Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle, reaching 1.5–2 ft tall and it blooms May through Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
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- By state
- Connecticut
- Drought-tolerant
Connecticut · Zones 5–7
Drought-Tolerant Native Plants in Connecticut
Deep-rooted native plants that shrug off heat and dry spells and rarely need watering once they are established. Every species here is genuinely native to Connecticut and the wider flora of the Northeast and hardy through zones 5–7 — proven performers for Connecticut's cool, humid continental climate across Northeastern Coastal Forest, not a generic list. Local standouts include Lanceleaf Coreopsis and Short-Toothed Mountain Mint. 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
24 native species for Connecticut
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 5–7 · see this collection in other states.
Short-Toothed Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
Drought-tough once established — standing firm in the dry clay that defeats softer plants; it stands 2–3 ft tall and blooms Jul through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — right at home in dry rocky ground where most perennials struggle, reaching 2–4 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — thriving in the lean, fast-draining rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants; it stands 2–4 ft tall and blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Built for heat and dry spells — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants, reaching 1.5–3 ft tall and it blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Built for heat and dry spells — right at home in dry rocky ground where most perennials struggle — 2–4 ft tall, and flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
Built for heat and dry spells — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot; it stands 2–4 ft tall and blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand soil that defeats thirstier plants, reaching 1.5–3 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
Built for heat and dry spells — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants; it stands 2–4 ft tall and flowers in Sep and Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants — 1.5–2.5 ft tall, and blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Drought-tough once established — rooting into sharp-drained rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells; it stands 30–50 ft tall and flowers in Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Wild Lupine
Lupinus perennis
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot, reaching 1–2 ft tall and it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — rooting into sharp-drained rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells, reaching 5–10 ft tall and it flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand soil that defeats thirstier plants — 3–5 ft tall, and flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot, reaching 2–6 ft tall and it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — 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
Creeping Phlox
Phlox subulata
Drought-tough once established — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants, reaching 4–8 in tall and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants, reaching 2–3.5 ft tall and it blooms May through Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — happiest in poor, gritty rocky soil where richer plants rot — 6–12 in tall and hardy in zones 3–8.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Built for heat and dry spells — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle; 2–4 ft tall, hardy in zones 3–9.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — rooting into sharp-drained sand soil and shrugging off dry spells — 4–7 ft tall and hardy in zones 3–9.
- Full sun
- Dry to wet
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand soil that defeats thirstier plants, reaching 3–6 ft tall, hardy in zones 4–9.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 3–6 ft
- Fall color
Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
Drought-tough once established — right at home in dry sand ground where most perennials struggle; 4–7 ft tall, hardy in zones 4–9.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells — 2–3 ft tall and hardy in zones 3–8.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Fall color
Sourcing
Where to find these in Connecticut
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.