Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants; it stands 1.5–2.5 ft tall and blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Florida · Zones 8–11
Drought-Tolerant Native Plants in Florida
Deep-rooted native plants that shrug off heat and dry spells and rarely need watering once they are established. For Florida, the right natives are shaped by Florida flatwoods, scrub & subtropical south and a subtropical to tropical, wet summers climate. Every species below, from Butterfly Weed and Common Yarrow to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Florida and the wider flora of the Southeast and hardy through zones 8–11. 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
28 native species for Florida
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 8–11 · see this collection in other states.
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Drought-tough once established — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells; it stands 1.5–3 ft tall and blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — rooting into sharp-drained sand soil and shrugging off dry spells — 4–7 ft tall, and flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Short-Toothed Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
Built for heat and dry spells — holding up in dry clay where other perennials wilt; it stands 2–3 ft tall and blooms Jul through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Drought-tough once established — 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
Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — right at home in dry rocky ground where most perennials struggle, reaching 2–5 ft tall and it blooms May through Oct.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 2–5 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
Drought-tough once established — holding up in dry clay where other perennials wilt; it stands 25–50 ft tall and flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 25–50 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle; it stands 2–4 ft tall and flowers in Sep and Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Drought-tough once established — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells, reaching 1.5–2.5 ft tall and it blooms Sep through Nov.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Nov
Prairie Blazing Star
Liatris pycnostachya
Drought-tough once established — right at home in dry rocky ground where most perennials struggle — 3–5 ft tall, and flowers in Jul and Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Drought-tough once established — happiest in poor, gritty rocky soil where richer plants rot — 2–4 ft tall, and blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Built for heat and dry spells — right at home in dry rocky ground where most perennials struggle — 2–4 ft tall, and blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Drought-tough once established — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells — 2–3 ft tall, and flowers in Sep and Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Built for heat and dry spells — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants; it stands 1.5–2 ft tall and blooms May through Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — thriving in the lean, fast-draining rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants — 2–4 ft tall, and flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Wild Lupine
Lupinus perennis
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot — 1–2 ft tall, and blooms Apr through Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
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
Rattlesnake Master
Eryngium yuccifolium
Drought-tough once established — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand soil that defeats thirstier plants; it stands 3–5 ft tall and blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — 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
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand soil that defeats thirstier plants, reaching 3–5 ft tall and it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Stiff Goldenrod
Solidago rigida
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — rooting into sharp-drained rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells — 3–5 ft tall, and blooms Aug through Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot — 2–3.5 ft tall, and blooms May through Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Built for heat and dry spells — thriving in the lean, fast-draining rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants — 30–50 ft tall, and flowers in Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Built for heat and dry spells — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot — 2–4 ft tall and hardy in zones 3–9.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
4 more also qualify: Indian Grass, Pennsylvania Sedge, Big Bluestem, Switchgrass.
Sourcing
Where to find these in Florida
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.