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Drought Tolerant and Water-Wise Plants for Utah

PERENNIALS

SHRUBS

TREES

Before planting drought tolerant plants, there are a few things to take into consideration. The first is that no matter what plant is to be planted, it will need to be watered regularly for one to two years before it will become drought tolerant. Also, the amount of water the plant will actually require is greatly dependent on what type of soil it is planted in. For example, a clay based soil will hold water longer than a sandy soil, therefore planting in sandy soil will require you to water more often. It is usually good to do is to cover flowerbeds with some sort of organic mulch, as well. Doing so will also greatly reduce the amount of water that will need to be applied to keep plants looking healthy. Because all conditions may vary, you must always be cautious and use judgment when watering plants in your landscape.

It is important to note that home landscapes do not need to look like the Nevada desert to be considered a low-water use landscape. The following list of trees, shrubs and perennials contains many plants that are esthetically pleasing and do not need a lot of water.

PERENNIALS

Yarrow (Achellia spp.): Yarrow is a native perennial that is very drought tolerant. It is a member of the daisy family and comes in a multitude of colors including white, yellow and many pastels. Once established, yarrow can survive on rainwater alone. They do need to be planted in full sun.

Rock Cress (Arabis spp.): This species of rock cress has white flowers in April and May. It works very well in rock or alpine gardens and needs to be watered thoroughly every two weeks. Rock cress prefers a well-drained soil and full sun.

Sea Pinks (Armeria maritima): Sea pinks, or armeria, are a nice perennial native to the California coast. They have pink or white flowers and will flower the entire summer if they are dead-headed. Armeria will reach a height of six inches and grow to 18 inches wide, and need to be watered deeply every two weeks. They will tolerate full sun to part shade.

Silver Mound (Artemisia schmidtiana 'nana'): Silver mound is known for its very fine, lacy, silver foliage. It makes a nice accent plant in flower or rock gardens but also works well along borders. Silver mound must have full sun and only needs deeply watered every two to three weeks. Cut back silver mound in mid-summer to help maintain its shape.

Purple Rock Cress (Aubrieta deltoidea): Purple rock cress has very nice flowers in the spring. Their look is similar to regular rock cress and also work well in rock gardens. Rock cress needs watered deeply every two weeks.

Jupiter's Beard (Centranthus ruber): Jupiter's beard has very brilliant red flowers in early summer. It will grow to 18 inches high and two feet wide and needs deep watered every two weeks. Jupiter's beard may be grown in flowerbeds or rock gardens.

Snow-in-Summer (Cerastium tomentosum): Snow-in-summer is often used as a ground cover and it has a profusion of wonderful white flowers in late spring or early summer. When it is finished flowering, cut the dead flowers off and you still will have a very nice plant. Snow-in-summer works very well in rock gardens or around dwarf conifers. Water this plant every two weeks deeply once established.

Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum): Shasta daisy has been planted in Utah for many generations. It has wonderful white flowers most of the summer if the plant is periodically deadheaded. There are several varieties of Shasta daisies available that will grow from six inches high to two feet. Shasta daisies are very long lived perennials and need watered deeply every two weeks once established.

Tickseed (Coreopsis spp.): Tickseed, a member of the daisy family, is also commonly referred to as coreopsis and will bloom most of the summer. They are native to the plain states and south-eastern states and have orange to yellow flowers, but sometimes pink, depending on the species grown.

Sweet William Dianthus etc. (Dianthus spp.): There are several species of dianthus that have been grown in Utah for many years. The most common variety is Sweet William, but many others are very nice to use in flower beds. Some of the more common varieties include: the Telstar series (pink, red or white) and the Parfait series (red or pink). Dianthus work very well in flower beds, rock gardens or along borders.

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): Purple coneflowers are native to the Midwest and survive in areas that receive very little rain water. Coneflowers have very nice purple, daisy-like flowers, and its bloom time is in the last half of the summer. Magnus is a variety that has a longer bloom time than most other varieties. Water coneflower deeply every three to four weeks.

Blanket Flower (Gallardia spp.): Blanket flower, often called gallardia, is another member of the daisy family. Its flowers are very interesting in that they are multicolored, containing earth tone shades of yellow, orange and red. Blanket flower needs well drained soil and only needs deeply watered every three to four weeks once established.

Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia uvaria): Red hot poker is a summer blooming flower native to South Africa. It loves heat and only needs to be watered deeply every three to four weeks. Red hot poker is a fast grower and works well on corners of flower beds and other areas.

Flax (Linum perenne): Flax was used in olden times to make rope and is also where linen comes from. Besides being used for ropes and clothes, flax also has very nice flowers in late spring or early summer for a period of two months. Flax flower colors are usually in shades of purple and blue and it can survive being watered deeply every two to three weeks.

Evening Primrose (Oenothera spp.): There are several species of primrose that work very well in areas that receive very little water. Primroses often are often used as temporary ground covers and come in colors of pink, lavender and yellow. Most primroses are native to North America and need to be watered only every two to three weeks.

Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia): Russian sage, a member of the mint family, is sometimes used as a cooking herb, and is more often grown as a long blooming summer perennial. It has attractive lavender colored flowers and only needs to be watered deeply every three to four weeks. Russian sage will reach a height of two feet high and wide and works well as a foundation plant in flower beds.

Penstemon (Penstemon spp.): There are several species of native penstemons to Utah that come in a multitude of colors including: white, red, purple and pink. Penstemons like well drained soil and are often used in rock gardens. They grow to between six and 18 inches high and six inches wide. Water penstemon deeply every three to four weeks, and, in fact, many penstemon will survive on rain water.

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp.): Black-eyed Susans have been used in the home landscape for many years. They have daisy-like yellow to orange flowers and will generally bloom for the last half of the summer. Black-eyed Susans will generally reach 18 inches to two feet high and wide and need to be watered deeply every three to four weeks. Use them as foundation or anchor plants in flower beds and rock gardens. A variety called 'Goldsturm' was a perennial of the year a few years back due to its extended blooming season and the amount of blooms it produces.

Sedum, Stonecrop (Sedum spp.): The sedum family is a highly diverse group of plants with members varying from groundcovers to others that work well as foundation plants; but one thing they all have in common is drought tolerance. Stonecrops crops come in a multitude of colors including pink, red and purple and there are also a number variegated forms. 'Autumn Joy' is larger variety that has wonderful pink flowers in the fall. A couple of the better groundcover forms are 'Dragon's Blood' which has a maroon red foliage color, 'Tricolor' which is a variegated form with white, pink and green in its leaves. Sedums need to be watered deeply every three to four weeks once established.

English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): English Lavender is a very fragrant perennial that is often grown along borders and in flower beds. It has blue-gray foliage and has flowers in mid-summer for as long as two months. Lavender oil is used commercially in perfumes and is also often used in aroma therapy and as a cooking herb. Lavender prefers to be watered deeply every two to three weeks once it is established.

Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum): Anise hyssop is native to the western United States and Mexico and is often referred to as Mexican Mint. It is often used as a cooking herb, but it also has a very long bloom time in the summer and works well in herb gardens, and flower beds. It will need to be watered deeply every two to three weeks once established.

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SHRUBS

Alpine Currant (Ribes alpinum): Alpine currant is a good shrub to use your home landscape. Often used as a formal or informal hedge, it tolerates hot dry areas very well, but can also be planted in the shade without any problem. Alpine current will reach a size of 3 to 4 feet high and wide, is disease and insect resistant and is also fruitless.

Barberry (Berberis thunbergii): Barberries are excellent shrubs for adding color to the landscape. The most common varieties of barberry have red leaves but there are also good green and yellow varieties available. Barberries eventual size will vary from 2 to 6 feet when fully grown, depending on the variety. Barberries do have thorns and so should not be planted near high traffic areas. Once established, barberries only need to be deeply watered every two weeks.

Bluemist Spiraea (Caryopteris x clandonensis): Bluemist is a fast growing shrub that flowers in July and August when most other shrubs are done flowering. As the name implies, Bluemist has blue flowers and will reach a height and width of 3 to 4 feet. It is best used in areas that receive lots of summer heat, such as on the south side of a house. It is also best pruned almost to the ground in early spring and only need be watered every couple of weeks.

Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii): Butterfly Bush is another very good summer flowering shrub. Its flowers are very similar to lilac, are also very sweetly scented and attract butterflies. Buddleia has a quick growth rate and will reach 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Cutting back butterfly bush back to the ground in early spring will help control its size and cause it to flower much more in the spring.

Juniper (Juniperus spp.): Junipers have many uses in Utah, and there are many very nice varieties of junipers that do well that look different from the standard pfitzers or tams that were often planted in the past. Junipers can help hold hillsides, be a nice ground cover in hot dry areas and also tolerate very poor soil. Groundcover type junipers vary in height from 6-18 inches high and come in a variety colors from green to golden-yellow to blue. Once established, junipers can get all of the water they need from snow and rainwater. In fact, once they are established, junipers are often times harmed by too much sprinkler water.

Mugo Pine (Pinus mugo): Mugo pine is a native of Europe that can grow either as a tree or shrubs. In the United States it is commonly available as a shrub that will grow to 4 or 5 feet tall, although smaller forms are available. Mugo pine works well as an informal screen or hedge or in flower beds, and once established, only needs to be watered deeply every two to three weeks.

Ninebark (Physocarpus spp.): Ninebark is another native shrub to our mountain areas. There are several varieties available with variations in leaf color from yellow to red to green. The shrub will generally grow to 10 feet high and wide but dwarf varieties are available. After its established, ninebark will only need deeply watered every three to four weeks.

Oregon Grape (Mahonia repens): Oregon grape holly is most often used as a groundcover in Utah. It is best planted in the shade, has a showy yellow flower in spring and its evergreen leaves turn burgundy red in the fall. Oregon grape is a native plant and does well under native oak and maple found in the foothills.

Potentilla (Potentilla fruticosa): Potentilla, often called Cinquefoil, is another native shrub to Utah mountains. It usually flowers the entire summer with yellow flowers but often can also be found shades of orange, white, pink and red. The pink and red colored potentillas do better planted in part shade so their flowers do not fade in the hot summer sun, but yellow and white varieties do well in full sun. Once established, potentillas only need deep watering every two to three weeks.

Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea): Red twig dogwood, a Utah native, especially thrives along river and stream banks, but it is also very drought tolerant. Shrub dogwoods make good, fast growing screens or informal hedges. The dark red branches make a nice winter accent, and the plant is also deer tolerant. There are several varieties of dogwood available that will grow anywhere from 2 to 12 feet high. During the hottest part of the year dogwoods need to be watered deeply every two weeks.

Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus): Rose of Sharon, also known as shrub Althea, has been grown and loved for many generations. Rose of Sharon will flower the entire summer and is available in an assortment of colors from white to red to purple and pink. It will generally reach 10 feet high and six feet wide but can be maintained at a lower height. Rose of Sharon needs to be watered deeply every three to four weeks.

Sumac (Rhus spp.): There are several native sumacs to Utah, and all of them are very drought tolerant. Most may be either used as a larger shrub or trained into a small tree. They also work very well when allowed to naturalize in less formal areas of the yard, but can be used in a more formal setting with a minimum amount of maintenance. Sumacs are often used to stabilize soil on hillsides or other areas and will turn brilliant red in the fall. They grow to between 10 and 15 feet high and wide, with one dwarf variety available called "Logro" that will only get a couple of feet tall. Once established, Sumacs need only be watered deeply every three to four weeks

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TREES

Flame Maple (Acer ginnala): Flame maple is used extensively in Utah landscapes. It reaches a height and width of twenty feet and can usually be purchased in either a single or multi-trunk form. Flame maple can be used in park strips or other areas where space is limited. Its fall color is red and only needs to be watered deeply once a week once established.

Hedge Maple (Acer campestre 'Queen Elizabeth'): Hedge Maple, also known as Queen Elizabeth Maple is a tree that should be used more in Utah. Some of its virtues include: it is very drought tolerant once established, it has yellow fall foliage, it works well in park strips and is very tolerant of dry and compacted soils. A native of Europe and North Africa, hedge maple will reach a size of 30 feet high and wide.

Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis): Hackberry is a tree that is becoming very popular in Utah. It is very drought tolerant and accepts being planted in a wide range of soil conditions including: wet, dry, compacted, high pH and clay soils. Hackberry trees are reasonably disease resistant, and if they do get a disease, it rarely harms the overall health of the tree. Hackberry will reach a size of 40 feet tall and 30 feet wide and benefits from a deep watering every four weeks.

Homestead Elm (Ulmus x 'Homestead'): Homestead elm is an introduction from the United States National Arboretum and is a very tough tree. It is very drought tolerant, grows well in polluted soils, is tolerant of salty and alkaline soils and is resistant to Dutch elm disease and phloem necrosis. Homestead elm looks very similar to American, has a rapid growth rate and will eventually be 50 feet high and 30 to 40 feet wide.

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos inermis): Honeylocust has been planted in Utah for a number of years for good reason. The trees are very drought tolerant, tolerate compacted soils and do not damage sidewalks or pavement. Honeylocust have a more filtered shade, therefore lawn and other plants will grow better under these trees than many others. Honeylocust should be watered once a month after they are established.

Purplerobe Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia 'Purplerobe'): Purplerobe locust is a cultivar of Black Locust that has been planted in Utah for a long time. Purplerobe has an improved shape, has a nice pink flower in the spring and is virtually seedless. Purplerobe Locust is tolerant of almost any soil condition. It eventual size will be approximately 40 feet high and 30 wide.

Springsnow Crabapple (Malus x 'Springsnow'): Springsnow crabapple is a wonderful tree for areas of limited space. It has fragrant, white flowers in the spring but, unlike other crabapples, is absolutely fruitless. The tree will have a height and width of 20 to 25 feet and grows at a moderate rate. It is tolerant of clay soils and high alkalinity, but is also drought tolerant once established.

Zelkova (Zelkova serrata): Zelkova is a relatively new introduction to the Utah area. It closely resembles the form of American elm that has been decimated by Dutch Elm Disease, but zelkova is resistant to the disease. Zelkova has a relatively fast growth rate but also has strong wood. Village Green and Green Vase are two cultivars of Zelkova commonly available. Water the tree deeply every three to four weeks.

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