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Your Local Plant Nursery Resource for the Rogue Valley Since 2005

541-840-6453
3223 Taylor Road, Central Point, OR 97502

Drought Tolerant Plants

For the Rogue Valley

Our region is ideal for drought tolerant gardening practices

The Rogue Valley has a climate perfectly suited to drought tolerant plants. With so many beautiful varieties, and with water becoming a precious commodity, there is ample reason to incorporate them into your landscape or garden. As an added bonus, many drought tolerant plants are also deer resistant.

Need plant watering advice? See our Watering Guidelines for the Rogue Valley (PDF).

  • Agastache 'Tutti Frutti'

    Agastache ‘Tutti Frutti’

  • Agave 'Blue Glow'

    Agave ‘Blue Glow’

  • Cistus ladanifer

    Cistus ladanifer

  • Ceanothus 'Point Reyes'

    Ceanothus ‘Point Reyes’

  • Rudbeckia hybrid with Caryopteris 'Blue Mist'

    Rudbeckia & Caryopteris ‘Blue Mist’

  • Chitalpa x t. 'Pink Dawn'

    Chitalpa x t. ‘Pink Dawn’

  • Delosperma 'Red Mountain'

    Delosperma ‘Red Mountain’

    Caring for drought tolerant plants

    The main thing to remember about drought tolerant plants is that they usually require good drainage. Plant them high, incorporate ¼” gravel or compost to your planting bed, but don’t add mulch too close to their crowns. A gravel mulch works well.

    The easiest way to make drought tolerant plants unhappy is to overwater them. Most drought resistant plants need adequate water their first summer, but once established a deep soak every few weeks is best. Drought tolerant plants should not be combined with other, water loving plants on the same irrigation system/zone. They need to be on a separate timer or emitter that delivers the correct amount of water. Try dedicating an entire area to drought tolerant plants. You will love the result.

    Remember, these are general rules. Please ask if you have questions about the care of a specific plant.

    drought tolerant and colorful blooming salvias and allium are pollinator friendly

    Want more help?

    If you’d like more help with plant, shrub and/or tree selection or assistance with your landscape design, get details on our Design & Consult page about what types of services we provide. 

    Read more

    Watering Advice

    These are watering guidelines for the Rogue Valley that have worked for us and our customers.

    Get the Guide (PDF)

    Drought tolerant plants list

    Download PDF
    Botanical Name Common Name Comments
    FERNS
    Blechnum spicant Deer Fern native, evergreen
    Cyrtomium fortunei Hardy Holly Fern evergreen, glossy bold foliage
    Polystichum munitum Western Sword Fern native, evergreen
    GRASSES AND GRASS-LIKE PLANTS
    Agave neomexicana, parryi, ‘Blue Glow’ Hardy Agave bold accent, evergreen, spiny
    Andropogon sp. Big Bluestem  
    Bouteloua gracilis Blue Grama Grass mounding green foliage, unique flag-like persistent seed-heads
    Dasylirion wheeleri Common Sotol toothed, blue yucca-like foliage, giant bloom spikes when mature
    Festuca spp. Fescue small evergreen, silver-blue color
    Helictotrichon sempervirens Blue Oat Grass evergreen, easy maintenance
    Hesperaloe parviflora Red Yucca (False Yucca) coral flowers, hummingbird magnet, yucca-like foliage
    Muhlenbergia capillaris Pink Muhly Grass haze of pink seed heads in fall, persist through winter
    Muhlenbergia rigens Deer Grass CA native, spikey golden seed-heads, semi-evergreen
    Panicum virgatum Switch Grass dainty seed heads, nice fall color
    Pennisetum sp. Fountain Grass showy seed-heads
    Phormium spp.  New Zealand Flax bold colorful foliage, can be marginal – put in protected locations
    Schizachyrium scoparium Little Bluestem prairie native, great fall color
    Sporobolos heterolepsis Prairie Dropseed  
    Stipa gigantea Giant Feather Grass seed heads glow when backlit, semi-evergreen
    Stipa tenuissima Mexican Feather Grass great erosion control, aggressive re-seeder
    Yucca filamentosa Adam’s Needle curly fibers along blades
    PERENNIALS
    Acanthus spp. Bears Breech once established, fleshy roots, tall flower spikes
    Achillea millefolium Yarrow fine texture, many flower colors
    Agastache spp. Anise Hyssop, Licorice Mint fragrant, hummingbird favorite, long bloom
    Allium spp Ornamental Onions globe shaped blooms in spring-summer, like dry summer soils
    Antennaria dioica ‘Rubra’ Pink Pussy Toes  
    Aquilegia formosa Western Columbine PNW native, red-yellow blooms attract hummingbirds
    Armeria maritima Sea thrift clumping grass, pink flowers
    Artemisia spp. Wormwood silver foliage, fine texture, aromatic
    Asarum caudatum Wild Ginger dry shade
    Asclepias spp. – esp. A. fascicularis Milkweed Monarch host plant!
    Baptisia australis Blue False Indigo deep blue/purple flowers, prairie native, long lived
    Bergenia cordifolia Heartleaf Bergenia large, glossy leaves, semi-evergreen, dry part sun-shade
    Bulbine ‘Hallmark’ Bulbine South African native, succulent leaves, orange & yellow flowers
    Callirhoe involucrata  Wine Cups/Poppy Mallow US native, trailing wildflower, magenta blooms all summer
    Calochortus tolmei Cat’s Ear Mariposa Lily native bulb, spring-blooming
    Campanula poscharskyana Creeping Siberian Bellflower long bloom time, semi-evergreen
    Catanache caerulea Cupid’s Dart short lived, long blooming, great cut flowers and everlastings, can re-seed
    Ceratostigma plumbaginoides Dwarf Plumbago cobalt blue flowers late summer-fall, deep red fall color 
    Cerastium tomentosum  Snow in Summer  
    Coreopsis spp. Tickseed  long bloomers, fine texture
    Crocosmia  Crocosmia  
    Delosperma spp. Ice Plant many species, varieties and colors! long bloom times
    Dianthus  Carnations or Pinks  wonderfully fragrant flowers
    Dicentra formosa Native Bleeding Heart dry shade
    Digitalis obscura Sunset Foxglove (perennial) from mtns of Spain, sun loving, rusty apricot blooms
    Dodecatheon hendersonii Henderson’s Shooting Star native bulb, spring blooming, our namesake!
    Echinacea cultivars Coneflower  good pollinator plant
    Echinops Globe Thistle good cut flower 
    Epimedium spp. Bishop’s Hat/Barrenwort dry shade
    Erigeron k. ‘Profusion’ Fleabane/Santa Barbara Daisy super long bloomer, can reseed
    Erigeron pulchellus ‘Lynhaven Carpet’ Robin’s Plantain dry shade, large leaf mat-forming, charming daisies
    Erigeron speciosa Showy Fleabane Erigerons are wonderful pollinator plants
    Eriogonum umbellatum Sulphur Flowered Buckwheat native to rocky sites, evergreen, long bloom
    Erodium cultivars Heronsbill likes good drainage, long blooming 
    Eriophyllum lanatum Oregon Sunshine native, platinum foliage, yellow daisies
    Eryngium spp.  Sea Holly long lasting flowers dry well, tap root 
    Euphorbia spp. Spurge long lasting chartreuse flowers in spring, many evergreen
    Fragraria chiloensis and F. vesca Wild Strawberry native ground covers, more drought tolerant w/some shade
    Gaillardia aristata Blanket Flower long bloom time
    Gaura lindheimeri Gaura/Appleblossom Grass tap root, ALL-season bloom 
    Geranium spp Hardy Geranium/Cranesbill certain species, many w/scented foliage, some semi-evergreen
    Glaucium flavum Horned Poppy re-seeding short lived perennial, amazing blue foliage 
    Glumicalyx goseloides Nodding Chocolate Flower evergreen, pumpkin orange fragrant flowers 
    Gypsophila spp.  Baby’s Breath  
    Helianthemum nummularium Sunrose spring bloom, evergreen
    Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ Perennial Sunflower long blooming, pollinator friendly, goldfinch like the seeds
    Helleborus spp. Lenten/Christmas Rose dry shade
    Hemerocallis spp. Daylily  
    Heuchera spp.  Coral Bells dry part sun-shade, great foliage colors, draws hummers
    Hypericum calycinum St. John’s Wort very aggressive groundcover, more drought-tolerant in shade
    Iris spp.  (I. x germanica,  Pacific Coast hybrids, I. pallida, I. tenax, etc.) Iris  some native species, many flower colors, tough!
    Kniphofia spp. Red hot poker hummingbird attractor
    Lamium maculatum, Lamiastrum ‘Herman’s Pride’ Dead nettle dry shade groundcover
    Lewisia cotyledon Lewisia, Cliff Maiden good drainage, part sun, showy long blooms, succulent
    Limonium latifolium Hardy Staice, Sea Lavender papery lavender umbels dry beautifully
    Lobelia laxiflora Mexican Cardinal Flower southwestern native, hummingbird favorite
    Lupinus polyphyllus Big-Leaf Lupine native
    Marrubium rotundifolium Silverheels Horehound cute groundcover w/silvery mouse-ear like foliage
    Monardella m. ‘Marian Sampson’ Scarlet Hummingbird Mint SW native, dry part sun, showy blooms
    Monardella odoratissima Mountain Pennyroyal, Coyote Mint native evergreen, long blooming, attracts pollinators, adaptable
    Narcissus Daffodil  
    Nepeta spp. Catmint super long bloom, attracts pollinators
    Oenothera spp. Evening Primrose long blooming, can re-seed, many species
    Origanum spp. Oregano for cooking, as a groundcover or showy ornamental types 
    Opuntia cacanapa ‘Ellisiana’ Spineless Prickly Pear Cactus hardy, yellow flowers, edible fruits/pads, awesome!
    Penstemon spp. Beardtongue attracts pollinators/hummers 
    Perovskia atriplicifolia Russian Blue Sage late summer blooms, aromatic 
    Phlomis spp. Jerusalem Sage large, fuzzy leaves, whorls of flowers yellow to pink/purple 
    Phlox subulata Creeping Phlox  
    Pterocephalus depressus Moroccan Pincushion Flower mat/cushion forming evergreen, mauve flowers w/poofy seedheads
    Pulsatilla vulgaris Pasque flower  
    Romneya coulteri Matilija Poppy spectacular native, spreads enthusiastically
    Rubus calycinoides Creeping Bramble more drought tolerant in shade
    Salvia spp. and hybrids Sage many – but not all – Salvias are drought tolerant, great pollinator plants
    Salvia pachyphylla Mojave Sage platinum silver evergreen foliage, purple flowers w/rosy bracts
    Santolina spp. Lavender Cotton/Green Santolina evergreen, yellow button flowers, aromatic
    Scutellaria ssp. Skullcap many long-blooming western native varieties
    Sedum spp.  (Hylotelephium) Stonecrop succulents – so many species/varieties…
    Sempervivum spp. Hen and Chicks/Houseleek colonizing succulent
    Senecio greyi Daisy Bush felted silver foliage, yellow daisylike flowers
    Sidalcea cusickii Cusick’s Checkermallow native
    Silene uniflora ‘Druett’s Variegated’ Rock Campion cute groundcover/trailer, white cup-shaped flowers
    Sisyrinchium spp. Blue-eyed/Yellow-eyed Grass Native, member of the Iris family
    Stachys byzantina Lamb’s Ears lovely soft, pettable leaves
    Stachys lavandulifolia Pink Cotton Lamb’s Ear great texture
    Teucrium chamaedrys Trailing Germander evergreen groundcovers/shrublets, mauve flowers mid-summer, bees!
    Thymus spp. Thyme  
    Verbascum spp. Mullein long blooming
    Verbena ‘De La Mina’ Cedrus Island Verbena native, light purple flowers
    Veronica spp. (esp. V. pectinata) Speedwell white to blue flowers, evergreen groundcovers 
    Vinca minor Vinca dry shade
    Zauschneria spp. California Fuschia late summer coral flowers, hummer magnet
    SHRUBS
    Arbutus unedo Strawberry Tree white flowers, fuzzy red berries
    Arctostaphylos spp. Manzanita native, evergreen, wide variety of sizes and forms, handsome bark, late winter flowers attract pollinators
    Artemisia tridentata Big Sagebrush native, aromatic silver foliage, deer resistant, pollinators
    Baccharis pilularis Coyote bush evergreen, tough as nails CA native, outstanding pollinator plant
    Berberis spp. Barberry varieties great purple leaves
    Buddleia – sterile hybrids Butterfly Bush honey scented flowers all summer
    Callistemon ‘Woodlander’s Red’ Hardy Bottlebrush (only alpine species for our valley) from Australia, hummingbirds like the flowers
    Carpenteria californica Tree Anenome must have good drainage and winter protection
    Caryopteris clandonensis Blue Mist periwinkle flowers mid- late summer
    Ceanothus spp. California Lilac native , evergreen, groundcover to large shrub depending upon variety, cobalt blue flowers in early spring, pollinators
    Cephalotaxus harringtonia Japanese Plum Yew evergreen, coarse foliage, dry shade, columnar & spreading forms
    Cercocarpus spp. Mountain Mahogany native, good in wilder areas
    Choisya ternata ‘Aztec Pearl’ Aztec Pearl Cutleaf Mexican Orange fragrant white flowers in spring, evergreen, full to part sun
    Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus/nauseosa Rabbitbrush western native, yellow flowers in fall, important pollinator plant
    Cistus spp. Rockrose early summer blooms
    Cotinus spp. Royal Purple Smoke bush burgundy foliage, red fall color
    Cotoneaster spp. Cotoneaster white flowers, red berries
    Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Wilma Goldcrest’ ‘Wilma Goldcrest’ Cypress evergreen/evergold, lemony-scented foliage
    Daphne spp. Daphne evergreen, wonderfully fragrant blooms
    Distylium spp. Winter Hazel evergreen, deer resistant
    Drimys lanceolata Tasmanian Pepper Bush dark green leaves with handsome purple-red stems, evergreen
    Elaeagnus spp. Silverberry evergreen, winter bloom, great for hedges
    Ericameria nauseosa Rubber Rabbitbrush native, silver-gray foliage with bright yellow fall flowers, pollinator-friendly
    Eriogonum compositum/E. umbellatum Buckwheat native, evergreen,excellent pollinator plant
    Fatshedera lizei Tree Ivy upright growing evergreen, dry shade
    Feijoa sellowiana Pineapple Guava silver foliage, tropical pink flowers
    Fremontedendron californica Flannel Bush CA native, large yellow flowers late spring, felted evergreen foliage
    Garrya spp.  Silktassel native, long catkins in winter
    Genista spp. Yellow Broom groundcover deep yellow flowers in spring
    Halimium/Halimiocistus spp. Rockrose  
    Heteromeles arbutifolia Toyon, Christmas Berry native, evergreen, pollinators like the flowers, wintering songbirds love the berries
    Holodiscus discolor Oceanspray native, important pollinator plant
    Hydrangea quercifolia  Oakleaf Hydrangea  US native, panicle type, burgundy-red fall color, peeling bark 
    Ilex meserveae ‘Blue Girl’/’Blue Boy’ Holly evergreen, somewhat deer resistant
    Ilex vomitoria Yaupon Holly SE native 
    Juniperus spp. Juniper  
    Lavandula ssp. Lavender fragrant purple flowers, many varieties, pollinators
    Lonicera nitida Box Honeysuckle semi-evergreen shrub, fountain-like habit, many varieties
    Lycium barbarum Goji Berry edible berries, pollinator friendly
    Mahonia spp. Oregon Grape native, yellow flowers in late winter, blue berries, upright/creeping species, tough!
    Myrtus communis ‘Compacta’ or ‘Tarentina’ Myrtle aromatic evergreen, starry white flowers, protected locations are best
    Nandina domestica Heavenly Bamboo super common evergreen, tough, red winter color/berries, many forms
    Nerium oleander Oleander blooms all summer, marginally hardy, highly toxic
    Osmanthus heterophyllus Hollyleaf Osmanthus fragrant winter blooms, evergreen, many varieties
    Ozothamnus spp.  Ozothamnus great eversilver foliage, reddish buds open to white flowers
    Philadelphus lewisii Native Mock Orange native, fragrant
    Picea abies nidiformis Birds Nest Spruce does best with afternoon shade
    Pinus mugo  Mugo Pine  
    Potentilla  Potentilla, Cinquefoil regular water until established
    Punica granatum Punica granatum hummingbird magnet, showy flowers/fruits, yellow fall color 
    Pyracantha spp. Firethorn old fashioned, showy berries, can be espaliered or large scale bonsai
    Rhamnus californica and R. tomentella CA/Hoary Coffeeberry native, evergreen, showy berries
    Rhamnus frangula Buckthorn tough Euro native, berries, gold fall color, good texture
    Rhus spp. Sumac amazing orange-red fall color, colonizing habit, many native species
    Ribes aureum Golden Currant native, prefers afternoon shade
    Ribes sangunineum Red Flowering Currant native, prefers afternoon shade
    Rosa spp. Roses  many tough species like Rugosas, colorful rose-hips
    Rosemarinus officianalis  Rosemary fragrant, attracts beneficial insects
    Rubus calycinoides Bramble vigorous, salmon colored berries
    Symphoricarpos alba Snow Berry native, white berries, dry shade is best
    Taxus media ‘Hick’s’ ‘Hick’s’ Yew evergreen, good for screens
    Teucrium fruticans Bushy germander silver evergreen foliage with bright blue flowers
    Viburnum davidii Viburnum davidii dry shade
    Viburnum t. ‘Spring Bouquet’ Viburnum tinus ‘Spring Bouquet’  evergreen
    Vitex agnus-castus Chaste Tree aromatic silvery leaves and lavender flowers
    TREES
    Abies concolor and A.pinsapo White Fir and Spanish Fir most heat/sun tolerant Firs, silvery blue-foliage on some selections, great texture
    Acer ginnala Amur Maple orange-red fall color
    Acer circinatum Vine Maple *only with afternoon shade
    Acer freemanii ‘Autumn Blaze’ Autumn Blaze Maple red fall color
    Acer grandidentatum Bigtooth Maple native to the Rockies, good intermediate size
    Calocedrus decurrens Incense Cedar native
    Carpinus ‘Emerald Avenue’ Emerald Avenue Hornbeam narrow-oval form, selected for heat tolerance and vigor
    Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’ Blue Atlas Cedar nice contrasting foliage color(silver blue)
    Cedrus deodara Deodar Cedar  
    Cercis occidentalis Western Redbud dark pink flowers in spring, must have good drainage
    Cercis c. texensis ‘Oklahoma’/’Alba’ Oklahoma Redbud  most heat tolerant subspecies, glossy foliage, yellow fall color, looks good late in the season 
    Chamaerops humilis Mediterranean Fan Palm tropical look
    Chilopsis linearis Desert Willow magenta blooms all summer, attracts pollinators
    Chitalpa tashkentensis Chitalpa (cross of Catalpa and Chilopsis) large blooms all summer
    Cotinus spp. Smoke tree small tree, great fall color
    Crataegus douglasii Black Hawthorn native, spring flowers, berries, beloved by birds and pollinators
    Cupressus arizonica ‘Blue Ice’ Arizona Cypress bright silver-blue foliage
    Cupressus bakeri Baker Cypress endemic to Siskiyous, blue-green color, serpentine soils
    Cupressus s. ‘Glauca’ Blue Italian Cypress  
    Ficus varieties Fig tree fruiting, big leaves
    Gleditsia triacanthos Honeylocust yellowish fall color
    Juniperus varieties Juniper tough as nails
    Lagerstroemia varieties Crape Myrtle varieties late summer bloom, fall color
    Lithocarpus densiflora Tanbark Oak native, evergreen, deer resistant
    Maackia amurensis Amur Maackia super tough small tree, nitrogen fixer
    Morus alba Fruitless Mulberry fast growing shade tree
    Olea europea ‘Arbequina’ Olive evergreen, fast growing (hardiest variety)
    Picea pungens glauca Colorado Blue Spruce silvery-blue needles
    Pinus ssp. Pine species  many different species in a variety of heights and shapes, some native
    Pistacia chinensis Chinese Pistache orange-red fall color
    Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas Fir native
    Quercus chrysolepis Canyon Live Oak native, evergreen, extremely important pollinator plant
    Quercus coccinea Scarlet Oak deep red fall color
    Quercus garryana Oregon White Oak native, extremely important pollinator plant
    Quercus rubra Red Oak  deep red fall color
    Sequoiadendron giganteum Giant Sequoia fast growing conifer, occ. deep soaks
    Syringa reticulata Japanese Tree Lilac fragrant, creamy white flowers early summer, showy bark
    Thuja plicata Western Red Cedar native, prefers afternoon shade
    Trachycarpus fortunei Windmill Fan Palm tropical look
    Zelkova serrata Zelkova fast growing shade tree, gold to rusty orange fall color
    Ziziphus jujuba Jujube (Chinese Date) glossy foliage, thorns, edible fruit
    VINES
    Campsis radicans Trumpet Vine vigorous, orange-red flowers
    Humulus lupulus Hops used in beer making
    Lonicera spp. Honeysuckle  vigorous, often fragrant, long blooming flowers, many semi-evergreen
    Vitis spp. Grape vine, fruiting and ornamental very vigorous, red fall color
    Wisteria spp. Wisteria fragrant purple flowers, super vigorous
    Back to Table Top

    Looking for a specific plant, shrub or tree?

    Our availability list is updated frequently so you can see at a glance what we have in stock at the nursery as well as the pot sizes. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, contact us.

    See Availabity List