7 Dazzling Drought-Tolerant Plants for Pennsylvania

Want to reduce the time you spend in the garden as well as your water consumption? It’s easy—just switch to drought-tolerant plants!

 

One of the simplest ways to reduce water consumption is by choosing plants that don’t need much moisture! Drought-tolerant plants can handle dry soil for extended periods without getting dehydrated. While they still need some water, they can often thrive off our Pennsylvania rainfall and don’t require much additional watering. 

 

Get Water-Wise with Drought-Tolerant Plants

Reducing water consumption has been on a lot of people’s minds lately! Planting these gorgeous drought-tolerant garden plants is a fantastic way to do just that without sacrificing style or visual impact. 

 

Gaillardia

With long-lasting blooms boasting fiery sunset colors, gaillardia is one of our favorite native plants for Pennsylvania gardens. Like most native plants, these blooming beauties don’t require much watering and have adapted to thrive in our climate. Their red and gold flowers emerge in summer and keep on blooming well into fall, but regular deadheading will encourage even more blooms! 

 

Echinacea 

A favorite among pollinators, echinacea is a gorgeous daisy-like native flower known for its large, bulbous center. It makes for easy access to nectar, so the butterflies and bees can easily perch on their flowers to enjoy an afternoon snack. In addition to supporting local wildlife and being highly drought-tolerant, echinacea plants have powerful medicinal properties and are often brewed into herbal teas and throat-soothing remedies. Is there anything this incredible plant can’t do? 

 

Sedum

Another succulent ground cover with excellent cold hardiness, Sedum is a terrific drought-tolerant, full sun plant with gorgeous jewel-toned foliage and showy, cloud-like flower clusters. We particularly love the “Autumn Joy” variety, as it produces rosy-pink blooms late in the season, perfectly complementing the gold and orange tones of fall foliage. 

 

Sempervivum

This succulent ground cover is surprisingly cold-hardy! Also known as hens n’ chicks, this drought-tolerant succulent spreads quickly and produces little baby plants, or “chicks” that you can remove and replant. Their charming rosettes are available in so many gorgeous colors, creating a mosaic of swirling succulents across the landscape.  

 

Salvia

The tall flower stalks of salvia look so beautiful, fluttering in the breeze. While most salvias are purple or blue, there are some lovely red varieties that hummingbirds adore! Plant salvia in the center of mixed container arrangements to act as a focal point, or plant them along the back border of your garden so that they don’t block your other plants. 

 

Lantana

This summer annual is bursting with vibrant color! Its multicolored bloom clusters feature pops of pink, yellow, and orange for a candy-colored display that brings plenty of personality and excitement to the scenery. Lantanas look gorgeous in planters and hanging baskets, and their drought-tolerant nature means you won’t have to water them as much as your other potted annual plants. 

 

Ornamental Grasses

There are so many reasons to love ornamental grasses. The delicate and slender foliage dances in the breeze, adding fabulous texture and a sense of movement to the landscape. Many produce tufted, feathery plumes in summer, and there are plenty of foliage colors to explore. Purple fountain grass is a big favorite in Pennsylvania, as it’s incredibly drought-tolerant and looks fabulous in mixed arrangements with flowering plants. 

 

There are plenty more drought-tolerant plants for sale in Pennsylvania here at Primex Garden Center! Visit us today to explore all the dazzling, low-maintenance varieties for water-wise landscapes.