Plants for Drought-Resistant Landscaping

Landscaping in Missouri can be challenging when it comes to dealing with unpredictable weather patterns. This year’s drought has made it tougher to keep our landscapes looking great. Despite this, it is possible to create a beautiful landscape that is more drought-resistant by picking the right plants. Let’s explore a few great options for a drought-resistant landscape that will help you conserve water and maintain a great outdoor space even when conditions are less than ideal.

1. Catmint: This is an herbaceous perennial that is noteworthy for its numerous and long-lasting lavender-blue blooms. Catmint flowers are a pollinator magnet, making them a great option for butterfly gardens. Catmint is a great way to add pops of color to any landscape.  

2. Little Bluestem: This ornamental grass is a native species with deep fibrous roots that make it very well suited for drought-resistance in Missouri. It boasts a striking blue-green foliage that turns a copper color in fall adding an extra season of color and interest. Its soft texture can add variety to any landscape.  

3. Prairie Dropseed: This is another native grass that is well adapted to Missouri’s climate. This ornamental grass is mounding with a fine textured foliage and a delicate seed head which gives it its elegant look. Incorporating numerous textures into your landscape adds visual interest.  

4. False Indigo: Also known as baptisia, this is a great low maintenance plant that provides spring color. They are available in purple, blue, yellow, and even pink. False indigo can be planted in masses or works as a focal point making it a versatile option.

5. Juniper: Coming in all shapes and sizes, junipers are an extremely low maintenance evergreen shrub option. Because they come in such a wide range of shapes and sizes, they are an easy plant to utilize for everything from privacy screens to ground cover.  

6. Allium: Commonly known as ornamental onions, these herbaceous perennials have a distinctive globe shaped bloom. They come in numerous colors from purple to pink and white. They are resistant to not only drought but also pests and disease making these an appealing option.   

7. Sedum: Also known as stonecrop, sedum is a Missouri-hardy succulent that is most often recognized for its interesting foliage. It comes in both mounding and ground cover forms as well as multiple colors from blue to green and also burgundy and yellow. Sedum, like many succulents, can thrive in challenging conditions including poor soil and drought. As a bonus, sedum is another perennial that attracts numerous pollinators.  

Incorporating drought resistant plants into your landscape is a great way to keep your garden low maintenance. By doing so, you can also help ensure your outdoor space looks great, even in the face of Missouri’s sometimes challenging weather conditions. Talking to the staff at Superior Garden Center or hiring a qualified designer is a great way to get guidance on your plant selections.

Nate Anderson has been a resident of Columbia for seven years, and he has been working in the landscape industry for just as long. Nate is a designer and estimator for Rost Inc. While working on his degree in plant science and landscape design, he also worked as a foreman at Rost Landscaping, where he oversaw landscape construction projects. He credits much of his inspiration to his “early years” where he got to be a part of the construction of many beautiful landscapes.

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