Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — 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
Missouri · Zones 5–7
Drought-Tolerant Native Plants in Missouri
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 Missouri and the wider flora of the Midwest and hardy through zones 5–7 — proven performers for Missouri's humid continental to subtropical climate across Ozarks, glades & prairie, not a generic list. Local standouts include Pink Muhly Grass and Common Yarrow. 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
42 native species for Missouri
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 5–7 · see this collection in other states.
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants — 1.5–3 ft tall, and blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Built for heat and dry spells — rooting into sharp-drained rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells, reaching 2–4 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle, reaching 1.5–2.5 ft tall and it blooms Sep through Nov.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Nov
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
Built for heat and dry spells — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot — 1–2.5 ft tall, and blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — thriving in the lean, fast-draining rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants, reaching 2–5 ft tall and it blooms May through Oct.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 2–5 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Pasque Flower
Pulsatilla patens
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot, reaching 6–12 in tall and it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Maximilian Sunflower
Helianthus maximiliani
Drought-tough once established — rooting into sharp-drained sand soil and shrugging off dry spells — 5–8 ft tall, and blooms Aug through Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 5–8 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Built for heat and dry spells — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot; it stands 1.5–2 ft tall and blooms May through Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Chocolate Flower
Berlandiera lyrata
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle; it stands 1–2 ft tall and blooms May through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Sep
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
Built for heat and dry spells — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells, reaching 2–4 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Short-Toothed Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
Drought-tough once established — tough enough for hard, dry clay that bakes in summer, reaching 2–3 ft tall and it blooms Jul through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — standing firm in the dry clay that defeats softer plants; it stands 25–50 ft tall and flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 25–50 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
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
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand soil that defeats thirstier plants; it stands 1.5–3 ft tall and blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
Built for heat and dry spells — 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
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Built for heat and dry spells — happiest in poor, gritty rocky soil where richer plants rot, reaching 2–4 ft tall and it flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — 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
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells; it stands 2–4 ft tall and flowers in Sep and Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
Built for heat and dry spells — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot — 6–16 in tall, and flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 6–16 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot, reaching 1.5–2.5 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
Drought-tough once established — happiest in poor, gritty sand soil where richer plants rot, reaching 2–4 ft tall and it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Purple Prairie Clover
Dalea purpurea
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle — 1–3 ft tall, and flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Drought-tough once established — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants; it stands 4–8 in tall and flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
18 more also qualify: Ninebark, Compass Plant, Rattlesnake Master, Common Milkweed, Fragrant Sumac, New Jersey Tea, Wild Lupine, Sideoats Grama, Stiff Goldenrod, Virginia Creeper, Blue Grama, Creeping Phlox, Prairie Dropseed, Little Bluestem, Switchgrass, Pennsylvania Sedge, Indian Grass, Big Bluestem.
Sourcing
Where to find these in Missouri
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.