“How do you keep your yard so green without watering?” That’s the question I hear most from my neighbors during hot, dry spells.
The answer? These amazing drought-tolerant ground covers!
After years of watching plants wilt in the heat, I finally found options that actually love hot, dry conditions.
Top 10 Drought-Resistant Groundcover Plants
1. Ice Plant
Despite its chilly name, this heat-loving beauty has become my go-to for those challenging spots in my garden. Its needle-like succulent foliage creates a stunning carpet, and when those purple-pink daisy-like flowers bloom in late spring, my kids can’t help but squeal with delight.
I learned the hard way that this plant actually prefers poor soil – talk about a win for lazy gardeners like me!
2. Moss Phlox (Creeping Phlox)
When I first planted moss phlox along my pathway, I had no idea it would become such a showstopper. Its dense mat of dark green foliage creates the perfect backdrop for those adorable star-shaped flowers.
The best part? The deer that usually treat my garden like an all-you-can-eat buffet completely ignore it!
3. Periwinkle (Vinca Minor)
This vigorous little ground cover has saved my shady spots from looking bare and unloved. The glossy leaves create such a lush carpet that my neighbors often ask what my secret is.
Just a word of caution from personal experience: check if it’s invasive in your area, as mine tried to take over my entire garden bed!
4. Epimedium (Barrenwort)
I call this my “problem-solver plant” because it thrives in those dry, shaded areas under trees where nothing else seems to grow. The heart-shaped leaves add such charm to otherwise dull spots.
The delicate flowers dancing on thin stems in spring make my garden look like something out of a fairy tale.
5. Ostrich Fern
These gorgeous ferns have turned my shaded hillside from an eyesore into a lush paradise. Their feathery fronds create such dramatic presence that visitors always assume I’m some kind of gardening genius.
Even during our worst drought last summer, these tough plants hung in there like champions.
6. Snow-in-Summer
The name alone sold me on this plant, but its performance in my rocky, poor soil areas made me fall in love. Those silvery-gray leaves topped with white flowers create such a magical effect that my daughter says it looks like frozen fairy dust.
7. Wine Cup
As a Midwest girl at heart, I couldn’t resist adding this native prairie plant to my garden. Those magenta cup-shaped flowers bloom for months, and the finely cut foliage adds such beautiful texture.
It’s become my favorite border plant along my garden path, creating waves of color all summer long.
8. Yarrow
This tough-as-nails plant has survived everything my family has thrown at it – literally! The kids can play nearby, the dog can run through it, and it just keeps on thriving.
The delicate fern-like foliage makes it look so dainty, but don’t let that fool you – this is one hardy plant!
9. Trailing Lantana
In my hanging baskets and border edges, trailing lantana has become my secret weapon against the summer heat. The butterflies and hummingbirds it attracts have turned our garden into a magical wildlife haven.
10. Stonecrop (Sedum)
Last but definitely not least, these succulents have become my absolute favorites for hot, dry spots. Their thick, juicy leaves come in so many varieties that I’ve started collecting them like Pokemon!
The late-summer blooms are just the icing on the cake, providing color when most other plants have given up for the season.
These amazing ground covers have completely changed how I garden. No more stressing about constant watering or watching plants wither in the heat. Now I can actually enjoy my outdoor space while these tough beauties do all the hard work for me!