Drought Tolerant Plants for Oregon's Rogue Valley

The Rogue Valley has a climate perfectly suited to drought tolerant plants. With so many beautiful varieties, and with water becoming a precious commodity, there is ample reason to incorporate them into your landscape or garden. As an added bonus, many drought tolerant plants are also deer resistant.

Need plant watering advice for the Rogue Valley? Here are our Watering Guidelines for the Rogue Valley.

		A selection of drought tolerant plants including Agastache 'Tutti Frutti' (left), Agave neomexicana (top right) and Cistus purpureus (bottom right).

Caring for Drought Tolerant Plants

The main thing to remember about drought tolerant plants is that they usually require good drainage. Plant them high, incorporate ¼" gravel or compost to your planting bed, but don't add mulch too close to their crowns. A gravel mulch works well.

Ceanothus 'Point Reyes'

Rudbeckia hybrid with Caryopteris
'Blue Mist'

Chitalpa x t. 'Pink Dawn'

The easiest way to make drought tolerant plants unhappy is to overwater them. Most drought resistant plants need adequate water their first summer, but once established a deep soak every few weeks is best. Drought tolerant plants should not be combined with other, water loving plants on the same irrigation system/zone. They need to be on a separate timer or emitter that delivers the correct amount of water. Try dedicating an entire area to drought tolerant plants. You will love the result.

Remember, these are general rules. Please ask if you have questions about the care of a specific plant.

Botanical Name	Common Name	Comments
FERNS
Blechnum spicant	Deer Fern	native, evergreen
Cyrtomium fortunei	Hardy Holly Fern	evergreen, glossy bold foliage
Polystichum munitum	Western Sword Fern	native, evergreen
GRASSES AND GRASS-LIKE PLANTS
Agave neomexicana, parryi, 'Blue Glow'	Hardy Agave	bold accent, evergreen, spiny
Andropogon sp.	Big Bluestem
Bouteloua gracilis	Blue Grama Grass	mounding green foliage, unique flag-like persistent seed-heads
Dasylirion wheeleri	Common Sotol	toothed, blue yucca-like foliage, giant bloom spikes when mature
Festuca spp.	Fescue	small evergreen, silver-blue color
Helictotrichon sempervirens	Blue Oat Grass	evergreen, easy maintenance
Hesperaloe parviflora	Red Yucca (False Yucca)	coral flowers, hummingbird magnet, yucca-like foliage
Muhlenbergia capillaris	Pink Muhly Grass	haze of pink seed heads in fall, persist through winter
Muhlenbergia rigens	Deer Grass	CA native, spikey golden seed-heads, semi-evergreen
Panicum virgatum	Switch Grass	dainty seed heads, nice fall color
Pennisetum sp.	Fountain Grass	showy seed-heads
Phormium spp.	New Zealand Flax	bold colorful foliage, can be marginal - put in protected locations
Schizachyrium scoparium	Little Bluestem	prairie native, great fall color
Sporobolos heterolepsis	Prairie Dropseed
Stipa gigantea	Giant Feather Grass	seed heads glow when backlit, semi-evergreen
Stipa tenuissima	Mexican Feather Grass	great erosion control, aggressive re-seeder
Yucca filamentosa	Adam's Needle	curly fibers along blades
PERENNIALS
Acanthus spp.	Bears Breech	once established, fleshy roots, tall flower spikes
Achillea millefolium	Yarrow	fine texture, many flower colors
Agastache spp.	Anise Hyssop, Licorice Mint	fragrant, hummingbird favorite, long bloom
Allium spp	Ornamental Onions	globe shaped blooms in spring-summer, like dry summer soils
Antennaria dioica 'Rubra'	Pink Pussy Toes
Aquilegia formosa	Western Columbine	PNW native, red-yellow blooms attract hummingbirds
Armeria maritima	Sea thrift	clumping grass, pink flowers
Artemisia spp.	Wormwood	silver foliage, fine texture, aromatic
Asarum caudatum	Wild Ginger	dry shade
Asclepias spp. - esp. A. fascicularis	Milkweed	Monarch host plant!
Baptisia australis	Blue False Indigo	deep blue/purple flowers, prairie native, long lived
Bergenia cordifolia	Heartleaf Bergenia	large, glossy leaves, semi-evergreen, dry part sun-shade
Bulbine 'Hallmark'	Bulbine	South African native, succulent leaves, orange & yellow flowers
Callirhoe involucrata	Wine Cups/Poppy Mallow	US native, trailing wildflower, magenta blooms all summer
Calochortus tolmei	Cat's Ear Mariposa Lily	native bulb, spring-blooming
Campanula poscharskyana	Creeping Siberian Bellflower	long bloom time, semi-evergreen
Catanache caerulea	Cupid's Dart	short lived, long blooming, great cut flowers and everlastings, can re-seed
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides	Dwarf Plumbago	cobalt blue flowers late summer-fall, deep red fall color
Cerastium tomentosum	Snow in Summer
Coreopsis spp.	Tickseed	long bloomers, fine texture
Crocosmia	Crocosmia
Delosperma spp.	Ice Plant	many species, varieties and colors! long bloom times
Dianthus	Carnations or Pinks	wonderfully fragrant flowers
Dicentra formosa	Native Bleeding Heart	dry shade
Digitalis obscura	Sunset Foxglove (perennial)	from mtns of Spain, sun loving, rusty apricot blooms
Dodecatheon hendersonii	Henderson's Shooting Star	native bulb, spring blooming, our namesake!
Echinacea cultivars	Coneflower	good pollinator plant
Echinops	Globe Thistle	good cut flower
Epimedium spp.	Bishop's Hat/Barrenwort	dry shade
Erigeron k. 'Profusion'	Fleabane/Santa Barbara Daisy	super long bloomer, can reseed
Erigeron pulchellus 'Lynhaven Carpet'	Robin's Plantain	dry shade, large leaf mat-forming, charming daisies
Erigeron speciosa	Showy Fleabane	Erigerons are wonderful pollinator plants
Eriogonum umbellatum	Sulphur Flowered Buckwheat	native to rocky sites, evergreen, long bloom
Erodium cultivars	Heronsbill	likes good drainage, long blooming
Eriophyllum lanatum	Oregon Sunshine	native, platinum foliage, yellow daisies
Eryngium spp.	Sea Holly	long lasting flowers dry well, tap root
Euphorbia spp.	Spurge	long lasting chartreuse flowers in spring, many evergreen
Fragraria chiloensis and F. vesca	Wild Strawberry	native ground covers, more drought tolerant w/some shade
Gaillardia aristata	Blanket Flower	long bloom time
Gaura lindheimeri	Gaura/Appleblossom Grass	tap root, ALL-season bloom
Geranium spp	Hardy Geranium/Cranesbill	certain species, many w/scented foliage, some semi-evergreen
Glaucium flavum	Horned Poppy	re-seeding short lived perennial, amazing blue foliage
Glumicalyx goseloides	Nodding Chocolate Flower	evergreen, pumpkin orange fragrant flowers
Gypsophila spp.	Baby's Breath
Helianthemum nummularium	Sunrose	spring bloom, evergreen
Helianthus 'Lemon Queen'	Perennial Sunflower	long blooming, pollinator friendly, goldfinch like the seeds
Helleborus spp.	Lenten/Christmas Rose	dry shade
Hemerocallis spp.	Daylily
Heuchera spp.	Coral Bells	dry part sun-shade, great foliage colors, draws hummers
Hypericum calycinum	St. John's Wort	very aggressive groundcover, more drought-tolerant in shade
Iris spp. (I. x germanica, Pacific Coast hybrids, I. pallida, I. tenax, etc.)	Iris	some native species, many flower colors, tough!
Kniphofia spp.	Red hot poker	hummingbird attractor
Lamium maculatum, Lamiastrum 'Herman's Pride'	Dead nettle	dry shade groundcover
Lewisia cotyledon	Lewisia, Cliff Maiden	good drainage, part sun, showy long blooms, succulent
Limonium latifolium	Hardy Staice, Sea Lavender	papery lavender umbels dry beautifully
Lobelia laxiflora	Mexican Cardinal Flower	southwestern native, hummingbird favorite
Lupinus polyphyllus	Big-Leaf Lupine	native
Marrubium rotundifolium	Silverheels Horehound	cute groundcover w/silvery mouse-ear like foliage
Monardella m. 'Marian Sampson'	Scarlet Hummingbird Mint	SW native, dry part sun, showy blooms
Monardella odoratissima	Mountain Pennyroyal, Coyote Mint	native evergreen, long blooming, attracts pollinators, adaptable
Narcissus	Daffodil
Nepeta spp.	Catmint	super long bloom, attracts pollinators
Oenothera spp.	Evening Primrose	long blooming, can re-seed, many species
Origanum spp.	Oregano	for cooking, as a groundcover or showy ornamental types
Opuntia cacanapa 'Ellisiana'	Spineless Prickly Pear Cactus	hardy, yellow flowers, edible fruits/pads, awesome!
Penstemon spp.	Beardtongue	attracts pollinators/hummers
Perovskia atriplicifolia	Russian Blue Sage	late summer blooms, aromatic
Phlomis spp.	Jerusalem Sage	large, fuzzy leaves, whorls of flowers yellow to pink/purple
Phlox subulata	Creeping Phlox
Pterocephalus depressus	Moroccan Pincushion Flower	mat/cushion forming evergreen, mauve flowers w/poofy seedheads
Pulsatilla vulgaris	Pasque flower
Romneya coulteri	Matilija Poppy	spectacular native, spreads enthusiastically
Rubus calycinoides	Creeping Bramble	more drought tolerant in shade
Salvia spp. and hybrids	Sage	many - but not all - Salvias are drought tolerant, great pollinator plants
Salvia pachyphylla	Mojave Sage	platinum silver evergreen foliage, purple flowers w/rosy bracts
Santolina spp.	Lavender Cotton/Green Santolina	evergreen, yellow button flowers, aromatic
Scutellaria ssp.	Skullcap	many long-blooming western native varieties
Sedum spp. (Hylotelephium)	Stonecrop	succulents - so many species/varieties...
Sempervivum spp.	Hen and Chicks/Houseleek	colonizing succulent
Senecio greyi	Daisy Bush	felted silver foliage, yellow daisylike flowers
Sidalcea cusickii	Cusick's Checkermallow	native
Silene uniflora 'Druett's Variegated'	Rock Campion	cute groundcover/trailer, white cup-shaped flowers
Sisyrinchium spp.	Blue-eyed/Yellow-eyed Grass	Native, member of the Iris family
Stachys byzantina	Lamb's Ears	lovely soft, pettable leaves
Stachys lavandulifolia	Pink Cotton Lamb's Ear	great texture
Teucrium chamaedrys	Trailing Germander	evergreen groundcovers/shrublets, mauve flowers mid-summer, bees!
Thymus spp.	Thyme
Verbascum spp.	Mullein	long blooming
Verbena 'De La Mina'	Cedrus Island Verbena	native, light purple flowers
Veronica spp. (esp. V. pectinata)	Speedwell	white to blue flowers, evergreen groundcovers
Vinca minor	Vinca	dry shade
Zauschneria spp.	California Fuschia	late summer coral flowers, hummer magnet
SHRUBS
Arbutus unedo	Strawberry Tree	white flowers, fuzzy red berries
Arctostaphylos spp.	Manzanita	native, evergreen, wide variety of sizes and forms, handsome bark, late winter flowers attract pollinators
Artemisia tridentata	Big Sagebrush	native, aromatic silver foliage, deer resistant, pollinators
Baccharis pilularis	Coyote bush	evergreen, tough as nails CA native, outstanding pollinator plant
Berberis spp.	Barberry varieties	great purple leaves
Buddleia - sterile hybrids	Butterfly Bush	honey scented flowers all summer
Callistemon 'Woodlander's Red'	Hardy Bottlebrush (only alpine species for our valley)	from Australia, hummingbirds like the flowers
Carpenteria californica	Tree Anenome	must have good drainage and winter protection
Caryopteris clandonensis	Blue Mist	periwinkle flowers mid- late summer
Ceanothus spp.	California Lilac	native , evergreen, groundcover to large shrub depending upon variety, cobalt blue flowers in early spring, pollinators
Cephalotaxus harringtonia	Japanese Plum Yew	evergreen, coarse foliage, dry shade, columnar & spreading forms
Cercocarpus spp.	Mountain Mahogany	native, good in wilder areas
Choisya ternata 'Aztec Pearl'	Aztec Pearl Cutleaf Mexican Orange	fragrant white flowers in spring, evergreen, full to part sun
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus/nauseosa	Rabbitbrush	western native, yellow flowers in fall, important pollinator plant
Cistus spp.	Rockrose	early summer blooms
Cotinus spp.	Royal Purple Smoke bush	burgundy foliage, red fall color
Cotoneaster spp.	Cotoneaster	white flowers, red berries
Cupressus macrocarpa 'Wilma Goldcrest'	'Wilma Goldcrest' Cypress	evergreen/evergold, lemony-scented foliage
Daphne spp.	Daphne	evergreen, wonderfully fragrant blooms
Distylium spp.	Winter Hazel	evergreen, deer resistant
Drimys lanceolata	Tasmanian Pepper Bush	dark green leaves with handsome purple-red stems, evergreen
Elaeagnus spp.	Silverberry	evergreen, winter bloom, great for hedges
Ericameria nauseosa	Rubber Rabbitbrush	native, silver-gray foliage with bright yellow fall flowers, pollinator-friendly
Eriogonum compositum/E. umbellatum	Buckwheat	native, evergreen,excellent pollinator plant
Fatshedera lizei	Tree Ivy	upright growing evergreen, dry shade
Feijoa sellowiana	Pineapple Guava	silver foliage, tropical pink flowers
Fremontedendron californica	Flannel Bush	CA native, large yellow flowers late spring, felted evergreen foliage
Garrya spp.	Silktassel	native, long catkins in winter
Genista spp.	Yellow Broom groundcover	deep yellow flowers in spring
Halimium/Halimiocistus spp.	Rockrose
Heteromeles arbutifolia	Toyon, Christmas Berry	native, evergreen, pollinators like the flowers, wintering songbirds love the berries
Holodiscus discolor	Oceanspray	native, important pollinator plant
Hydrangea quercifolia	Oakleaf Hydrangea	US native, panicle type, burgundy-red fall color, peeling bark
Ilex meserveae	'Blue Girl'/'Blue Boy' Holly	evergreen, somewhat deer resistant
Ilex vomitoria	Yaupon Holly	SE native
Juniperus spp.	Juniper
Lavandula ssp.	Lavender	fragrant purple flowers, many varieties, pollinators
Lonicera nitida	Box Honeysuckle	semi-evergreen shrub, fountain-like habit, many varieties
Lycium barbarum	Goji Berry	edible berries, pollinator friendly
Mahonia spp.	Oregon Grape	native, yellow flowers in late winter, blue berries, upright/creeping species, tough!
Myrtus communis 'Compacta' or 'Tarentina'	Myrtle	aromatic evergreen, starry white flowers, protected locations are best
Nandina domestica	Heavenly Bamboo	super common evergreen, tough, red winter color/berries, many forms
Nerium oleander	Oleander	blooms all summer, marginally hardy, highly toxic
Osmanthus heterophyllus	Hollyleaf Osmanthus	fragrant winter blooms, evergreen, many varieties
Ozothamnus spp.	Ozothamnus	great eversilver foliage, reddish buds open to white flowers
Philadelphus lewisii	Native Mock Orange	native, fragrant
Picea abies nidiformis	Birds Nest Spruce	does best with afternoon shade
Pinus mugo	Mugo Pine
Potentilla	Potentilla, Cinquefoil	regular water until established
Punica granatum	Punica granatum	hummingbird magnet, showy flowers/fruits, yellow fall color
Pyracantha spp.	Firethorn	old fashioned, showy berries, can be espaliered or large scale bonsai
Rhamnus californica and R. tomentella	CA/Hoary Coffeeberry	native, evergreen, showy berries
Rhamnus frangula	Buckthorn	tough Euro native, berries, gold fall color, good texture
Rhus spp.	Sumac	amazing orange-red fall color, colonizing habit, many native species
Ribes aureum	Golden Currant	native, prefers afternoon shade
Ribes sangunineum	Red Flowering Currant	native, prefers afternoon shade
Rosa spp.	Roses	many tough species like Rugosas, colorful rose-hips
Rosemarinus officianalis	Rosemary	fragrant, attracts beneficial insects
Rubus calycinoides	Bramble	vigorous, salmon colored berries
Symphoricarpos alba	Snow Berry	native, white berries, dry shade is best
Taxus media 'Hick's'	'Hick's' Yew	evergreen, good for screens
Teucrium fruticans	Bushy germander	silver evergreen foliage with bright blue flowers
Viburnum davidii	Viburnum davidii	dry shade
Viburnum t. 'Spring Bouquet'	Viburnum tinus 'Spring Bouquet'	evergreen
Vitex agnus-castus	Chaste Tree	aromatic silvery leaves and lavender flowers
TREES
Abies concolor and A.pinsapo	White Fir and Spanish Fir	most heat/sun tolerant Firs, silvery blue-foliage on some selections, great texture
Acer ginnala	Amur Maple	orange-red fall color
Acer circinatum	Vine Maple	*only with afternoon shade
Acer freemanii 'Autumn Blaze'	Autumn Blaze Maple	red fall color
Acer grandidentatum	Bigtooth Maple	native to the Rockies, good intermediate size
Calocedrus decurrens	Incense Cedar	native
Carpinus 'Emerald Avenue'	Emerald Avenue Hornbeam	narrow-oval form, selected for heat tolerance and vigor
Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca'	Blue Atlas Cedar	nice contrasting foliage color(silver blue)
Cedrus deodara	Deodar Cedar
Cercis occidentalis	Western Redbud	dark pink flowers in spring, must have good drainage
Cercis c. texensis 'Oklahoma'/'Alba'	Oklahoma Redbud	most heat tolerant subspecies, glossy foliage, yellow fall color, looks good late in the season
Chamaerops humilis	Mediterranean Fan Palm	tropical look
Chilopsis linearis	Desert Willow	magenta blooms all summer, attracts pollinators
Chitalpa tashkentensis	Chitalpa (cross of Catalpa and Chilopsis)	large blooms all summer
Cotinus spp.	Smoke tree	small tree, great fall color
Crataegus douglasii	Black Hawthorn	native, spring flowers, berries, beloved by birds and pollinators
Cupressus arizonica 'Blue Ice'	Arizona Cypress	bright silver-blue foliage
Cupressus bakeri	Baker Cypress	endemic to Siskiyous, blue-green color, serpentine soils
Cupressus s. 'Glauca'	Blue Italian Cypress
Ficus varieties	Fig tree	fruiting, big leaves
Gleditsia triacanthos	Honeylocust	yellowish fall color
Juniperus varieties	Juniper	tough as nails
Lagerstroemia varieties	Crape Myrtle varieties	late summer bloom, fall color
Lithocarpus densiflora	Tanbark Oak	native, evergreen, deer resistant
Maackia amurensis	Amur Maackia	super tough small tree, nitrogen fixer
Morus alba	Fruitless Mulberry	fast growing shade tree
Olea europea 'Arbequina'	Olive	evergreen, fast growing (hardiest variety)
Picea pungens glauca	Colorado Blue Spruce	silvery-blue needles
Pinus ssp.	Pine species	many different species in a variety of heights and shapes, some native
Pistacia chinensis	Chinese Pistache	orange-red fall color
Pseudotsuga menziesii	Douglas Fir	native
Quercus chrysolepis	Canyon Live Oak	native, evergreen, extremely important pollinator plant
Quercus coccinea	Scarlet Oak	deep red fall color
Quercus garryana	Oregon White Oak	native, extremely important pollinator plant
Quercus rubra	Red Oak	deep red fall color
Sequoiadendron giganteum	Giant Sequoia	fast growing conifer, occ. deep soaks
Syringa reticulata	Japanese Tree Lilac	fragrant, creamy white flowers early summer, showy bark
Thuja plicata	Western Red Cedar	native, prefers afternoon shade
Trachycarpus fortunei	Windmill Fan Palm	tropical look
Zelkova serrata	Zelkova	fast growing shade tree, gold to rusty orange fall color
Ziziphus jujuba	Jujube (Chinese Date)	glossy foliage, thorns, edible fruit
VINES
Campsis radicans	Trumpet Vine	vigorous, orange-red flowers
Humulus lupulus	Hops	used in beer making
Lonicera spp.	Honeysuckle	vigorous, often fragrant, long blooming flowers, many semi-evergreen
Vitis spp.	Grape vine, fruiting and ornamental	very vigorous, red fall color
Wisteria spp.	Wisteria	fragrant purple flowers, super vigorous

Salvia 'Ultra Violet'	Zauschneria 'Bowman's'	Rhamnus alaternus 'Variegata' - Italian Buckthorne
Chilopsis linearis with Albizia 'Summer Chocolate'	Cistus libanotum 'Major'	Senecio greyi
Arctostaphylos 'Sweet Adinah'	Lagerstroemia 'Tuscarora' crepe myrtle	Lagerstroemia 'Muskogee' crepe myrtle
Lagerstroemia 'Natchez' crepe myrtle	Lagerstroemia 'Centennial Spirit' crepe myrtle	Lagerstroemia 'Dynamite' crepe myrtle