Plants for Dry Soil

Many CNY gardeners have arid sites where extra to frequent supplemental watering is a must. Many times these areas suffer from poor soil conditioning as well. We have compiled a list of landscape plants we have found to perform well - from temporary dry conditions to extended periods of drought with less supplemental watering than many other plants. Proper soil conditioning will also help alleviate poor soil conditions. See our ‘Organic and Inorganic Soil Amendments’ Fact Sheet for advice on proper soil conditioning.

Trees

Amur Maple (Acer ginnala)
Silver Maple (Acer saccarinum)
Birch (Betula spp.)
European Hornbeam (Carpinus spp. and cvs.)
Catalpa (Catalpa sp.)
Hawthorne (Crataegus spp. And cvs.)
Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia)
Ash, most (Fraxinus)
Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos)
Kentucky Coffee Tree (Gymnocladus dioica)
Pine, many (Pinus sp.)
Oak, some (Quercus sp.)
Japanese Tree Lilac (Syringa reticulata)

Shrubs and Vines

Brilliant Aronia (Aronia spp.)
Barberry (Berberis spp.)
Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii)
Siberian Pea shrub (Caragana arborescens)
Blue Mist Spirea (Caryopteris clandonensis)
Quince (Chaenomeles japonica)
Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa)
Smoke Bush (Cotinus coggygria)
Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster sp.)
Witch hazel (Hamamelis spp.)
Junipers, some (Juniperus sp.)
Beauty Bush (Kolkwitzia amabilis)
Privet (Ligustrum spp.)
Potentilla (Potentillaspp.)
Firethorn (Pyracantha)
Buckthorn (Rhamnus spp.)
Sumac (Rhus)
Rugosa Roses (Rosa rugosa)
Wisteria (Wisteria)

Perennials, Herbs, & Groundcovers

Yarrow (Achillea)
Snow-on-the-Mountain (Aegopodium)
Artemesia (Artemesia sp.)
False Indigo (Baptista sp.)
Red Valerian (Centranthrus rubber)
Snow-in-Summer (Cerastium tomentosum)
Coreopsis (Coreopsis)
Coneflower (Echinacea)
Spurge (Euphorbia)
Blue Fescue (Festuca ovina ‘glauca’)
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)
Geranium (Geranium)
Grasses, Ornamental; most
Daylilies (Hemerocallis sp.)
Bearded Iris (Iris)
Red-Hot Poker (Kniphofia uvaria)
Lavender (Lavendula)
Gay feather (Liaris sp.)
Flax (Linum)
Catnip (Nepeta faasenii)
Evening Primrose (Oenothera)
Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum)
Beard Tongue (Penstemon)
Russian Sage (Perovskia)
Fleece Flower (Polygonum)
Rosemary (Rosmarinus)
Rudbeckia ‘Goldstrum’ (Rudbeckia fulgida)
Sage, most (Salvia)
Lavender Cotton (Santolina ch.)
Sedum, most (Sedum)
Lamb’s Ears (Stachys byzantina)
Mullein (Verbascum)
Adam’s Needle (Yucca filamentosa)