Twelve Resilient Shrubs That Flourish with Limited Water Supply
Choosing plants for your garden should always involve thoughtful consideration of your area's typical precipitation, soil type, and drainage, as well as the plant's water requirements. If you're aiming to conserve water or live in a drought-prone region, opt for drought-tolerant shrubs. They'll keep your landscape looking vivid and colorful while requiring minimal supplemental irrigation. In this article, we'll share expert-recommended drought-resistant shrubs that thrive in various climates and ecosystems, including native species that provide vital nutrients for pollinators and local wildlife.
Linda Vater, a plant expert specializing in Southern Living Plant Collection, has some insight to share:
Thuja – The Adaptable Evergreen
Thuja, known as arborvitae, is a vast genus comprising trees and shrubs. Thuja's roots stretch deep into the ground, allowing it to adapt to reduced water levels. The arborvitae family includes a wide variety of shapes and sizes, from tall, narrow columns to compact, round shrubs. They feature a naturally dense, lush growth habit, with delicate, scale-like leaves forming unique fan-like sprays. Choose between classic deep green varieties or sunny-tipped Forever Goldy for contrast.
- Zones: 2 to 8
- Size: 10 to 60 feet tall x 3 to 15 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil
Blackberry Bushes – Kitchen Garden Upgrade
Replace your ordinary plants with drought-tolerant blackberry bushes (Rubus fruticosus). These plants, which rely on extensive root systems to gather moisture, thrive in arid regions. Blackberries grow on canes, which can be erect, semi-erect, or trailing and can form thickets if left unmanaged. If handling prickly bushes is not your cup of tea, opt for a thornless blackberry like DownHome Harvest Osage.
- Zones: 5 to 9
- Size: 3 to 6 feet tall x 3 to 5 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun; sandy to loamy soil
Mary Phillips, head of native plant habitat strategy and certifications at the National Wildlife Federation, shares the following drought-tolerant shrub recommendations:
American Beautyberry – Feed the Wildlife
The American beautyberry plant (Callicarpa americana) is an excellent choice for your garden. It features small, dense clusters of vibrant purple berries that stand out against its slender, light-green leaves. Native shrubs, like the beautyberry, are naturally adapted to withstand dry spells and have low water needs once established. This plant also serves as a food source for a variety of birds and hosts caterpillars that turn into butterflies.
- Zones: 5 to 11
- Size: 3 to 8 feet tall x 3 to 6 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun to part shade; moist to dry loamy, clay, or sandy soil
False Indigo – Eye-Catching Blooms and Hardiness
False indigo (Baptisia australis) is an excellent choice for its striking feathery foliage, purple blooms, and dark seedpods that offer winter interest. This plant is also highly adaptable, thriving in nearly any soil type – from clay to rocky – due to its long taproot.
- Zones: 3 to 9
- Size: 4 to 12 feet tall x 6 to 15 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun to part shade; tolerates a wide variety of soil types
Alison O'Connor, an extension professor of horticulture at Colorado State Extension, adds these suggestions to the list:
Inkberry – A Tidy Addition
Its neat and tidy growth habit, emerald-colored leaves, white blooms, and ebony-hued berries make native inkberry (Ilex glabra) an elegant addition to landscapes. The shrub's drought-tolerant root system allows it to bloom in dry, moist, acidic, or sandy soils. It also provides a habitat for caterpillars that turn into butterflies.
- Zones: 5 to 10
- Size: 6 to 12 feet tall x 2 to 8 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun to part shade; dry to moist acidic or sandy soil
Next up, we explore some more drought-tolerant shrubs that will add color, variety, and charm to your garden.
Enrichment Data:
Overall:
Drought-tolerant shrubs are a great choice for gardeners in dry climates or those looking to conserve water. Expert recommendations include Thuja, blackberry bushes, American beautyberry, false indigo, and inkberry. These plants offer a range of benefits, such as attracting pollinators, providing food sources for local wildlife, and requiring minimal water once established.
[1] Drought-Tolerant Trees for Dry Climates[2] 10 Drought-Tolerant Shrubs That Look Great In Any Landscape[3] Native Shrubs for Erosion Control
Martha Stewart suggests incorporating drought-tolerant plants, such as Thuja, into your landscaping for a vibrant and colorful garden that requires minimal water. (MarthaStewart, Landscaping, Garden)
Blackberry bushes, a drought-tolerant option, can serve as a kitchen garden upgrade, thriving in arid regions while providing tasty fruits. (Blackberry Bushes, Landscaping, Garden)
