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There’s a growing interest in drought-tolerant plants — and it’s not hard to see why. Gardeners want less time dragging hoses and more time actually enjoying their yards. We want gardens that thrive without constant attention, landscapes that look lush even during dry spells, and plants that forgive us when life gets busy.

But beyond convenience, there are real reasons to choose tough, low-water plants. They’re forgiving when you forget to water, lower your water bill, and require less maintenance overall. And in a state where water conservation matters more every year, choosing drought-tolerant plants is one of the most earth-conscious decisions you can make for your landscape.

At Sunnyside Gardens, we’ve asked one of our perennial, shrub, and tree experts — and social media star — Deb, to share her top 10 picks for drought-tolerant plants that thrive in Minnesota. These are plants she’s seen perform year after year with minimal water and maximum impact.

It’s important to note that all native perennials are low-water options. But outside of that category, here’s what made the list:

1. Sedum (Sedum spp.) — Perennial

Sedum is a succulent perennial with thick, fleshy leaves that store water — making it incredibly drought-tolerant once established. It forms dense mats of foliage topped with clusters of star-shaped flowers in late summer and fall, providing critical nectar for pollinators when many other plants have finished blooming.

Varieties to try:

1. ‘Autumn Joy’ 
2. ‘Deep Rose’
3. ‘Sunsparkler Sapphire Tuffet’

• Best for: Full sun, dry areas, ground cover
• Care: Full sun. Well-draining soil. Water sparingly — overwatering is more likely to kill sedum than drought. Cut back dead foliage in early spring. That’s it.
• Perfect for: Slopes, rock gardens, borders, anywhere grass struggles to grow.

2. Ice Plant (Delosperma cooperi) — Perennial

Ice plant is a low-growing succulent that produces impossibly vibrant daisy-like flowers in hot pink, purple, orange, or yellow. It blooms from late spring through fall and spreads to form a dense, weed-suppressing mat. Like sedum, it’s a succulent that stores water in its leaves, making it nearly indestructible during dry spells.

• Best for: Full sun, poor soil, ground cover
• Care: Full sun. Excellent drainage is essential — ice plant will rot in soggy soil. Once established, it needs almost no water. Trim back dead growth in spring.
• Perfect for: Rock gardens, slopes, between pavers, anywhere you want color without the fuss.

3. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) — Perennial

Russian sage is a woody perennial with silvery-gray foliage and airy spikes of lavender-blue flowers that bloom from midsummer through fall. The entire plant is fragrant, and pollinators love it – while deer leave it alone. Once established, it’s incredibly drought-tolerant and thrives in hot, dry conditions where other perennials struggle.

• Best for: Full sun, dry areas, tall vertical interest
• Care: Full sun. Well-draining soil. Cut back to 6–12 inches in early spring. That’s all it needs. No watering, no fertilizer, no fussing.
• Perfect for: Prairie-style gardens, pollinator gardens, adding height to perennial beds.

4. Barrenwort (Epimedium spp.) — Perennial

Barrenwort is a shade-loving perennial with delicate, heart-shaped leaves and small, intricate flowers in spring. It forms a dense ground cover that suppresses weeds and tolerates dry conditions under trees — a notoriously difficult spot for most plants. The foliage is semi-evergreen in mild winters and turns bronze-red in fall.

• Best for: Shade, dry shade, ground cover
• Care: Part to full shade. Tolerates dry soil once established. Cut back old foliage in early spring before new growth emerges. Rarely needs watering.
• Perfect for: Under trees, woodland gardens, shaded slopes where nothing else will grow.

5. Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensylvanica) — Ground Cover, Ornamental Grass, Native

Pennsylvania sedge is a native ground cover that forms a soft, flowing carpet of fine-textured, grass-like foliage. It tolerates shade, stays green from spring through fall, and requires almost no maintenance once established. It’s perfect as a lawn alternative in shaded areas where turf grass struggles, and it’s incredibly drought-tolerant for a shade plant.

• Best for: Shade to part shade, lawn alternative, native plantings
• Care: Part to full shade. Tolerates dry soil. No mowing required (though you can mow once in early spring if you want a tidy look). Once established, it needs no supplemental watering.
• Perfect for: Lawn replacement under trees, woodland edges, naturalized areas.

6. Juniper (Juniperus spp.) — Shrub

Junipers are evergreen shrubs that provide year-round structure and color in the landscape. They come in a wide range of forms — low-growing ground covers, upright columns, and everything in between. Once established, they’re incredibly drought-tolerant and require virtually no maintenance.

Varieties to try:

1. ‘Blue Arrow’
2. ‘Blue Star’

• Best for: Full sun, slopes, evergreen structure, year-round interest
• Care: Full sun. Well-draining soil. Water during the first season to establish, then rarely needed. Prune lightly if needed to maintain shape.
• Perfect for: Slopes, erosion control, foundation plantings, adding evergreen structure to perennial beds.

7. Baptisia (Baptisia spp.) — Perennial, Native + Non-Native Varieties

Baptisia, also known as false indigo, is a long-lived perennial with tall spikes of pea-like flowers in blue, yellow, white, or purple. It blooms in late spring to early summer, followed by attractive seed pods that persist into winter. Baptisia develops a deep taproot that makes it extremely drought-tolerant once established — and that taproot also means it can live for decades in the same spot.

• Best for: Full sun, prairie gardens, long-lived perennials
• Care: Full sun. Well-draining soil. Water during the first year to help the taproot establish, then it’s self-sufficient. Cut back dead foliage in early spring.
• Perfect for: Prairie-style gardens, pollinator gardens, adding structure to perennial beds.

8. Salvia (Salvia spp.) — Perennial

Salvia is a large genus of perennials with tubular flowers that pollinators adore. Many varieties are drought-tolerant once established and bloom for months with minimal care. The foliage is often aromatic, and deer and rabbits tend to leave it alone.

Varieties to try:

1. ‘Rose Marvel’
2. ‘Blue Marvel’
3. ‘Apex Blue’

• Best for: Full sun, pollinators, long blooming season
• Care: Full sun. Well-draining soil. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowers. Once established, it needs little to no supplemental watering.
• Perfect for: Pollinator gardens, cottage gardens, perennial borders.

9. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) — Ornamental Grass, Native + Non-Native Varieties

Switchgrass is a native prairie grass with upright, airy foliage that turns golden, red, or burgundy in fall. It produces delicate seed heads in late summer that catch the light and persist through winter, providing food for birds and visual interest when most plants have gone dormant. Once established, switchgrass is incredibly drought-tolerant and requires almost no maintenance.

1. Native variety: Panicum virgatum (straight species) — Minnesota native
2. Cultivated variety: ‘Cheyenne Sky’

• Best for: Full sun, vertical interest, prairie gardens, native plantings
• Care: Full sun. Tolerates a wide range of soils, including clay. Cut back to 6 inches in early spring. No watering or fertilizing needed once established.
• Perfect for: Prairie gardens, rain gardens, adding vertical interest and movement to perennial beds.

10. Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum spp.) — Perennial

Solomon’s seal is a graceful shade perennial with arching stems lined with pairs of oval leaves and dangling white bell-shaped flowers in spring. It spreads slowly to form colonies and tolerates dry shade remarkably well once established — a rare trait among shade plants. The foliage turns golden yellow in fall before going dormant.

• Best for: Shade, dry shade, woodland gardens
• Care: Part to full shade. Tolerates dry soil once established. Rarely needs watering. Cut back dead stems in late fall or early spring.
• Perfect for: Woodland gardens, under trees, shaded borders where moisture is scarce.

Why Drought-Tolerant Plants Matter in Minnesota

Minnesota isn’t a desert, but we do experience dry spells — especially in midsummer when temperatures spike and rain becomes unpredictable. Choosing drought-tolerant plants means:

• Lower water bills: Less time watering means lower utility costs and more time enjoying your yard.
• Less maintenance: Drought-tolerant plants are inherently low-maintenance. They don’t need constant attention to look good.
• Climate resilience: As weather patterns become more extreme, having a landscape that can handle dry spells without suffering is increasingly important.
• Water conservation: Every gallon you don’t spray on your lawn is a gallon that stays in our lakes, rivers, and aquifers.
• Better for the environment: Many drought-tolerant plants (like baptisia, switchgrass, and Pennsylvania sedge) are native species that support local pollinators and wildlife.

How to Help Drought-Tolerant Plants Thrive

Even tough plants need a little help getting started. Here’s how to set them up for success:

1. Water during the first growing season: “Drought-tolerant” means they can handle dry conditions once established. During the first year, water regularly to help roots develop. After that, most of these plants can fend for themselves.
2. Plant in well-draining soil: Most drought-tolerant plants hate wet feet. If your soil is heavy clay, amend with compost or plant in raised beds.
3. Mulch around plants: 2–3 inch layer of mulch helps retain moisture, suppresses weeds, and regulates soil temperature.
4. Don’t overfertilize: Drought-tolerant plants are adapted to poor soils. Overfeeding them can cause weak, floppy growth.

Start Small, Grow Smart

You don’t need to rip out your entire garden and start over. Begin by replacing high-maintenance areas with drought-tolerant plants:

• Replace a section of lawn with Pennsylvania sedge or switchgrass
• Fill a sunny slope with sedum, ice plant, or juniper
• Plant baptisia and Russian sage in a perennial bed
• Add barrenwort or Solomon’s seal to dry shade under trees

Every drought-tolerant plant you add is a step toward a lower-maintenance, more resilient landscape.