Succulents, yuccas, and native prairie species top the list of plants that survive in a dry place better than anything else. These tough plants survive dry place conditions because they evolved in harsh deserts and grasslands over thousands of years. You can use them to fill problem spots in your yard where nothing else will grow for you.
I learned about dry garden survivors the hard way on a south-facing slope behind my house. The soil bakes in summer sun and rain runs off before it soaks into the ground. I killed three batches of regular perennials there before I gave up. Then I tried desert plants instead. My agave and yucca thrived from day one without any extra care from me.
I also put sedums along my gravel driveway. The reflected heat there scorches most plants. Those sedums spread across eight feet of rocky ground in just two years. They turn red in summer heat and green up again when fall rains arrive. That problem area became a highlight of my front yard.
Plants survive drought through three main tricks you should understand. Some grow deep roots that reach water far below the surface. Others store water in thick leaves or stems to use when rain stops falling. A third group has tiny leaves or silvery coatings that reduce moisture loss. Many tough plants use all three methods at once to stay alive.
Your best arid climate plants include agave with thick blue-green rosettes that store months of water inside them. Yucca sends roots deep and holds moisture in its sword-shaped leaves. Sedum grows low and spreads fast with fleshy leaves that plump up after rain. Artemisia offers silver foliage with tiny leaves that reflect sun and cut water loss. Penstemon adds bright flowers to dry gardens while deep roots find water on their own.
You need to prepare dry planting sites the right way for your plants to succeed in your yard. Skip the rich compost because most dry garden survivors prefer poor soil conditions. Dig a hole twice as wide as your plant's root ball to give roots room to spread. Add two to three inches of gravel mulch around each plant. This mulch keeps roots cool and stops soil from crusting over.
Group your plants by water needs so you can care for them all together. Put your thirstiest dry-tolerant plants in low spots where more water collects after rain. Save your toughest desert plants for the driest high spots in your landscape. This approach lets you water each group at once instead of running around with your hose.
Start your dry garden with just a few plants from each category to test them. Watch how they handle your specific conditions through one full growing season. Add more of the winners next year and skip the ones that struggle. You will build a garden that asks almost nothing from you once your plants get established in their spots.
Read the full article: Best Drought Tolerant Perennials for Gardens
