Drought Tolerant Plants: What It Means and What to Grow

Written by David S.

David writes about gardening for Green Thumb Nursery in Southern California.

After the last drought, almost every gardener in California got a crash course in the phrase “drought-tolerant.” We heard it attached to plants, to landscapes, and to water rebates. But what does drought tolerant actually mean, and which plants truly earn the label in a Southern California garden? Here is a plain-English answer, along with a list of dependable drought-tolerant plants and the one tip that makes or breaks them.

What Does “Drought Tolerant” Mean?

A drought-tolerant plant is one that can survive long stretches with little supplemental water once it has settled into the ground. Plants earn that ability through adaptations: deep root systems that reach moisture far down, succulent or waxy or fuzzy leaves that store water and cut down on evaporation, and the habit of going dormant through the hottest, driest part of the year. Here is the part people miss, though. Tolerating drought is not the same as thriving in it. A drought-tolerant plant can get by on very little water, but “tolerant” means it survives, not that it needs zero water. Give one too little and it will slow down, drop leaves, or go dormant to protect itself, which is survival, not the lush look most of us are after.

Drought Tolerant vs. Drought Resistant vs. Xeriscape

For a home gardener, “drought tolerant” and “drought resistant” are usually used loosely to mean the same thing: a plant that needs little water once established. Some people draw a fine line (calling a plant “resistant” if it needs essentially none and “tolerant” if it survives dry spells but may show some stress), but for choosing plants the practical meaning is the same. You will also hear xeriscape, which is not a plant type at all but a design approach. Xeriscaping means planning a landscape to minimize water use through low-water plants, soil improvement, generous mulch, and efficient irrigation. A xeriscape leans on drought-tolerant plants, but “drought-tolerant landscaping” is a broader term that simply means choosing plants that can handle our dry season, whether that is a bed of succulents or a mixed border of natives and Mediterranean shrubs.

Why California Plants Handle Drought So Well

California has the largest Mediterranean climate in the world, defined by two seasons: a cool, wet one and a hot, dry one. The rains mostly fall between roughly mid-autumn and early spring, and then it can go months without a drop. Native plants here evolved for exactly that rhythm, growing and blooming with the winter rains and then riding out the dry summer by slowing down or going dormant. Our deserts take the same idea to the extreme, where a brief rainy spell triggers a quick flush of bloom and the rest of the year the plants conserve or go dormant and wait. Desert plants that live this way grow slowly and can live a very long time: a saguaro cactus grows only about an inch in its first eight years and commonly lives 150 years or more, with one famous specimen estimated at over 300. That deep adaptation to dry summers is exactly why so many California natives and other Mediterranean-climate plants make such reliable drought-tolerant choices for our gardens.

The Best Drought Tolerant Plants for Southern California

The list is long, but these are dependable performers for our climate, mixing California natives with other Mediterranean-climate plants. Remember that every one of them still appreciates a deep drink now and then in summer, and that drought tolerance only kicks in after they are established.

A few of these are worth a closer look. Artichoke is as ornamental as it is edible, with striking silver foliage and, if left to flower, a dramatic purple-blue bloom. Geraniums (pelargoniums) actually prefer poor, loose, sandy soil and reward you with vivid color. And our own guide to silver carpet covers one of the best low-water groundcovers for filling the space between pavers.

Are There Drought Tolerant Vegetables?

Somewhat. A number of warm-season vegetables handle dry spells better than others once they are established, including beans (especially tepary beans and cowpeas), okra, squash and zucchini, and melons, which root deeply and draw on moisture farther down in the soil. Cool-season crops like peas, lettuce, and the cabbage family are not drought-tolerant. And be realistic: even the tough crops need steady water early in the season to get going, and most vegetables still need consistent moisture to produce a good crop, because the fruit and leaves we eat are mostly water. Drought tolerance in the vegetable garden is about choosing forgiving crops and watering deeply and efficiently, not about skipping water altogether.

How to Establish Drought Tolerant Plants (the Most Important Tip)

This is the tip that matters most, and the one most often skipped. A plant’s drought tolerance only switches on once it is established, which means its roots have grown out into the surrounding soil. A fresh transplant has none of that yet, so it will die quickly if you plant it and walk away. Plan to water your new drought-tolerant plants regularly for about their first year, sometimes two, letting the soil dry a bit between waterings to encourage deep rooting. Only after that should you taper off to the occasional deep soak that carries them through our dry summers. A couple of inches of mulch over the root zone makes a big difference too, holding moisture and keeping roots cool. Most of these plants want soil that drains freely but still holds a little moisture; if yours is heavy, lighten it with a mix of coconut coir and perlite or a similar amendment.

Choosing and Placing Drought Tolerant Plants

When you shop, think about the space each plant will fill. You get a lot of coverage from small spreaders like thyme, which will knit across a couple of feet and flower for the bees. For containers, look for dwarf varieties, such as compact kangaroo paw. To fill a larger bed, set taller plants like sage or a dramatic artichoke in the center and let lower growers like aloe, thyme, or silver carpet soften the edges. Grouping plants with similar water needs together, sometimes called hydrozoning, also makes the whole planting easier to water efficiently.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does drought tolerant mean?

A drought-tolerant plant is one that can survive extended dry periods once it is established, using adaptations like deep roots, water-storing leaves, or summer dormancy. The key word is survive: it can get by on little water, but it still needs water to establish and looks its best with an occasional summer soak.

Is drought tolerant the same as drought resistant?

For most gardeners the two terms are used loosely to mean the same thing: a plant that needs little water once established. Some people treat “resistant” as needing essentially no water and “tolerant” as surviving dry spells with some stress, but for choosing plants the practical meaning is the same.

Do drought tolerant plants need any water?

Yes. Every drought-tolerant plant needs regular water for about its first year or two to establish, and most look and bloom better with an occasional deep soak in the hottest months. None of them truly thrive on zero water.

What is xeriscaping?

Xeriscaping is a landscape design approach that minimizes water use through low-water plants, improved soil, mulch, and efficient irrigation. It relies heavily on drought-tolerant plants but refers to the whole design, not a single plant.

What are the best drought tolerant plants for Southern California?

Dependable choices include California natives and Mediterranean-climate plants such as ceanothus (California lilac), manzanita, sage, California poppy, lavender, rosemary, agave and other succulents, aloe, kangaroo paw, and thyme.

What vegetables are drought tolerant?

Some warm-season crops tolerate dry spells better once established, including tepary beans and cowpeas, okra, squash and zucchini, and melons. Cool-season crops like peas and lettuce are not drought-tolerant, and even the tough crops need steady water early on, so plan to water deeply rather than skip water.

How long until a drought tolerant plant can handle drought?

Usually about a year, sometimes two. Water new plantings regularly through that first year or two so the roots grow deep and wide, then taper to occasional deep soaks once they are established.

Sources

• University of Florida IFAS Extension, what makes a plant drought tolerant
• US EPA WaterSense, water-smart landscaping tips
• UC Master Gardeners, California’s Mediterranean climate
• Oregon State University Extension, drought-tolerant vegetables
• Calscape (California Native Plant Society), native plant water needs
• National Park Service, saguaro cactus

If you are ready to cut your water use without giving up a beautiful garden, our garden experts can help you choose the right drought-tolerant plants for your yard and soil. Stop by your favorite Green Thumb Nursery location, and for more low-water ideas see our guide to ground covers for Southern California.

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