Lack of water is the most common plant stress encountered in urban and suburban landscapes. In areas with persistent drought conditions, or those with a true dry season, selecting drought resistant and native species will result in a more sustainable landscape that is easier to maintain.
Planting trees that are not drought resistant in these geographies will result in more work and more money spent on maintenance. Drought resistant plants, on the other hand, are adapted to live in dry conditions and will require less water and less maintenance.
Drought resistant plants, such as ginko and eastern redbud, are adapted to live in dry conditions.
Whenever selecting a tree, always consider the climate and hardiness zone before making a decision. (The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map can be useful in determining where plants are most likely to thrive.)
Here are just a few examples of trees with drought-tolerant attributes:
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Hardiness Zones |
| Crepe Myrtle | Lagerstroemia spp. | 6-10 (dependent on variety) |
| Eastern Redbud | Cercis canadensis | 4-9 |
| Elm | Ulmus spp. | 3-9 (dependent on species) |
| Ginkgo | Ginkgo biloba | 3-8 |
| Hackberry | Celtis occidentalis | 3-9 |
| Hawthorn | Crataegus spp. | 3-9 |
| Honey Locust | Gleditsia triacanthos | 3-9 |
| Leyland Cypress | Cupressocyparis leylandii | 6-10 |
| Oak | Quercus spp. | (dependent on species) |
| Red Maple | Acer rubrum | 3-9 |
| Sassafras | Sassafras albidum | 4-9 |
| Shagbark Hickory | Carya ovata | 4-9 |
| Sumac | Rhus spp. | 3-9 |
Download a technical report from our research laboratory about the irrigation of landscape plants.
