As awareness grows of the need for water conservation in North Texas, there are a number of drought-tolerant native plants that are typically available and can be an important part of a more sustainable approach to your landscape. Because of perennials’ popularity, we will focus on those North Texas natives who are well suited to dry conditions and require minimal supplemental watering once established. These 10 hardy perennials also help support our local ecosystems and wildlife.
Built for our North Texas Environment
Planting native, drought-tolerant perennials creates a variety of benefits for your North Texas landscape and our local ecosystem:
- Water Stewardship: These plants have evolved to thrive in our local environment, requiring minimal supplemental watering once established. With adaptations such as deep root systems, waxy leaves, reduced leaf surfaces, and seasonal dormancy, they are best suited to our varying and occasionally harsh conditions.
- Low Maintenance: Because native plants have evolved to succeed in our areas’ climate, soil, and ecological conditions, they have a reduced need for fertilizers and pesticides.
- Supporting our Ecosystem: Native perennials are part of our food web and can provide food and shelter for local fauna. By supporting native pollinators and wildlife, these plants play a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
Planting and Caring for Drought-Tolerant Native Perennials
Below are some “do’s and don’ts” to help ensure the success of your drought-tolerant native perennials:
Do’s:
If necessary, improve drainage in the planting area; most drought-tolerant plants need well-drained soils
- Water deeply but infrequently to encourage deep-root growth
- Prune as needed to maintain shape and height, remove dead growth, and encourage new growth and flowering
- Apply a thin layer of mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds
Don’ts:
- Fertilizing – most native plants thrive in lean soil and do not require fertilizing.
- Overwatering – drought-tolerant plants are often susceptible to root rot if overwatered; water only when the soil feels dry about 2 inches below the surface.
- Heavy mulching – they may not be able to tolerate the damp environment a layer of thick mulch can create.
10 Drought-Tolerant Native Perennials
When planning for drought-tolerant additions to your native garden, here are 10 that you should consider for their resilience and ability to withstand drought:
- Beebalm (Monarda fistulosa)
Tolerating part shade to full sun, this clump-forming perennial produces lavender-pink blooms throughout the spring and summer. A low-maintenance plant that can be at home in grassland or woodland-style plantings.
- Blackfoot Daisy (Melampodium leucanthum)
A hardy, low-growing perennial with white daisy-like petals and yellow centers. It prefers full sun but will tolerate light shade, and requires well-drained soil. It blooms from early spring to late fall. Once established, it is highly heat- and drought-tolerant and requires little supplemental watering.
- Engelmann’s Daisy (Engelmannia peristenia)
A popular and resilient choice for hot, dry areas. Its bright yellow blooms attract a variety of pollinators. Thriving in full sun and well-drained soils, its deep tap root makes it highly adaptable to dry conditions.
- Frostweed (Verbesina virginica)
Offers year-round benefits as a prolific nectar source, with a cluster of small white flowers in the fall, and in the first freeze, their stems split open, resulting in a mesmerizing “ice” sculpture. Reaching 3 – 6 feet, it will tolerate a variety of sun conditions but prefers full to partial shade.
- Mealy Blue Sage (Salvia farinacea)
Consistently produces spikes of blue to purple flowers that typically bloom from April to October. Grows in mounds, usually 2 – 3 feet tall, and thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Once established, it requires minimal watering. Pruning helps to keep it compact and encourages blooms. Attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.
- Mexican Hat (Ratibida columnifera)
Tolerant of drought and poor soil, it attracts multiple pollinators and provides a range of colors when blooming for much of the growing season. It does best in full sun and well-drained soils.
- Prairie Penstemon (Penstemon cobaea)
Also known commonly as “Wild Foxglove”, this drought-tolerant Texas native thrives in well-drained soils and full sun. It showcases large, tubular white to pale lavender flowers that bloom in spring, attracting hummingbirds, bees, moths, and other pollinators.
- Prairie Verbena (Glandularia bipinnatifida)
A low-growing sprawling perennial that produces clusters of purple flowers from early spring to autumn. It thrives in full sun to light shade but requires well-drained soil, also making it a solid choice as a ground cover or for a rock garden.
- Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium)
Adds variety and interest to any perennial garden with its greenish-white flower heads and yucca-like leaves. Reaching up to four feet, this tough North Texas native requires minimal water once established.
- Texas Blazing Star (Liatris punctata)
With spikes of purple blooms from August – November, this perennial, also known as “Gayfeather”, is well-suited for dry, sunny conditions. With a compact growth habit and delicate leaves, it adds visual interest to native Texas gardens.
Simple Solutions for Beautiful Yards
Landscaping with native plants does not have to be complicated. These 10 resilient, drought-tolerant native perennials will help you create a beautiful, low-maintenance garden that conserves water and supports our local North Texas ecosystem.
