15 drought-resistant plants

We certainly aren't in *Mad Max* yet, but water has become an increasingly precious resource. If you want to conserve water or tend to forget to water your plants—even when you receive reminders from the Monstera app—check out our selection of drought-tolerant indoor and outdoor plants.

#1 Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)

Some people say that trumpet vine flowers give off a chocolatey scent. Photo by Jacilluch / Wikipedia

Flowering plants can withstand drought. The trumpet vine is the perfect example. Its red, yellow, or orange trumpet-shaped flowers bloom in the height of summer, when the sun is shining and rain is scarce.

Trumpet vine needs regular watering in the spring and summer only during its first year. Once well established, it takes care of itself. However, it appreciates having its base watered in the evening during heat waves.

#2 Virginia sumac (Rhus typhina)

In Switzerland, Virginia sumac is classified as a prohibited invasive species. Photo by Katya / Wikipedia

Virginia sumac changes its appearance with the seasons. In winter, this shrub loses its leaves. But in fall, the foliage turns red and orange. Bright green the rest of the year, the leaves are accented by purple or burgundy flowers in summer.

Virginia sumac thrives anywhere, including on dry, poor soil or constantly damp soil where nothing else grows. Even under these conditions, the plant spreads and produces suckers. Be sure to prune them every year to avoid being overrun!

#3 Gaura

Gaura will give your garden a rustic look. Photo by Mike Finn / Flickr

From May until the first frosts, Gaura is adorned with white, pink, or bicolored flowers. It blooms repeatedly to brighten up the garden and attract pollinating insects for several months.

Gaura is a hardy perennial plant. It can withstand temperatures as low as -15 °C. If the leaves fall off in winter, it doesn't mean the plant is dead. The foliage will regrow in the spring.

#4 Rabbit-ear cactus (Opuntia microdasys)

The fruits of Opuntia microdasys are edible. Photo by Sergio Niebla / Flickr

Opuntia microdasys looks like a cute stuffed animal with its round shape and fuzzy appearance. But don't try to pet it! Its surface is covered with spines and prickles. These allow the Rabbit ear cactus to capture moisture from the air and withstand the heat.

Cacti are among the most drought-tolerant plants. Whether in a pot or in the ground, wait until the substrate is completely dry before watering thoroughly. Most cacti tolerate tap water, but they grow best if you water them with rainwater.

#5 Corsican Spurge (Euphorbia myrsinites)

Whether in bloom or not, the Corsican Euphorbia adds a splash of color. Photo by Peganum / Flickr

Although small in size (it doesn't grow taller than 20 centimeters), the Corsican Euphorbia certainly doesn't go unnoticed. Its blue-gray leaves and yellow flower clusters stand out in any rock garden.

The Corsican spurge is a succulent plant. You won't need to water it if you grow it in the ground, even during dry spells. If grown in a pot, however, provide it with watering every two weeks in the summer and once a month in the winter.

#6 Garden stonecrop (Sedum spectabile)

Garden stonecrop blooms in late summer. Photo by Jerzy Opiola / Wikipedia

Very popular in China, where it originates, garden stonecrop (Sedum spectabile) has also become a staple here. You've surely come across its clumps of bright green leaves and clusters of pink flowers in flower beds at the park or in your grandmother's garden.

Sedum thrives with no care when planted in dry, well-drained soil. However, it struggles to grow when the soil remains damp, especially in winter. It's best to plant the plant in a pot or in a spot that doesn't retain water, such as at the top of a slope.

#7 Bear's Ear (Stachys byzantina)

Even the flower cluster of Stachys byzantina looks soft! Photo by Jean-Pol Grandmont / Wikipedia

Its thick, downy, silvery-gray leaves have earned Stachys byzantina the nicknames “bear's ear,” “lamb's ear,” or “rabbit's ear.” In summer, they are topped with a spike of pink or purple flowers.

The less you fuss over your “bear's ears,” the better they'll thrive. Plant them in your garden in the spring and let nature take its course. You don't need to fertilize or water them.

#8 Dwarf Cypress Santolina (Santolina chamaecyparissus)

With its yellow and green hues, the Dwarf Cypress Santolina can withstand the heat. Photo by Brewbooks / Flickr

Dwarf cypress santolina smells like hikes in Corsica and picnics in the garrigue. These yellow pompom-like flowers evoke summer, vacations, and carefree days.

If you'd like to add a splash of color to your garden, wait until after the last frost to plant your Santolina chamaecyparissus. This perennial can then withstand drought and temperatures as low as -10 °C.

#9 Haworthia fasciata

Like many succulents, Haworthia fasciata turns red in the sun. Photo by Maja Dumat / Flickr

With its rosette of slender leaves, haworthiopsis fasciata could be mistaken for an aloe. But this succulent native to South Africa requires much less water. When grown indoors in a pot, it only needs to be watered once every three weeks.

Haworthia fasciata hates moisture. Be sure to remove any standing water from the saucer or planter after watering. It can cause the roots to rot as the water rises through capillary action.

#10 Agave (Agave)

An agave with captivating leaves. Photo by Stephen Boisvert / Flickr

Only the agave's rosette of leaves breaks up the monotony of the Mexican or Texan desert landscape. After a few kilometers, with a bit of luck, you'll come across a flowering specimen. Make the most of it: the plant only blooms after 10 or 20 years and then dies.

The Agave genus includes hundreds of species, all of which are equally low-maintenance when it comes to water. Choose one based on your needs! Agave americana can be grown in the ground around the Mediterranean or in pots indoors elsewhere. Do you live north of the Loire River? Opt for the mountain agave (Agave montana): it can withstand temperatures as low as -20 °C. Finally, if you want to make your own tequila, go for the blue agave, the only variety authorized for producing this prized beverage.

#11 Rockrose (Cistus)

It's said that rockroses are the first to regrow after a fire. Photo by Nano Sanchez / Wikipedia

Cistus blooms as early as the beginning of spring. White, pink, yellow, red, or purple… Its large, crinkled flowers display nearly every shade of the rainbow.

Cistus isn't afraid of much—not even drought or wildfires. But this plant does fear the cold and excess water. If you live outside the orange tree zone, cover it with a winterizing fleece and mulch around its base. And if you've planted your shrub in a pot, water it only when the substrate is completely dry.

#12 Lavender (Lavandula)

Tired of purple? Choose a bluish lavender! Photo by Martin Hendrikx / Flickr

Lavender offers big results with minimal effort. It will only need a little water in the summer, if the soil is completely dry. In return, this perennial plant will reward you with evergreen gray-green foliage all year round and fragrant pink, purple, or white flowers during the warmer months.

This subshrub needs fertilizer to bloom. Fertilize potted plants in the spring and summer, and repot them from time to time.

#13 Tree Aeonium (Aeonium arboreum)

Aeoniums come in red, green, or black varieties. Photo by Dornenwolf/Flickr

Aeonium arboreum has an unbeatable strategy for withstanding heat and drought: it closes its rosette of leaves. But when the weather is milder, the plant reveals green, purple, or black spatulate leaves.

Aeonium arboreum has no hardiness. It survives a frost only if its roots remain dry. Grow it in a pot so you can bring it into your living room or sunroom during the winter. You'll need to water it when the potting mix has dried out thoroughly.

#14 The Porcupine Cactus (Echinopsis oxygona)

After a few years, the hedgehog cactus produces offshoots. Photo by Alan Levine / Wikipedia

The hedgehog cactus (Echinopsis oxygona) owes its nickname not to its numerous spines, but to its round shape. This ball-shaped plant can reach 30 centimeters in diameter when fully grown.

The hedgehog cactus requires watering only during the growing season when kept outdoors. Indoors, water it year-round when the potting mix has completely dried out.

#15 Elephant's Foot (Beaucarnea recurvata)

Beaucarnea recurvata grows very slowly. You won't need to repot it often. Photo by Maja Dumat/Flickr

The swollen trunk of the nolina (Beaucarnea recurvata) allows it to store water. The plant therefore doesn't need to be watered often, even during dry spells. Wetting it once a month or every three weeks (even during a heat wave) is sufficient.

Beaucarnea recurvata can withstand temperatures as low as -5 °C if the soil remains dry. But we advise you not to take any chances. Grow your elephant tree in a pot indoors. If you take it outside during the warmer months, bring it back inside as soon as nighttime temperatures drop.