There is a common misconception about xeriscaping that I’m asked about often. The reality is that most “drought tolerant” plant lists quietly assume some level of supplemental irrigation. Xeriscaping was originally founded on the idea that traditional lawns in the West require excessive water, and that replacing them with lower water plants could significantly reduce water use. What many people quickly discover, however, is that achieving vibrant blooms and lush color usually still requires regular watering for their favorite “drought tolerant” plants.

A true dry garden is different. In these landscapes, supplemental irrigation may only be needed during plant establishment and occasionally during severe drought. The plants listed below fall into that category, species that we have successfully grown in Front Range gardens where irrigation is truly optional once established. A really good example of this is my friend Heidi’s garden which can be seen on her Instagram page @denverdrygarden.

There are a few important caveats. Nearly all plants benefit from supplemental water during their establishment phase, and extreme drought conditions may warrant occasional deep watering to maintain long term health. I’ll also admit that some of these plants in my own garden were unintentionally neglected during establishment and still performed remarkably well. Most of the plants on this list are well suited to USDA Zones 5 and 6 along Colorado’s Front Range, but they also translate well to the Intermountain West, High Plains, and parts of Wyoming, New Mexico, and inland California, assuming annual precipitation in the range of roughly 12–20 inches. Not sure of your annual precipitation? Wikipedia is your friend for this.

While many of these plants may look even better with occasional supplemental water, this is intentionally a list of plants that do not require regular irrigation and often perform best when they are not overwatered or at all after establishment.

Blonde Ambition Blue Grama Grass
Bouteloua gracilis ‘Blonde Ambition’ PP#22048
USDA Zone: 4-9
Full Sun

Blonde Ambition is an outstanding cultivar of blue grama grass that was discovered by David Salman in 2007, almost by accident. Compared to the straight species, it grows slightly taller and produces a more dramatic display of horizontal seed heads, giving it a stronger presence in the landscape.

Blue grama is native to much of the western United States and is well adapted to regions receiving as little as 10 inches of annual precipitation. During extended drought, it may go dormant, but it remains alive and resilient. Occasional rainfall, or even a rare deep watering during prolonged dry periods, can help it retain a greener appearance, though regular irrigation is not required.

As a warm season grass, blue grama begins active growth once soils warm and daytime temperatures rise, typically thriving in the heat of summer. Its ability to handle wind, sun, and poor soils makes it one of the most reliable unirrigated grasses for western landscapes.

Red Yucca
Hesperaloe parviflora
USDA Zone: 5 – 10
Full Sun

One of my personal favorites, red yucca is an exceptional plant for full sun, low-water landscapes. It produces tall flower spikes that can bloom for months and is a magnet for hummingbirds throughout the growing season.

Despite its common name, red yucca is not a true yucca, but a close relative. The name refers more to its appearance than its taxonomy. In my opinion, it resembles a thick-bladed, grass-like plant with a strong architectural presence. It is evergreen, extremely low maintenance, and well suited for firescaping when properly spaced.

Red yucca can survive on as little as 10 inches of annual rainfall and rarely requires supplemental irrigation once established. Growth can be slow, especially at higher elevations or in cooler climates, so if instant impact is important, starting with a 5 gallon plant is worthwhile. Numerous cultivated varieties are available, offering variations in flower color and form, all with similar durability and water requirements.

Thrift Leaf Perky Sue
Hymenoxys scaposa
USDA Zone: 4-9
Full Sun

What a bloomer this plant is. Thrift Leaf Perky Sue is a small native perennial that reblooms repeatedly throughout the growing season, attracting a wide range of butterflies and native bees. One of my favorite qualities of this plant is its timing, it often blooms during seasonal transitions when little else is flowering, providing a reliable pop of color when the garden needs it most.

Perky Sue thrives in gravelly soils and will reseed fairly easily under the right conditions. Seedlings are simple to identify and easy to pull or share before they fully mature. Like many dryland natives, it develops a strong taproot, similar to a dandelion, which makes transplanting easiest while plants are still young. That same taproot is what allows it to survive on as little as 15 inches of annual precipitation, making it a reliable choice for unirrigated landscapes.

Baby Blue Rabbitbrush
Ericameria nauseosa var. nauseosa
USDA Zone: 4-9
Full Sun

Baby blue rabbitbrush is one of my go-to shrubs for native plantings and landscapes that receive little to no irrigation. Its silver-green foliage has a subtle blue cast that provides excellent contrast in dry gardens, and it remains attractive throughout the growing season.

If you’re looking for a true pollinator magnet, this is it. Native bees and other beneficial insects consistently cover these shrubs when they are in bloom. Despite the name, rabbits typically do not browse this plant, though they often use it for shelter and cover.

Where rabbitbrush truly shines is in its ability to survive on as little as 7 inches of annual precipitation. Even during establishment, I’ve watered some plants only once or twice in a season with no negative impact. It responds well to spring pruning if a denser form is desired or shape can be rejuvenated easily. While it may reseed in gravel or irrigated areas, seedlings develop slowly and are easy to manage over time.

Goldhill Golden-aster
Heterotheca jonesii x villosa ‘Goldhill’
USDA Zone: 5-8
Full Sun

Goldhill Golden-aster is a standout perennial in my garden, blooming from late spring through frost. This low growing plant produces vibrant yellow flowers and works beautifully as a groundcover in dry areas. In recent years, it has become increasingly difficult to source, as some plants sold under this name have reverted to one of the parent varieties. I’ve also been told it isn’t very easy to propagate. So if you see it, grab it!

Goldhill can survive on as little as 10 inches of annual precipitation, making it ideal for spots where irrigation is difficult or impossible. It may reseed lightly and occasionally produce seedlings that differ from the cultivar, I think this adds interest and versatility to the garden. When I find them, I often plant several of these in multiple gardens, including neighbors’, to bring color and reliability to areas that rarely get water.

Small Leaf Pussytoes
Antennaria parvifolia
USDA Zone: 5-7
Full Sun to Part/Filtered Shade

Small Leaf Pussytoes is an evergreen groundcover that thrives in dry conditions, surviving on as little as 10 inches of annual precipitation. I use it primarily for its beautiful silver foliage, which performs well across a range of sun exposures, including under ponderosa pine canopies. It also helps suppress weeds, making it an excellent filler for xeric landscapes.

While it does flower white, the blooms are secondary to its foliage, IMO. Occasional water can help it establish more quickly, but this plant remains low maintenance and highly adaptable. For an even more xeric option, consider GRANITA® Pussytoes from the Plant Select program.

Chocolate Flower
Berlandiera lyrata
USDA Zone: 4-9
Full Sun

Chocolate Flower is one of my favorite fragrant perennials. Its blooms emit a true chocolate scent, strongest in the early morning, which can carry up to 20 feet on a gentle breeze. This is a night blooming plant, so the flowers open in the early evening and remain upright overnight, nodding in the afternoon but fully visible during mornings and evenings, adding both scent and visual interest to the garden.

This plant is moderately drought tolerant, surviving on as little as 15 inches of annual rainfall once established. During establishment, light supplemental watering is beneficial, and occasional deep watering in dry regions can enhance vigor. Even in unirrigated gardens in Castle Rock, I hand water only a couple of times per year, and the fragrance alone makes the effort worthwhile.

Desert Penstemon
Penstemon pseudospectabilis
USDA Zone: 5-10
Full Sun

Desert Penstemon is a standout in any xeric garden, producing vibrant pink flowers from late spring through summer. This particular penstemon can grow fairly large compared to other penstemon, and the flowers are densely loaded on the plant, creating a spectacular display that will attract hummingbirds from near and far. Its foliage is almost evergreen, with some plants in favorable microclimates staying green year round. Unlike many penstemons, Desert Penstemon is long lived, so you won’t need to replace it after a few seasons.

Once established, this penstemon can survive on less than 10 inches of annual precipitation, and some sources suggest it may tolerate as little as 6 inches, if you’ve seen it survive on that little water, let me know! It thrives best without supplemental irrigation, which makes it a reliable choice for unirrigated meadows and low water landscapes. This year, I’m including a few in a client’s meadow, and I’m excited to see how they perform through establishment.

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