If you’re someone who is looking for a relatively low maintenance landscape, without intense watering needs, then choosing drought-tolerant plants for your North Texas home makes a lot of sense.
In general, drought-tolerant plants in Texas make sense.
That’s because we do live in a region where drought-like conditions are common. If you don’t want to spend too much money watering plants (or have to worry you won’t be able to keep up with watering), then choosing plant material that can withstand a lack of water is helpful.
That’s not to say that these plants need no water. But they do require substantially less than many other choices.
Of course, there’s often an assumption that a drought-tolerant landscape means one that is full of cacti and succulents. We’re by no means saying you need to go to that extreme. In fact, there are some very lovely plants that offer color and interest but still don’t use tons of water.
Here’s a list of some of our favorite drought-resistant plants in Texas.
This flowering shrub can perform in full sun to partial shade and is tolerant of most soil types. It can thrive in the dry heat and is often used as a hedge shrub or foundational planting. It produces an array of small, fragrant pink flowers that have been known to attract butterflies.
This plant is a great groundcover choice if you have a large plant bed to fill. It is a flowering grass and can be very tolerant of hot, dry conditions. It blooms with white and purple flowers and has ribbon-like leaves that offer long appeal.
This Texas native is appreciated for being drought- and heat-tolerant. It features showy clusters of flowers and is known to attract birds and butterflies. It can work well as a border planting or in large groups.
The Dwarf Yaupon Holly, or other hollies for that matter, also make good drought-resistant plants in Texas. The Dwarf Yaupon, in particular, can make a nice formal hedge or foundational planting. It features beautiful red berries in the early fall and dark green foliage which turns light green in the springtime.
This drought-resistant shrub is often selected as a border plant. It is both hardy and shade-tolerant, making it overall easy to care for. These shrubs have colorful foliage that can range from rich yellow to pink or even purple.
Another native to Texas, the Autumn sage is a popular evergreen shrub choice. Any time that you choose plant material that is native to our region, it’s going to be naturally more drought-resistant. That’s because it has already adapted to the local climate. Autumn Sage has traditionally been grown with red flowers, but new varieties have since come in with many different shade options.
As you might have guessed by its name, Texas Sage is also native to Texas. This particular Sage is known for its silvery foliage and purple flowers. Besides being drought-tolerant, it is also overall a low maintenance choice.
This grass-like plant is known for its bright red color and for being incredibly low maintenance. As far as Texas drought-resistant plants go, you can’t go wrong with this choice. It is native to the Chihuahuan desert in Southwest Texas, so it has adapted to very dry conditions.
This compact shrub is known for both drought tolerance as well as year-round foliage. Given its evergreen nature, it is widely used as an ornamental choice in Texas plant beds and landscapes.
These are just a sampling of drought-resistant plants in Texas. They are some of our favorites as they perform well in many of the landscapes we have installed for clients. They also demonstrate how drought-resistant plants are so much more than cacti or succulents.
That being said, if you are someone who wants an abundance of options and does not want to be limited to drought-resistant plants, then it might be time to consider an irrigation system if you don’t already have one.
Irrigation is the answer to being able to have an abundance of plant material that can still perform well in our dry climate. More specifically, smart irrigation is the answer to watering your landscape wisely and not wasting water.
A solution like the installation of drip heads might be the best answer for a plant bed full of plants that need ample water. A drip head gets more water to the root of your plants without losing it to evaporation.
Ultimately, we can discuss your wants and needs and then determine a solution that is best for you.
Hopefully, this article has given you some ideas and inspiration to get started on choosing drought-resistant plants in North Texas.
As we mentioned, these are just some of the options. There are other drought-tolerant choices that we can suggest if you’re looking for something else.
At the end of the day, it comes down to hearing what you’re trying to achieve both from an aesthetic and a functional standpoint.
And as we’ve said, if you are someone who is looking for an abundance of choices, and you don’t want to be limited to drought-resistant plants in North Texas, then we can start talking about your irrigation options. This way, whatever plant material you add to your landscape will be properly supported.
Fortunately, when you partner with a landscape professional, you don’t have to worry about any of the details. We can help you make the choices that are best for you and all you’ll have to do is sit back, relax, and watch your landscape come together.
No matter which path you take, by making a smart choice in professional landscape companies here in North Texas, you can ensure that your landscape is everything you want and need it to be.
Ready to have a truly impressive Northern Texas landscape? Get in touch with us so we can talk about some enhancements that might work best for your unique property.
Image Source: Abelia, Lilirope, Lantana, Dwarf Yaupon Holly, Barberry, Autumn Sage, Texas Sage, Red Yucca, Nandina