Looking for plants that won’t wilt in the summer heat? You don’t have to stick with the same old succulents or common drought-tolerant flowers. This list is packed with unique plants that love dry soil and sunny skies. Some are fragrant, others attract pollinators, and many offer stunning textures or colors. These lesser-known options are perfect for gardeners who want something bold, different, and easy to care for in dry weather.
1. Wall Germander
Wall germander is a small, evergreen shrub that works well as a border or low hedge. It produces tiny pink flowers in summer and attracts bees. Its dark green leaves have a pleasant scent and resist pests. Often used in formal gardens, it holds its shape nicely and thrives in dry, rocky soil with good drainage.
2. Butterfly Weed
Butterfly weed is a native wildflower that draws butterflies and other pollinators. Its bright orange blooms last through summer and stand out in any dry garden. It thrives in sandy soil and has a deep taproot that helps it survive drought. This plant is also a host for monarch caterpillars.
3. Blue Grama Grass
Blue grama grass is a native ornamental grass with fine green blades and distinctive seed heads that look like tiny eyelashes. It thrives in full sun and dry soils. Perfect for low-maintenance lawns or meadow-style gardens, it requires little water and mowing. This grass stays compact and adds soft movement and texture to dry landscapes.
4. Catmint
Catmint has grayish foliage and long-lasting spikes of lavender-blue flowers. It gives off a minty scent when touched and deters pests. It's ideal for edging, attracting bees and butterflies while staying tidy. This plant tolerates neglect and thrives in full sun with well-drained soil.
5. Paprika Yarrow
Paprika yarrow is a drought-hardy perennial with bright red flower clusters and yellow centers. It thrives in poor soil and full sun. The leaves are finely divided and have a fern-like appearance. Great for pollinators, this plant also has medicinal roots and can be used in dried flower arrangements.
6. Red Orach
Red orach stands out for its deep burgundy leaves, which are also edible. It's an heirloom plant often used as a spinach substitute. Growing up to five feet tall, it adds height and color to dry garden beds. It self-seeds easily and grows best in full sun.
7. Lavender Cotton
Lavender cotton is known for its silver foliage and button-like yellow flowers. Its strong herbal scent repels insects, and it's often clipped into low hedges. This plant loves heat and rocky soil. It’s useful in knot gardens and provides year-round texture and form.
8. Curry Plant
The curry plant has narrow silver leaves that smell like curry but aren't used in cooking. It forms small mounds and blooms with yellow flowers in mid to late summer. It thrives in coastal and dry Mediterranean gardens and pairs well with lavender and sage.
9. Blazing Star
Blazing star, or Liatris, is a tall native perennial with spiky purple flowers that bloom from top to bottom. It thrives in sunny, well-drained soils and tolerates drought once established. Its vertical shape adds interest to garden beds, and the blooms attract butterflies and bees throughout summer. It's excellent for wildflower gardens or natural landscapes.
10. Santa Barbara Daisy
Santa Barbara daisy is a sprawling plant with delicate, daisy-like flowers that change from white to pink as they age. It thrives in poor soil and partial shade, spreading over rocks or along walls. It's useful for erosion control and looks great spilling from containers.
11. Chaparral Sage
Chaparral sage is a fragrant shrub with gray-green leaves and deep blue flower spikes. Native to dry regions, it attracts bees and hummingbirds while tolerating drought and heat. It grows in mounded forms and does well in native plant landscapes.
12. Jerusalem Sage
Jerusalem sage grows in a rounded shape with woolly gray leaves and tall stems topped by yellow flower whorls. It handles dry summers and even mild frost. This plant adds architectural interest and is deer-resistant. It blends well with other silver-leaf plants.
13. California Buckwheat
California buckwheat is a native shrub that produces white or pink flower clusters, which turn rust-colored over time. It's great for attracting bees and butterflies. Its deep roots make it ideal for erosion control on slopes. It prefers full sun and gravelly soil.
14. Sundrops
Sundrops produce bright yellow blooms that open during the day. These perennials love dry, sunny spots and self-seed easily. They’re low-maintenance, vibrant, and good at attracting pollinators. Perfect for rock gardens or sunny borders, they add cheer to hot spots in the yard.
15. Thorncrest Agave
Thorncrest agave is a striking succulent with narrow, sword-shaped dark green leaves edged with bright white margins and sharp spines. It forms a dramatic rosette that fits perfectly in modern, low-water gardens. This agave loves full sun and sandy or rocky soil. It rarely blooms but provides year-round structure and texture. Use it in dry landscapes for a bold, architectural accent.
16. Angelita Daisy
Angelita daisy has cheerful yellow blooms on top of grassy mounds. It’s one of the few daisies that flower nearly year-round. Native to the Southwest, it thrives in rocky soil and intense sun. It's perfect for parking strips, walkways, and small spaces.
17. Pink Muhly Grass
Pink muhly grass is a stunning ornamental with fine green blades that explode into airy pink flower plumes in fall. It thrives in hot, dry conditions and well-drained soil. This grass adds movement and a soft glow to borders or mass plantings. It’s low-maintenance, deer-resistant, and drought-tolerant once established. Plant in full sun to enjoy its full feathery display.
18. Globe Mallow
Globe mallow is a tough desert native with cup-shaped flowers in shades of orange, pink, or lavender. It blooms profusely in spring and again after summer rains. The leaves are fuzzy and silvery, helping the plant conserve moisture. Globe mallow thrives in full sun and sandy or gravelly soil. It's perfect for low-water landscapes and attracts native bees and butterflies.
19. Blackfoot Daisy
Blackfoot daisy is a tough native perennial that produces white, yellow-centered blooms over mounding green foliage. It thrives in gravelly, poor soils and full sun. Despite its delicate look, it handles heat and drought well. A great option for rock gardens and borders.
20. Texas Sage
Texas sage is a silver-leaved shrub that bursts into purple flowers after rain. It's commonly used in low-maintenance hedges. The plant tolerates heat, wind, and poor soil. It also resists deer and rabbits, making it a favorite in arid gardens.
21. Silver Mullein
Silver mullein is known for its tall flower spikes and fuzzy silver rosette at the base. It can grow in disturbed soils and is often seen along dry roadsides. The bright yellow flowers attract bees. It reseeds easily and adds vertical interest.
22. Apache Plume
Apache plume is a hardy shrub with white flowers followed by feathery pink seed heads that look like plumes. Native to the Southwest, it thrives in rocky, dry soils and full sun. It grows up to six feet tall and wide, making it great for privacy screens or erosion control. Birds love the seeds, and the plant needs little water to thrive.
23. California Fuchsia
California fuchsia is a late-season bloomer with vivid red-orange flowers. It's one of the best native plants for hummingbirds. It spreads by rhizomes and thrives in rocky, dry areas. It’s perfect for slopes and wildflower borders.
24. Winecup
Winecup has cup-shaped magenta flowers and trailing stems that spread easily. It prefers well-drained soil and tolerates both heat and cold. It’s ideal for ground cover, hanging baskets, or rock gardens. The flowers open in the sun and close at night.
25. Damianita Daisy
Damianita daisy is a compact, evergreen shrub covered in bright yellow flowers during spring and after summer rains. Native to Texas and Mexico, it thrives in rocky, poor soil and full sun. It grows in low mounds and needs almost no water once established. This plant is great for edging, slopes, and hot spots where other flowers struggle to bloom.
Dry Doesn't Mean Dull
With these uncommon but tough plants, your garden can handle summer heat without constant watering. From silvery shrubs to fuzzy blooms and leafy edibles, each plant adds something special. These choices bring exciting color, texture, and even scent to your yard while saving time and water. For a unique, eco-friendly landscape, start with these surprising picks that thrive in dry soil.
I have mullein in my garden too, I like it so much! It does not need much attention and has beautiful flowers. And I also tried to use its leaves to make herbal tea, that helps from coughing and respiratory system inflammations. I loved its effect so much that I started taking mullein drops to help my lungs to recover from a painful cough that I had last winter. And it works!