Marietta Daisies Garden Club

10 Drought Tolerant Flowers for your

Summer Garden

Spring planting is underway, and summer is quickly approaching. Gardening in the South brings challenges such as intense heat, high humidity, and occasional drought, so here are some plant selections to consider for thriving in these conditions.

1) Cosmos

Cosmos may look delicate on their thin stems, but the plants don't actually require much fuss—in fact, these annuals stand up well to dry conditions once they're established. Breeders have played up the romance of this flower, creating single, semi-double, and fully double in a variety of pretty hues.

Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-draining soil

Size: 1 to 6 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide

2) Pink Evening Primrose

At the end of a long day, the cheerful flowers of pink evening primrose (Oenothera speciosa) is a welcome sight. The fragrant, cupped flowers open white and mature to pink. Though this is a native perennial, the plants tend to spread easily (in some areas, quite aggressively) so site it where it can sprawl.

Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-draining soil

Size: 8 to 24 inches wide

Zones: 3-11

3) African Daisy

Silvery foliage contrasts with vibrant flowers in African daisy (Arctotis spp.) plants. If you live in a mild climate, African daisies will do fine without an abundance of water (in high heat, the flower will close up and require more water).

Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-draining soil

Size: 1 to 3 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide

Zones: 9-11

4) Anise Hyssop

The tall, nectar-producing flowers of anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) will draw pollinators aplenty to your summer garden. Both the foliage and colorful flowers of this perennial also add delightful fragrance.

Growing Conditions: Part to full sun and well-draining soil

Size: 1 to 3 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide

Zones: 4-10

5)Catmint

For a plant that is sure to thrive without a lot of fuss, it's hard to beat catmint (Nepeta spp.). These hard-working perennials bloom with pretty purple flowers even in poor soil, and are rarely bothered by deer or pests.

Growing Conditions: Part to full sun and average soil

Size: 6-12 inches tall and 12 to 36 inches wide

Zones: 3-9

6) Mullein

Mullein (Verbascum spp.) comes in tons of sizes and colors, but what they all have in common is a resilience in the face of low-water conditions once they're established. Their spires of showy flowers look gorgeous in a cottage garden and attract pollinators.

Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-draining soil

Size: 2 to 6 feet tall and 6 to 24 inches wide

Zones: 3-10

7) Perennial Salvia

There are hundreds of perennial salvia species and the majority of them are easy-growing, low-water performers in the garden. Their flowers are versatile, and favorites for cottage-style perennial borders as well as meadow gardens.

Growing Conditions: Part to full sun and well-draining soil

Size: 1 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 3 feet wide

Zones: 3-10

8) Russian Sage

The individual lavender flowers may be tiny on Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia), but as they bloom together on tall wands, they make a big impact. The more sun they get, the happier these fragrant perennials will be.

Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-draining soil

Size: 3 to 8 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide

Zones: 4-9

9) Milkweed

Best known for providing essential food for monarch butterfly caterpillars, milkweed (Asclepias spp.) produces large clusters of flowers in summer that attract all sorts of pollinators. These North American natives are very adaptable to drought conditions too.

Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-draining soil

Size: 1 to 5 feet tall and 1 to 3 feet wide

Zones: 3-9

10) Jerusalem Sage

Loads of lemon-yellow flowers on Jerusalem sage (Phlomis fruticosa) will draw pollinators to your yard from spring through summer. The shrub's velvety leaves, which look pretty on their own too, remain evergreen in Zones 8-10. A sturdy member of the mint family, it does just fine without a lot of water.

Growing Conditions: Part to full sun and well-draining soil

Size: 2 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide

Zones: 8-10