Desert Marigold
Baileya multiradiata
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot — 12–18 in tall, and blooms Mar through Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Mar–Oct
Arizona · Zones 5–10
Drought-Tolerant Native Plants in Arizona
Deep-rooted native plants that shrug off heat and dry spells and rarely need watering once they are established. For Arizona, the right natives are shaped by Sonoran & Chihuahuan deserts, Mogollon Rim and a arid, hot low desert to cool high country climate. Every species below, from Desert Marigold and Pasque Flower to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Arizona and the wider flora of the desert Southwest and hardy through zones 5–10. Drought-tough natives earn their reputation with deep roots, so the secret is patience: water them through the first season while those roots reach down, then taper off and let them fend for themselves. Plant in fall or early spring, give them sharp drainage and full sun, and resist the urge to coddle — overwatering kills more of these than any heat wave.
The plants
23 native species for Arizona
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 5–10 · see this collection in other states.
Pasque Flower
Pulsatilla patens
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants — 6–12 in tall, and flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
Built for heat and dry spells — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle, reaching 3–6 ft tall and it blooms Apr through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Firecracker Penstemon
Penstemon eatonii
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle; it stands 1.5–3 ft tall and blooms Mar through May.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — right at home in dry rocky ground where most perennials struggle; it stands 2–4 ft tall and blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle, reaching 1.5–3 ft tall and it blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Gregg's Mistflower
Conoclinium greggii
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot; it stands 1–2 ft tall and blooms May through Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Autumn Sage
Salvia greggii
Built for heat and dry spells — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle, reaching 2–3 ft tall and it blooms Apr through Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Apr–Oct
Flame Acanthus
Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle; it stands 2–4 ft tall and blooms Jun through Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Oct
Chocolate Flower
Berlandiera lyrata
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants, reaching 1–2 ft tall and it blooms May through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Sep
Desert Willow
Chilopsis linearis
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle, reaching 15–25 ft tall and it blooms May through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms May–Sep
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot; it stands 1–2.5 ft tall and blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
Drought-tough once established — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot — 2–4 ft tall, and blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Rocky Mountain Penstemon
Penstemon strictus
Drought-tough once established — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot; it stands 1.5–2.5 ft tall and blooms May through Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants, reaching 6–16 in tall and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 6–16 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Purple Prairie Clover
Dalea purpurea
Built for heat and dry spells — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle; it stands 1–3 ft tall and flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Blue Grama
Bouteloua gracilis
Drought-tough once established — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle — 8–20 in tall, and blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 8–20 in
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
Built for heat and dry spells — happiest in poor, gritty sand soil where richer plants rot — 2–4 ft tall, and flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle; it stands 1.5–2.5 ft tall and flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Built for heat and dry spells — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells — 2–6 ft tall, and flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Oregon Grape
Berberis aquifolium
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — right at home in dry rocky ground where most perennials struggle; it stands 3–6 ft tall and flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Built for heat and dry spells — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle — 4–8 in tall, and flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants, reaching 2–4 ft tall, hardy in zones 3–9.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Sourcing
Where to find these in Arizona
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.