You will find several stunners, most have year-round seasonal interest, flower beautifully, or yield berries.
Read on, and you will see you have many options for the most drought-tolerant shrubs.
Prune after flowering is complete, using the rule of 1/3 for shrubs to remove old wood.
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It tends tosucker, so place it where you do not mind if it spreads.
you might also remove the suckers each year as needed.
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Boxwood (Buxus spp.)
Boxwoods are a staple in the topiary world.
They are used as hedges and bonsai.
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The branches and evergreen leaves are close together, lending the plant a solid appearance.
The long clusters of red, pink, white, orpurple flowersare a favorite of these insects.
Bees and hummingbirds will also visit the butterfly bushes in your yard.
Cliffrose (Purshia stansburyana)
Use the cliffrose in a rock garden that is prone to drought.
This hardy shrub is usually found on the sides of cliffs and is native to western North America.
It features feathery plumes and curling leaves (inspiring the name).
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Currants and Gooseberries (Ribes spp.)
Even fruit shrubs can tolerate some drought, but they need a constant water supply when the fruits form.
They will also perform poorly if too much sand is in the soil.
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Mostly thornless cultivars include ‘Pixwell,’ ‘Tixia’ and ‘Lady Sun.’
The main difference between currants andgooseberriesis that you will find spines on the canes of most gooseberries.
Jostaberry is a result of crossing gooseberries and black currants.
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This plant does best in low-humidity environments and can’t tolerate soggy soil.
This eastern North American native is also called lemon sumac.
you might use the berries to make a lemonade-like drink.
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The leaves shift to become purple, orange, or red in autumn.
Birds will also visit since they like to eat the pome fruits.
Plant in full sun for best results, as some colored varieties change to green in shadier locations.
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Most cultivars have thorns, so consider that if you have pets or children.
Barberries work well as a barrier to keep out unwanted visitors.
The stems are covered in clusters of brilliant purple berries.
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The leaves contain chemicals like callicarpenal that have proven to ward off mosquitoes, ticks, and fire ants.
They frame the large clusters of tiny yellow-white flowers that form red berries.
They turn black upon maturity.
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This species is native to North America and belongs to the Hydrangeaceae (hydrangea) family.
They produce tiny capsules that contain one or two seeds.
It belongs to the Celastraceae (bittersweet) family.
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The reddish-brown bark also adds interest as it peels off, complementing the reddish-orange leaves in fall.
The bush is native to the western U.S. and Mexico.
In addition to handling drought, it can also tolerate cold temperatures and acidic or alkaline soils.
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It has few problems; the only significant ones are browsing deer, powdery mildew, and aphids.
Leaves can be either purple or green, depending on the cultivar.
They provide an autumn show when they transform into shades of orange, purple, and red.
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This Eurasian shrub belongs to the Anacardiaceae (sumac) family.
Besides sumac trees and shrubs, other relatives include poison ivy,mango, cashew apple, and pistachios.
Its flowers come in hues of yellow, peach, orange, pink, and white.
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As the species and common names suggest, these are decidedly shrubby in appearance.
Cinquefoil refers to the fact that the leaves may have five leaflets.
Other possible combinations include sets of three, seven, or nine.
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This North American shrub is dioecious, so you will need several plants if you want fruit.
The silver in the common name refers to the coloring of the leaves.
Its stems bear thorns, making this a good choice for creating a private area.
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It can also be used in windbreaks.
It prefers alkaline soils, but it can be planted in various soils.
These plants also handle cold temperatures well.
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Freezing will mellow the tartness of the fruits so that they become sweeter.
Its aroma is pleasant for humans and deters pests.
Its essential oil is used for hair and beauty products.
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Established plants are usually drought tolerant.
This shrub grows tall and wide with oval leaves and can withstand a dry spell late into the summer.
As long as this plant has well-draining soil, it can handle sandy, loamy, and clay soil.
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Hydrangeas are toxic to pets and humans.
Its branches have thorns, which make for a good border plant and natural barrier.
This fall-harvested fruit from this plant is used as a sweet jelly during the fall and winter holidays.
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It has dark green, elliptical leaves with greenish-white flowers in the spring.
In drought conditions, it will get its fall colors sooner and drop leaves but still produce its berries.
This plant is often associated with the winter holidays.
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It is toxic to humans, dogs, cats, and horses.
It resembles bamboo with cane-like stems and wispy, delicate oval leaves.
In spring, it produces white sprays of blossoms, followed by red berry clusters in winter.
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It handles drought well.
Its leaves appear palmate, with five fingers.
It produces black fruit that looks like peppercorns.
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It grows aggressively fast, with the ability to grow up to 7 feet in a single growing season.
This plant thrives in heat and can handle drought and neglect.
It usually reblooms in late summer.
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This olive family member can weather periods of drought.
Deer also tend to leave it alone.
This drought-resistant shrub takes a while to grow its leaves in the spring.
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These plants are deciduous shrubs or woody perennials that die back each winter.
They prefer full sun but will tolerate shade.
These drought-tolerant shrubs require minimal care.
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A member of the cypress family, this evergreen shrub is a dwarfconifer.
This plant only needs water when it looks dry or during periods of extreme heat.
Blue star juniper does not like overly wet or humid conditions.
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It produces red berries that are a food source for birds.
This Asian native produces tiny, insignificant yellow-green flowers that bloom in late spring.
Due to its aggressive growth, some states have banned its sale.
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It grows about a foot a year.
They attract butterflies but are toxic to pets.
This plant is also considered invasive in warmer climate areas in Florida, Arizona, and Hawaii.
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It is a fast-growing, broad-leaf, evergreen shrub native to arid regions, preferring a desert-like environment.
It repeatedly blooms with red-orange flowers.
It can be deciduous at the northern end of its range (zone 9).
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It is tolerant of dry conditions and is a great choice forxeriscaping.
This mint family plant also has a pleasant aroma.
Rhus aromatica.Missouri Botanical Garden.
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