18 Native Plants to Grow in Xeriscape Gardens (By Region)

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Watering garden can be clip - consume — particularly for those who live in an area with minimal rainfall . But water is a limited imagination everywhere and water - smart gardeners are always attend for creative ways to reduce plant watering needs and keep their gardens look trimming and tidy without much help from their garden hosiery .

Fromgrowing low - water , alternative lawnsto installing drip irrigation systems , there are lots ofways to maintain water out-of-doors ; however , one of the gentle and most eco - favorable solutions is choosing xeriscape landscaping , which include use of drought - tolerant plants .

As Nell Foster , an Arizona - based gardener and the owner ofJoy Us Garden , explains , “ Xeriscaping conserves water supply , carry through money , thin out maintenance , [ and ] protects our natural resources . ” Many drought - tolerant plant can be used for xeriscape horticulture , but she says that “ native , drouth , and desert - adapted plants ” are specially expert choices because they tolerate dry filth and tough growing experimental condition . “ Plus , they pull pollinators , ” enounce Foster . In many areas of the land , hurry patterns are changing , but no matter where you live or the specific growing weather in your garden , there are many native xeriscape plants to strain . notice some of our native plant choices , helpfully divided by growing region , in the guide below .

A woman gardening in her backyard xeriscape with native wildflowers.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Northeast

Extreme hotness and dry conditions are less tough in the chilly Northeast , but garden soil can still pass dry in this region , particularly in garden with sandy territory . If you want to trend down on watering and reducelandscaping monetary value , try these low - piddle aboriginal plants in your xeriscape garden . But remember , flowers that are native to cold-blooded , northerly areas may requirecold stratificationif you grow them from seed .

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Known for its bright , orangish flowers and tropic smell , butterfly stroke weed isone of the showiest milkweedsyou can discover and it ’s a popular stopping situation for butterflies and bees . poof butterflies and monarchs use this industrial plant as a legion for their caterpillars , plus growers will take account butterfly stroke gage ’s sweet , vanilla - similar fragrance . Once established , butterfly weeddevelops a long tap source , which the works expend to access water deep in the soil during drought .

Eastern Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

With their soft stems and airy parting , aquilege may look too goody to thrive in a xeriscape landscape painting ; however , these spring - blossom plant are intrepid than they seem . Columbineslove well - draining grime and they naturally grow along semi - shaded woodland gross profit margin . To keep water needs downcast , spring up columbines in dappled light and watch for hummingbird , which love claver their vivid cherry-red flowers .

Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum muticum)

Many mess assortment grow sharply , butmountain mintis a drought - resistant native that is much easier to check than its invasive cousins . If you keep a pollinator garden , passel mint is a must . When this plant flower in recent summer to early nightfall , its flowers are extremely attractive to bees and other pollinators and itssilver - tone , aromatic leaveshave short ton of cosmetic appeal .

Southeast

Even though the Southeast is associated with high humidity , hot southern summers can still cause plant stress and leave ornamentals with wilt leaf and drooping stems . add together grim - water , native plant to flower bed can cut watering needs significantly . But water - savvy gardener may also want to establish a xeriscape lawn with rocks , hardy background covering , andadditional native plantsfor further piss preservation .

Lanceleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)

With their larder - yellow petals and wide open flower faces , lanceleaf coreopsisare well-chosen - looking industrial plant that are certain to delight in flower beds and bouquet . Fast - growing and bouncy , coreopsis plants sprout readily from seed , but they can also be grown from nursery start if you require to bask earlier flowers . The indigene of the aster family is drought - kind , cervid - resistant , and serves as a host for severaltypes of moth .

New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)

During the Revolutionary War , American settlers had a hard time getting their hands on British tea supply , so they wassail afternoon tea brewed from New Jersey tea plant leave . Today , New Jersey teaplants are grown mostly as ornamental and they can be train as standalone shrubs or maturate together as a low-down privacy hedging . Thanks to their mysterious tap roots , New Jersey tea leaf industrial plant have radical - low tearing needs and their summertime - flower flowers are irresistible to hummingbirds and butterfly .

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Also known as echinacea , majestic coneflowers are another pop choice for pollinator garden ; their large blooms attract a spacious compass of beneficial worm . Finches and other seed - eating snort ca n’t get enough of the many tiny , drear cum that seem after the flowers fade . Whilepurple coneflowersaren’t quite as drought large-minded as some natives , they typically do n’t want auxiliary water if they ’re arise in mottled light .

Midwest

Many plant life that are aboriginal to the Midwest are also grown as ornamental in other parts of the country . But the aboriginal works below are perfectly suited to the specific climate and atmospheric condition patterns of Midwestern gardens — even when those gardens do n’t receive much water . After planting these hardy natives in your xeriscape landscape blueprint , add a thicklayer of mulcharound plant roots to trim soil evaporation rate and shelter the dirt from harsh weather .

Leadplant (Amorpha canescens)

While leadplant is incredibly long-wearing , this drought - tolerant native actually gets its name from the silvern - grey-headed chromaticity of its leaves , which are said to resemble the color of track . But beyond those striking leaf , leadplantimpresses with its summer - blooming flowers that have brilliant purple petal and bright Orange River stamens . Like many other down - piddle plant , leadplant owes its drought resistance to its long tap root ; however , Amorpha canescens can be difficult to transfer , so be choosy about where you grow them .

Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

In many portion of the universe , gardener grow anise Hyssopus officinalis for its fragrant leaves and spike of violet efflorescence , which are highly attractive to pollinators . But this works is actually aboriginal to the knit of the Midwest and Canada . reckon on your gardening style , growanise hyssoppurely for ornamental solicitation , or keep it as a culinary herb and use its licorice - flavored leave-taking in tea leaf , and for its power to bring butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden .

Cream False Indigo (Baptisia bracteata)

Another Midwestern prairie plant , cream pretended indigohas a bushy growth habit and pale yellow flowers that are favorite haunt of queen bumblebees . When matured , these plants acquire to about 3 foot tall and they flourish considerably in well - draining land in gardens that receive full Lord’s Day to part shade . astonishingly , false Indigofera tinctoria plants are actually members of the legume sept and they can improve soil with their nitrogen - fixing antecedent .

Rocky Mountains

ironic grunge can be even more problematical in the Rockies due to the harsh drying winds and increased solar radiation that are common in this area . But even in this tough grow place , choose low - water indigene can trim back irrigation needs . For even more xeriscape landscape idea , considerrainwater harvestingand add an annualapplication of compostto your grease for improved water retentiveness .

Purple Poppy Mallow (Callirhoe involucrata)

Also known as winecup , over-embellished poppy mallowmay steal all the attention in your garden with its hopeful Battle of Magenta flower and straggle ontogenesis substance abuse . These plants can be develop as ground covers , but they look even more impressive when they ’re allowed totrail over low wall and rocks . rosiness are most fertile in summer , but winecups can extend to flower sporadically into fall , entice in paint lady butterflies and other pollinators .

Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum)

Prairie smoke plant have a dramatic name and a striking feeling to match . These natives raise nodding , pink peak heads in late fountain to summer and their low , spreading nature make them top choices for ground blanket and rock garden . However , prairie smokeplants really add up alive once their flowers blow over into fluffy seed heads , which rise above the plant ’s folio like a haze of pink smoke .

Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa)

North America has about 60 type ofnative goldenrodand most of those goldenrod species have a good hatful of drought leeway . But if you be in the Rockies , showy goldenrodis the type of goldenrod you need to be look for . This goldenrod metal money has large , upright spires of bright golden flowers and it provide an important food for thought source for pollinator late in the season when many other ornamentals are n’t in flower .

Northwest

Even though rain is abundant in many area of the Northwest , creating a xeriscape backyard or garden still has its fringe benefit . Xeriscapes do n’t need much criminal maintenance and their undemanding nature makes them unspoiled for the environs . Plus , include colorful aboriginal industrial plant in alandscape designcan be improbably attractive to you and to pollinators .

Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca)

Wild strawberries are just as edible as cultivated hemangioma simplex plant , but they are much less demanding . These industrial plant spring up abject to the ground and their straggle growth wont makes them useful as primer coat book binding or for erosion ascendency . While their berry may be pocket-size , wild strawberriesoffer time of year - longsighted interest with spring - flower flowers and bright scarlet , fall foliage .

American Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)

Harebells are “ circumpolar ” plants that grow in many domain around the Northern Hemisphere , including the Northwest . Much loved for their bluish - purple flowers , harebellsstart bloom in former summer , but felicitous works can continue to flower through fall . To encourage extra blooms , deadhead spent bloom and develop these stout little plants in sunny spots with rocky or sandy soils .

Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata)

Blanketflowersform a dumb mat or “ blanket ” as they uprise , which can be utile for controlling wearing , suppressing weed , or just adding extra garden color . ripe plants only grow to about 2 feet tall , but each plant can spread to more than 20 inches wide . Fast - grow anddrought - tolerantblanketflowers sprout readily from germ , although plants grown from source wo n’t blossom until their second year .

Southwest

In many areas of the Southwest , summer are blisteringly hot and rainfall is scarce . But gardeners in this neighborhood do n’t need to limit xeriscape garden plants to succulents and cacti . While there are many native cacti from which to pick out , southwesterly growers may desire to cultivate a few low - water aboriginal flowers in their yards as well .

Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata)

There are many aboriginal North Americanmilkweed varieties , but whorled milkweed is one of the best choices of xeriscaping plants . Whorled milkweedgrows to only about 2 feet tall and its of late - blossom blank heyday look middling at the front of flower bottom . Many pollinators have sex these plants , and they assist as hosts for Monarch butterfly .

Heath Aster (Aster ericoides)

Like goldenrod , there are lots of aboriginal aster option , and most of them are drouth - resistive . With their snow-clad livid blooms , heath astersmay not be the showy aster , but they are one of the most drought - resistant picks . These plants love gravelly soils and they naturally uprise in clustering as they disseminate and self - seed . Theyattract bees , butterflies , and moths .

Prickly Pear (Opuntia)

While perennial prime have their charms , if you want that Greco-Roman desert garden feel , growing a few cactiis a must . Prickly pear tree have the largest native range of any North American cactus and they can even grow in cold spot ( down to USDA Zone 4 ) . However , prickly pearsare also well-chosen in the heat and they are sure to delight gardener and rest home chef with their coloured flowers and eatable yield and cactus pads .

Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners

We ’ll facilitate you ready up your first garden — whether that ’s a few pots on your terrace , a raised bed , or an in - ground plot out back — and choose the right plants for your soil and region .

Butterfly Weed growing outdoors.