeHardiness Zones:3 - 9

9. Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens)

Although of a different genus than the easterly red-faced cedar , incense cedaralso offers a pleasant smell and whatThe New Sunset Western Garden Bookcalls foliage “ held in flat sprays , as though it had been ironed . ” Among theheat resistanttrees as well as those fordrought tolerant landscaping , it can turn up to 70 feet with carmine brownish cones and unclothe barque . pick out its location cautiously as it is difficult to transplant once established .

easily For : Hedge tree , concealment tree , specimen treeHardiness Zones:5 - 8

10. Oregon White Oak (Quercus garryana)

Although almost all oaks qualify as trees that are drought liberal , thegarry typeactually prefers ironical soil during summer . It is line byOregon State Universityas “ not suitable in an irrigated lawn ” where it may evolve rootage bunk . Native to the western coastal country , it can turn to 90 foot with leathery fleeceable leaves that turn reddish John Brown in autumn and acorn that are eatable if leach first .

Best For : Shade tree , specimen tree , wildlife gardenHardiness Zones:6 - 9

11. Pinyon Pine (Pinus edulis)

One of the drouth tolerant small-scale tree diagram , this tiresome growing pinetypically only arrive at about 20 animal foot . But its slow development and attractive 2 - column inch sluttish brown cones among dour unripened needles make it ideal for containers , small gardens , andxeriscape landscape gardening . As an extra bonus , the pine nuts produce in those strobile are eatable . The tree reportedly can survive on infrequent lachrymation as long as that tearing is abstruse .

Best For : Bonsai , containers , rock’n’roll gardensHardiness Zones:6 - 8

12. Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria)

Growing to 15 metrical foot tall , this deciduous small tree bring forth clouds of pinkish “ flowers ” in midsummer . ( Those bloom actually are plume of pink - haired blossom stalking which are prosperous to see than the lawful invisible chickenhearted flowers . ) The foliation color vary from the original downcast green to the purple of cultivars such as ‘ Royal Purple ’ and often change to hotter hues in fall . As its smokin ’ appearance imply , this tree tolerates both warmth and drought .

Best For : blossoming Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , privateness screen , specimen treeHardiness Zones:4 - 8

13. Western Redbud (Cercis occidentalis)

Among moderate to fast growing drouth liberal trees is thewestern redbud , which bring forth Battle of Magenta blooms standardised to those of sweet-flavored peas . Those are followed by Battle of Magenta seed pods and drear - gullible heart - shape leaves that turn yellow or red in autumn . The New Sunset Western Garden Bookdescribes the Tree as “ excellent on seldom watered banks . ”

well For : money box garden , flower Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , terrace treeHardiness Zones:6 - 9

Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners

A Caddo Sugar Maple with red fall leaves.

Photo: Fast Growing Trees

We ’ll help oneself you rig up your first garden — whether that ’s a few pots on your terrace , a raised layer , or an in - ground plot out back — and select the right works for your soil and region .

Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus castus).