All Drought-Tolerant Plants

The plants listed below are suitable for California’s climate and may use less water than what you already have in your garden.
What’s not to love? Check out our full list of drought-tolerant plants that are easily available near you are listed below.

Perennials, Shrubs, and Ornamental Grasses

• Agave species (Agave)
• Alyogyne huegelii (Blue Hibiscus)
• Arctostaphylos species (Manzanita)
• Artemisia species (Sagebrush)
• Ceanothus species (California Lilac)
• Chamelaucium uncinatum (Geraldton Waxflower)
• Cistus species (Rockrose)
• Dudleya species (Live Forever)
• Echeveria species (Hens-and-Chickens)
• Encelia californica (California Encelia)
• Galvezia speciosa (Island Bush Snapdragon)
• Grevillea species (Grevillea)
• Heteromeles arbutifolia (Toyon)
• Lavandula species (Lavender)

• Leucophyllum species (Texas Ranger)
• Lobelia laxiflora (Mexican Bush Lobelia)
• Mahonia nevinii (Nevin’s Barberry)
• Melalueca nesophila (Pink Melaleuca)
• Myrtus communis (Common Myrtle)
• Nassella species (Needlegrass)
• Penstemon species (Penstemon)
• Rhus species (Sumac)
• Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary)
• Salvia, selected species (Sage)
• Sisyrinchium bellum (Blue-Eyed Grass)
• Tapetes lemmonii (Copper Canyon Daisy)
• Verbena, selected species (Verbena)

Trees

• Arbutus unedo (Strawberry Tree)
• Chitalpa tashkentensis (Chitalpa)
• Geijera parviflora (Australian Willow)
• Laurus nobilis (Sweet Bay)

• Olea europaea ‘Swan Hill’ (Swan Hill Olive)
• Pinus eldarica (Afghan Pine)
• Prosopsis chilensis (Chilean Mesquite)
• Quercus agrifolia (Coast Live Oak)

Vines

• Bougainvillea species (Bougainvillea)
• Macfadyena unguis-cati (Cat’s Claw)
• Vitis californica (California Wild Grape)

Turf

• Buchloe dactyloides (Buffalograss)
• Cynodon dactylon (Hybrid Bermudagrass)
• Zoysia ‘Victoria’ (Victoria Zoysiagrass)

Ground Cover

• Acacia redolens ‘Desert Carpet’
• (Dwarf Prostrate Acacia)
• Achillea species (Yarrow)
• Baccharis species (Coyote Brush)
• Cotoneaster dammeri (Bearberry Cotoneaster)

• Lampranthus species (Ice Plant)
• Lantana montevidensis (Trailing Lantana)
• Myoporum parvifolium (Myoporum)
• Sedum species (Stonecrop)