Arricca Elin SanSone is a freelance writer, editor, and digital content developer. She specializes in lifestyle and interior design content with a focus on gardening. Arricca earned dual bachelor’s degrees summa cum laude in English and classics from Hiram College, as well as an MBA cum laude from Georgia Southern University. Before writing full-time, Arricca studied in Rome, traveled in Europe, and taught school in Asia. With over a decade of experience, Arricca has pitched, researched, and crafted fresh story ideas and content to appeal to national audiences. She has written thousands of articles for print and digital publications such as Country Living, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, House Beautiful, and more. 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Photos from Japan, Asia and othe of the world//Getty Images
Shrubs are a great investment. They add interest, color and structure to your garden. But if you live in a dry climate—or want to avoid high water bills—you'll want to plant drought-tolerant options.
Then plant them in the right spot where they will receive the correct amount of light. Full sun is considered 6 or more hours of direct sunlight per day, while part sun is half that—about 3 hours. Shade means the plant receives only a little morning sun.
It's important to pay attention to these guidelines! Shade lovers will fry in the hot sun, while sun lovers planted in shade tend to become leggy and unattractive as they try to stretch toward the available light.
How to Plant Drought-Tolerant Shrubs
It’s important to remember that drought tolerant shrubs still need water as they’re getting established. The best way to ensure they do well for years to come is to help them establish strong roots.
That means the first season, water regularly and deeply. Don’t just sprinkle on a little every day. Instead, hold your garden hose on the root ball for several minutes. Make sure the water isn’t just running off but is penetrating the soil. Check by poking your finger into the soil to feel the moisture level. If it’s still dry a few inches down, keep watering.
Finally, read the plant tag so you know exactly how tall and wide to expect a shrub to grow. There are many varieties with varying sizes. If you're tight on space in your landscape, look for those labeled "dwarf" or "compact."
Also known as bluebeard, this lesser-known bush grows in a deep mound with bright blue flowers late in the season. New varieties also may bloom pink.
USDA Hardiness zones: 5 to 9 Light: Full sun Varieties to try: Beyond Midnight, Beyond Pink'd
2
Butterfly Bush
Jacky Parker Photography//Getty Images
Butterfly bush is covered in blooms from late spring all the way to frost. Of course, butterflies and other pollinators love it! Look for newer varieties that are not invasive and that are more compact.
USDA Hardiness zones: 5 to 9 Light: Full sun Varieties to try: Pugster Blue, Miss Violet
3
Rosemary
Photos by R A Kearton//Getty Images
Although this culinary herb is often considered an annual, in warm climates, it becomes a large shrub. Or pot it up and bring it indoors for the winter to enjoy again on your patio next summer.
USDA Hardiness zones: 6 to 10 Light: Full sun Varieties to try: Arp, Roman Beauty
Rose of Sharon gets huge, eye-catching blooms in late summer, providing much-need color when most of the rest of your garden is winding down.
USDA Hardiness zones: 5 to 9 Light: Full sun Varieties to try: Polly Petite, Sugar Tip, Azurri Blue
5
Ninebark
apugach//Getty Images
Ninebark has lovely, arching branches. Its foliage may be dark green, peach, or wine-colored. The tiny pinkish-white flowers in spring are a pollinator favorite.
USDA Hardiness zones: 3 to 7 Light: Full sun Varieties to try: Summer Wine, Tiny Wine, Diablo
Shrub roses bloom from spring to summer, and they're not at all fussy, once established. Deadhead the blooms if you want to keep it neat, but most new cultivars, or cultivated varieties, don't require that to keep blooming. (Learn how, why, and when to deadhead plants.)
USDA Hardiness zones: 4 to 8 Light: Full sun Varieties to try: Brick House Pink, Double Knock Out, Ringo series
Abelia has glossy foliage and tubular flowers that pollinators, such as hummingbirds, love. Many new varieties are more compact so they won't become overgrown in your garden.
USDA Hardiness zones: 6 to 9 Light: Full sun Varieties to try: Apple Perfection, Sunshine Daydream
Potentilla is one of the longest blooming shrubs in the garden. With cheery flowers in white, pink or yellow, it's also a deer-resistant choice.
USDA Hardiness zones: 2 to 8 Light: Full sun Varieties to try: Happy Face Hearts, Pink Princess
9
Daphne
Photos from Japan, Asia and othe of the world//Getty Images
Daphne has the sweetest fragrance, and it blooms in late winter to early spring when you most need a dose of sunshine! Its foliage is green or variegated with pretty pinkish-white blooms.
USDA Hardiness zones: 6 to 9 Light: Part sun Varieties to try: Eternal Fragrance, Marianni
There are many different kinds of hydrangeas, but a type that's super-easy to grow in most of the country is the panicle hydrangea. These huge blooms appear in mid-summer and last until frost. Once established, these plants are more drought-tolerant than you'd guess.
USDA Hardiness zones: 3 to 8 Light: Full sun Varieties to try: Limelight, Quickfire, Little Lamb
If you need a low-growing evergreen, Siberian cypress is a winner. This plant is extremely tough, surviving even the coldest winters. It also keeps a nice, flat form and is a great choice for erosion control.
USDA Hardiness zones: 2 to 7 Light: Full sun Varieties to try: Celtic Pride
Unique "smoke-like" blooms appear on these shrubs in summer. Their foliage may be yellow, green or burgundy.
USDA Hardiness zones: 4 to 8 Light: Full sun Varieties to try: Winecraft Black, Winecraft Gold
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13
Mugo Pine
Sicha69//Getty Images
Mugo pines have interesting, dense foliage and cute little pine cones. Look for dwarf varieties, which still get about 4 or 5 feet tall.
USDA Hardiness zones 2 to 7 Light: Full sun Varieties to try: Little Rick, Carsten's Wintergold
14
Forsythia
Minh Hoang Cong / 500px//Getty Images
The bright yellow flowers of forsythia appear in early spring before the shrub leafs out. They're super-hardy and easy-care. Look for new, compact varieties that won't take over your landscape.
USDA Hardiness zones 5 to 8 Light: Full sun Varieties to try: Showoff Starlet
There's nothing as sweet-smelling in the spring as lilacs. These hardy shrubs live for decades. New varieties will re-bloom sporadically throughout the season.
USDA Hardiness zones 3 to 7 Light: Full sun Varieties to try: Bloomerang, New Age
Another hardy evergreen that deer typically won't bother, junipers have a blue-ish caste and pretty berries. They come in a variety of sizes and forms, so read the plant tag so you know what you're buying.
USDA Hardiness zones 4 to 8 Light: Full sun Varieties to try: Burley Blue, Gin Fizz
17
Cotoneaster
Christine Rose Photography//Getty Images
This low growing shrub gets beautiful red berries in the fall, which remain on the branches in winter. Deer tend to avoid them.
USDA Hardiness zones 4 to 10 Light: Full sun Varieties to try: Coral Beauty, Tom Thumb
Lantana is often treated as an annual in much of the country. But in warm climates, it can become a small shrub. The flowers are available in gorgeous, saturated tones.
USDA Hardiness zones 10 to 11 Light: Full sun Varieties to try: Fiesta
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19
Viburnum
Grace Cary//Getty Images
There are many types of viburnum, and they're incredibly drought tolerant once established. With rich green foliage and white flowers in spring, this is one of the easiest shrubs to grow.
USDA Hardiness zones 4 to 8 Light: Full sun Varieties to try: Glitters and Glows
20
Crape Myrtle
Photos from Japan, Asia and othe of the world//Getty Images
Beautiful, long-blooming crape myrtle (also called crepe myrtle) is a lovely addition to the landscape. The fluffy-looking flowers come in every color, including pink, red, white and purple. Look for smaller varieties to keep them under 10 feet.
USDA Hardiness zones: 5 to 10 Light: Full sun Varieties to try: Bellini Raspberry, Summerlasting
