Drought Tolerant Perennials

Because we live in a high alpine desert environment, many of us are concerned about water use, and although we want to have a beautifully landscaped yard, we want to use as little water as possible to keep it alive and thriving. Brady’s West carries a large number of drought-tolerant perennials; in fact, most of our perennials are drought tolerant. These perennials are perfect if you are creating a xeriscape—a type of landscaping the keeps irrigation of any kind to an absolute minimum. Keep in mind, though, that anytime we plant anything new in our yard—be it a perennial, shrub, or tree—we need to make sure the root system becomes well established, and that means we need to use at least a moderate amount of water to get it to that point. Like all other perennials, not to mention any plant, drought-tolerant perennials benefits from amending the soil, applying fertilizer, and mulching.

Yarrow.jpg

Achillea (Yarrow)

Height: 18”

Width: 24”

Bloom Color: Varies

Bloom Duration: Early to Late Summer

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant

Hyssop.jpg

Agastache (Hyssop)

Height: 18-24”

Width: 12-15”

Bloom Color: Varies

Bloom Duration: Summer

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant, Attracts Hummingbirds and Butterflies

Bugle Weed.jpg

Ajuga reptans (Bugle Weed/Black Scallop)

Height: 3-10”

Width: 10-14”

Bloom Color: Blue

Bloom Duration: Late Spring-Early Summer

Water: Moderate

Sun: Partial to Full

Note: Shade Tolerant

Artemsia.jpg

Artemsia

Height: 3-6”

Width: 6-18”

Bloom Color: Yellow

Bloom Duration: Mid-Late Summer

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant

Asciepias .jpg

Asclepias (Butterfly Weed)

Height: 15-18”

Width: 15-18”

Bloom Color: Varies

Bloom Duration: Late Spring-Summer

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant, Attracts Hummingbirds and Butterflies

Winecups.jpg

Callirhoe (Wine Cups)

Height: 5”

Width: 24-30”

Bloom Color: Magneta

Bloom Duration: Summer

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Attracts Butterflies

Cupid's Dart.jpg

Catananche caerulea (Cupid’s Dart)

Height: 1-3’

Width: 10-12’”

Bloom Color: Blue

Bloom Duration: Summer

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant

Cerastium (Snow-in-Summer)

Height: 4-6”

Width: 15-18”

Bloom Color: White

Bloom Duration: Late Spring

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant

Coreopsis.jpg

Coreopsis (Tickseed)

Height: 12-18”

Width: 12-18”

Bloom Color: Varies

Bloom Duration: Early to Late Summer

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant, Attracts Butterflies

Crocosmia Lucifer.jpg

Crocosmia, Lucifer

Height: 3-4’

Width: 12-18”

Bloom Color: Scarlet

Bloom Duration: Summer

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Part to Full

Note: Attracts Humming Birds, Attracts Butterflies, Shade Tolerant, Drought Tolerant

Delosperma (Ice Plant)

Height: 1”

Width: 15-18”

Bloom Color: Varies

Bloom Duration: Early to Late Summer

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant

Echinacea.jpg

Echinacea

Height: 16-20”

Width: 16”

Bloom Color: Varies

Bloom Duration: Summer

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant

Echinops (Globe Thistle)

Height: 4’

Width: 18”

Bloom Color: Blue

Bloom Duration: Mid to Late Summer

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant, Attracts Butterflies

Gaillardia.jpg

Gaillardia

Height: 10”

Width: 12”

Bloom Color: Red/Orange, Yellow

Bloom Duration: Summer

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant, Attracts Butterflies

Gazania

Height: 4-6”

Width: 10-12”

Bloom Color: Yellow

Bloom Duration: Early Summer-Mid Fall

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Geranium

Height: 15-18”

Width: 12-15”

Bloom Color: Varies

Bloom Duration: Late Spring-Mid Summer

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Sunflower.jpg

Helianthus (Sunflower)

Height: 5-6’

Width: 3-5’

Bloom Color: Yellow

Bloom Duration: Late Summer-Fall

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant

False Sunflower.jpg

Heliopsis helianthoides (False Sunflower)

Height: 3-6’

Width: 2-3’

Bloom Color: Red/Yellow

Bloom Duration: Spring-Fall

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant, Attracts Hummingbirds and Butterflies

Knifofia Torch Lily.jpg

Kniphofia (Red Hot Poker)

Height: 3’

Width: 3’

Bloom Color: Orange, Yellow

Bloom Duration: Summer

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant, Attracts Hummingbirds

Lavandula (Lavender)

Height: 30-32”

Width: 24-32”

Bloom Color: Purple

Bloom Duration: Mid Summer-Early Fall

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant

Gayfeather.jpg

Liatris (Gayfeather)

Height: 2-4”

Width: 8-24”

Bloom Color: Purple

Bloom Duration: Summer-Fall

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant, Attracts Butterflies

Blue Flax.jpg

Linum (Blue Flax)

Height: 18”

Width: 18”

Bloom Color: Blue

Bloom Duration: Early to Mid Summer

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant

Monarda (Bee Balm)

Height: 24-30”

Width: 18-24”

Bloom Color: Varies

Bloom Duration: Mid-Late Summer

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Attracts Hummingbirds

Cat Mint.jpg

Nepeta (Catmint)

Height: 15”

Width: 18”

Bloom Color: Blue

Bloom Duration: Late Spring-Late Summer

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant, Attracts Hummingbirds and Butterflies

Penstemon

Height: 24-30”

Width: 3’

Bloom Color: Purple

Bloom Duration: Mid-Late Spring

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant, Attracts Hummingbirds and Butterflies

Salvia nemerosa Lyrical Blues Meadow Sage.jpg

Salvia

Height: 3’

Width: 18”

Bloom Color: Varies

Bloom Duration: Early Summer-Fall

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant, Attracts Hummingbirds

Solidago Golden Rod.jpg

Solidago (Golden Rod)

Height: 2-3’

Width: 1-2’”

Bloom Color: Golden Yellow

Bloom Duration: Late Summer

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Light Shade to Full Sun

Note: Deer Resistant, Attracts Hummingbirds. Attracts Butterflies

Stachy’s Lamb’s Ear

Height: 4-6”

Width: 18-30”

Bloom Color: Light Purple

Bloom Duration: Summer

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Part to Full

Note: Deer Resistant, Shade Tolerant

Partridge Feather.jpg

Tanacetum (Partridge Feather)

Height: 4-6”

Width: 18-24”

Bloom Color: Yellow

Bloom Duration: Late Spring-Late Summer

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Attracts Butterflies

Thymus (Thyme)

Height: 2”

Width: 18-30”

Bloom Color: Light Pink

Bloom Duration: Early-Late Summer

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant

Veronica2.jpg

Veronica

Height: 2”

Width: 18”

Bloom Color: Blue

Bloom Duration: Early-Mid Spring

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant, Attracts Hummingbirds and Butterflies