21 Low-Maintenance Xeriscaping Plants For Stunning, Water-Wise Gardens!

If you’re tired of spending every weekend fussing with sprinklers or wincing at your water bill, you’re not alone. That’s why I love these 21 xeriscaping plants. They’re the toughest, most beautiful plants for low-water, xeriscaped gardens. Many of them can significantly reduce your water usage. And you might be surprised at just how many butterflies and hummingbirds will show up!

A gorgeous Buddleia davidii bush blooming in the garden.

Sound intriguing?

Then let’s plan (and plant) an epic low-water garden!

21 Epic Xeriscaping Plants For Water-Wise Gardens

Here are some tough plants that can handle dry spells

and still make your yard look great. You don’t need to be a gardening pro to enjoy them. Just give them a good start, and they’ll take care of themselves.

1. Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii)

Gorgeous peacock butterfly visiting a Buddleja Davidii flower.

Butterfly bush is one of those plants that seems to do its own thing, no matter the weather. Its honey-scented blooms draw in butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Sometimes it feels like a pollinator party out there. If your summer is dry, you might even get more flowers than usual.

Plant Type: Shrub.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 through 9.
Plant Size: Approximately 6 to 12 feet tall by 4 to 15 feet wide.
Color: Green foliage with long clusters of purple, pink, or white flowers.

Snipping off the old flowers will help you get even more blooms. Sometimes, all the way into fall. Butterflies will thank you for it.

2. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)

Gorgeous pink blooming thymus Serpyllum wildflowers.

Creeping thyme is one of those little plants you end up loving more than you expect. Brush past it or step on it, and you’ll get a whiff of its fresh scent. It’s tough in dry weather, shrugs off most pests, and can help keep weeds in check. Plus, you’ll spot plenty of bees and other good bugs visiting the flowers.

Plant Type: Groundcover/Herb.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 through 9.
Plant Size: Roughly 2 to 3 inches tall by 12 to 18 inches wide.
Color: Small green leaves with pink to purple blooms.

You can even eat the tiny thyme flowers if you’re feeling fancy. They look great on summer salads or drinks.

3. Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia spp.)

Lovely nopal plant or prickly pear cactus growing in a xeriscape garden.

Prickly pear cactus stands out with its big, bold flowers and those quirky, edible pads and fruits. The spines do their job (ask anyone who’s tried to weed around it!). It somehow survives both deep freezes and long dry spells, making it a real survivor in tough gardens.

Plant Type: Cactus/Succulent.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 through 10 (varies by species).
Plant Size: Typically 1 to 6 feet tall by 2 to 5 feet wide.
Color: Green leaves with yellow, pink, or red flowers and edible red fruits.

People cook the young pads (called nopales) in Mexican dishes. They’re full of vitamins and taste a bit like green beans.

4. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Lovely flowering Rosmarinus officinalis growing in the garden.

Rosemary is the kind of plant you want around for so many reasons. The leaves smell amazing, and if you enjoy cooking, you’ll always have some on hand. It barely needs any water, and deer seem to leave it alone. You get a pretty, useful shrub that takes care of itself.

Plant Type: Shrub/Herb.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 7 through 10.
Plant Size: Roughly 2 to 6 feet tall by 2 to 4 feet wide.
Color: Evergreen needle-like leaves with blue or purple flowers.

Rosemary can keep going for decades. Over time, its stems get woody and twisty, adding some character to your garden even in the winter.

5. Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum spp.)

Lovely hens and chicks succulent plant with pretty green rosettes.

Hens and chicks are small succulents that reproduce by forming many offsets, or ‘chicks,’ around the parent plant. They are exceptionally hardy, spreading to stabilize slopes and able to survive harsh weather by closing their rosettes to conserve moisture.

Plant Type: Succulent/Groundcover.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 through 9.
Plant Size: Usually 2 to 6 inches tall by 6 to 12 inches wide.
Color: Rosettes of green, red, or purple leaves with pinkish flowers.

Remarkably, hens and chicks can photosynthesize even in freezing temperatures, and their rosettes close up during extreme weather to conserve moisture, reopening when conditions improve.

6. Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca)

Gorgeous silver leaf bush and fescue glauca grass growing in the garden.

Blue fescue is a compact ornamental grass with distinct steel-blue foliage that appears to glow in certain light. It grows in neat clumps, thrives in poor soil, requires no mowing, and adds texture to water-wise gardens.

Plant Type: Ornamental Grass.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 through 8.
Plant Size: About 6 to 12 inches tall by 6 to 12 inches wide.
Color: Silvery-blue foliage with tan flower spikes.

The grass goes dormant in extreme heat and turns golden-tan, then comes back to life with cooler weather. It puts on a natural seasonal color show.

7. Daylilies (Hemerocallis)

Red and yellow daylily or Hemerocallis plant with epic red and yellow flowers.

Daylilies are perennial plants that bloom for weeks, as each flower lasts only a day, but many buds form continuously throughout the season. Their thick roots store water and nutrients, enabling the plants to produce vibrant flowers even during droughts.

Plant Type: Perennial.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 through 9.
Plant Size: Around 1 to 4 feet tall by 1 to 3 feet wide.
Color: Strappy green leaves with flowers in shades of yellow, orange, red, or purple.

Many varieties are fragrant, and the spent flowers and young shoots are edible, tasting similar to lettuce with a slight onion flavor.

8. Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)

Gorgeous orange and yellow gaillardia blanket flower growing in the garden.

Blanket flower is a tough, wildflower that starts blooming in late spring, then continues to bloom until frost. Its daisy-like blooms resemble Native American patterns, thrive in sandy soils, and provide long-lasting color without much care.

Plant Type: Perennial.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 through 9.
Plant Size: About 1 to 3 feet tall by 1 to 2 feet wide.
Color: Green foliage with daisy-like blooms in red, orange, and yellow.

The daisy-like blooms are magnets for butterflies and make excellent cut flowers, while the spent seedheads provide winter interest and food for birds.

9. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)

Gorgeous Russian sage plant Perovskia atriplicifolia with purple blooms.

Russian sage is a tough perennial with silvery leaves that give a soft, cloud-like garden effect. Its aromatic foliage deters deer and rabbits, and it produces critical late-season flowers for pollinators.

Plant Type: Perennial/Sub-shrub.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 through 9.
Plant Size: About 3 to 5 feet tall by 2 to 4 feet wide.
Color: Silvery-green foliage with lavender-blue flowers.

The plant’s woody stems create an attractive winter structure, and the dried flower spikes retain their color and fragrance for months in arrangements.

10. Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.)

Gorgeous pink crepe myrtle flowers growing in a rustic garden.

Often called the “lilac of the South,” crepe myrtle offers a trifecta of beauty: spectacular summer blooms, gorgeous fall foliage, and striking exfoliating bark that offers lovely winter interest. These adaptable trees and shrubs can survive on rainfall alone once established and are remarkably resistant to pests and diseases.

Plant Type: Shrub/Tree.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 6 through 9.
Plant Size: From 6-foot-tall shrubs to 25-foot-tall trees, depending on variety.
Color: Green foliage with vibrant pink, purple, red, or white blooms.

The crepe-paper-like flowers bloom for months! And newer varieties offer extended cold hardiness. It adds a lovely Southern flair to northern gardens.

11. Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens)

A gorgeous Leucophyllum frutescens plant with pinkish purple flowers growing on the back porch.

Also known as “barometer bush,” Texas sage has the remarkable ability to bloom en masse after rain, creating spectacular purple clouds of flowers that can be seen from miles away. The plant’s silvery foliage reflects sunlight and reduces water loss, while its deep taproot can access groundwater up to 50 feet below the surface.

Plant Type: Shrub.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 8 through 11.
Plant Size: Approximately 5 to 8 feet tall by 4 to 6 feet wide.
Color: Silvery-gray leaves with purplish bell-like flowers.

Texas sage can easily survive on as little as 8 inches of annual rainfall. It detests humid, well-watered conditions – and loves dry ones.

12. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Gorgeous Texas sage or Leucophyllum frutescens plant with pretty pink flowers.

This ancient healing herb, named after Achilles, who used it to treat wounds, is a powerhouse perennial that attracts beneficial insects while repelling harmful pests. Yarrow’s flat-topped flower clusters serve as landing pads for tiny, beneficial wasps and predatory beetles that naturally control unwanted garden bugs – like aphids and spidermites!

Plant Type: Perennial.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 through 9.
Plant Size: Roughly two to three feet tall by two feet wide.
Color: Fern-like green leaves with clusters of white, yellow, pink, or red flowers.

Yarrow’s ferny foliage releases a pleasant, spicy fragrance when brushed against. And the flowers dry beautifully for long-lasting arrangements.

13. Agastache (Hummingbird Mint)

Pale and lovely pink Agastache hyssop or hummingbird mint in the garden.

This pollinator paradise combines the drought tolerance of a desert plant with the charm of a cottage garden flower. Agastache’s tubular blooms are designed explicitly for hummingbirds’ beaks and tongues, while the aromatic foliage has a scent reminiscent of a blend of anise and mint.

Plant Type: Perennial.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 through 10.
Plant Size: About 2 to 4 feet tall by 1 to 2 feet wide.
Color: Green foliage with orange, pink, or purple flowers.

Agastache self-seeds readily in favorable conditions. Plus, the leaves and flowers are edible! It’s a lovely addition to teas and yummy homemade beverages.

14. Sedum (Stonecrop)

Gorgeous sedum stonecrop with epic yellow flowers.

These succulent superstars are virtually indestructible. They earn their common name “stonecrop” from their ability to thrive in rocky crevices where other plants perish. Many sedums exhibit CAM (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism) photosynthesis. This means they open their pores only at night to conserve water while still producing energy.

Plant Type: Succulent/Perennial.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 through 9.
Plant Size: Ranges from 6 inches to 2 feet tall, spreading 1 to 2 feet wide.
Color: Fleshy green leaves with pink, yellow, or white flowers.

Bees and butterflies love the star-shaped flowers. The ample seed heads also provide winter food for backyard birds. And, the thick leaves store water for months without rain.

15. Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

Schizachyrium scoparium or little bluestem growing in a curbside garden.

This native grass is an ecological powerhouse that supports over 70 species of butterfly and moth caterpillars, requiring no supplemental water once established. Little bluestem’s deep root system can extend 8 feet down, making it incredibly drought-tolerant and excellent for soil stabilization.

Plant Type: Native Grass.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 through 9.
Plant Size: About 2 to 4 feet tall by 1 to 2 feet wide.
Color: Blue-green foliage turning orange-red in fall.

The entire plant transforms into a copper-orange beacon in the autumn weather that glows like fire in the landscape! It offers superb seasonal interest.

16. Aloe (Aloe spp.)

Gorgeous aloe vera plant with orange flowers growing in the garden.

Beyond the famous aloe vera, this diverse genus offers architectural drama and healing properties in drought-resistant packages. Aloe leaves contain a transparent gel that is rich in over 200 active compounds, including amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.

Plant Type: Succulent.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 8 through 11.
Plant Size: Roughly one to three feet tall by one to two feet wide.
Color: Gray-green leaves with orange or yellow flower spikes.

The dramatic flower spikes can reach 4 feet tall and bloom repeatedly. The best part is that it also attracts swarms of gorgeous hummingbirds.

17. Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia uvaria)

Lovely red hot poker flower with epic eye catching orange blooms.

These dramatic perennials create living torches in the landscape with flower spikes that transition from red at the top to yellow at the bottom, resembling glowing coals. Red hot pokers bloom for months with proper deadheading, and their nectar-rich flowers are magnets for hummingbirds and long-tongued butterflies.

Plant Type: Perennial.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 through 9.
Plant Size: Around 2 to 4 feet tall by 2 to 3 feet wide.
Color: Spiky green leaves with tall flower stalks in red, orange, and yellow.

Red Hot Poker has lovely spiky foliage that offers textural contrast year-round. And, the plants form impressive clumps that can live for decades with minimal care.

18. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

A hungry honeybee collecting nectar from a purple coneflower.

This native wildflower is both a garden beauty and a medicinal powerhouse, with its roots and leaves traditionally used to boost the immune system. Purple coneflowers have specialized root systems that can tap into deep water sources, while their prominent seed cones provide food for goldfinches and other birds through winter.

Plant Type: Perennial.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 through 9.
Plant Size: About 2 to 4 feet tall by 1 to 2 feet wide.
Color: Green foliage with daisy-like pink to purple petals and orange centers.

The flowers actually improve with age, developing more intense colors and larger blooms as plants mature over several years.

19. Buffalograss (Buchloë dactyloides)

Green Bouteloua dactyloides or buffalo grass growing in the backyard.

This native prairie grass creates a lush, green lawn that uses 75% less water than traditional turfgrass, while requiring no fertilizers or pesticides. Buffalograss spreads by underground runners and surface stolons, creating a dense, cushiony carpet that stays naturally short.

Plant Type: Turfgrass.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 through 8.
Plant Size: Usually 4 to 8 inches tall. It makes a lovely dry-weather groundcover.
Color: Fine green blades that turn tan during winter.

Buffalograss goes dormant and turns golden-tan during winter. And, it requires zero mowing from October through April.

20. Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina)

Decorative and lovely Stachys byzantina silver carpet in the spring garden.

This tactile wonder enchants children and adults alike with its impossibly soft leafage. The leaves feel velvety, or like cashmere. The silvery foliage reflects sunlight and heat while the dense hairs on the leaves trap moisture from the air, making it remarkably drought-tolerant.

Plant Type: Groundcover/Perennial.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 through 9.
Plant Size: About 12 to 18 inches tall by 12 to 24 inches wide.
Color: Velvety silver-gray foliage with purple flower spikes.

Lamb’s ear spreads to form attractive ground cover, and its fuzzy leaves have natural antibacterial properties. Historically, its leaves were used as field bandages, earning the plant the nickname “soldier’s woundwort.”

21. Lavender (Lavandula spp.)

A lovely lush lavender bush growing in a grassy and sunny field.

The queen of Mediterranean herbs, lavender, combines intoxicating fragrance with remarkable drought tolerance and pest-repelling properties. The essential oils in lavender naturally repel moths, fleas, flies, and mosquitoes while attracting beneficial pollinators, such as bees and butterflies.

Plant Type: Perennial/Shrub.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 through 9.
Plant Size: Roughly one to three feet tall by 1 to 3 feet wide.
Color: Gray-green foliage with fragrant purple blooms.

Lavender flowers retain their fragrance for years when dried, and the plant’s woody stems develop character with age, creating sculptural forms that provide gorgeous structure in winter gardens.

Conclusion

An epic green coastal prickly pear cactus on a sandy beach.

There you have it. These 21 incredible plants show that sustainable gardening can be beautiful and practical. They help you save water, money, and time! They also support wildlife in your yard. Whether you’re dealing with dry conditions or want an easier garden, these tough plants can turn your outdoor space into something special.

What about you?

Are you planning on planting more dry-weather plants?
Do you live in an area with a high risk of drought next year?
Are any of our options native plants in your region?

Thanks for reading.

Have a great day!