North Carolina’s moderate climate is compatible with many varieties of plant life. While the summers can be sweltering and humid, the winters are wet and mild. While the state receives a significant amount of rainfall each year, it still experiences occasional periods of drought. Selecting plants for your backyard garden that can withstand dry spells may seem like a daunting task. However, there are numerous species that not only thrive in North Carolina’s climate but also tolerate drought. Drought-tolerant plants have various adaptations that enable them to survive during times when water is scarce. These adaptations may include a deep tap root, smaller leaves, or the ability to store more water in their leaves.
All plants in the list below are native to North Carolina. While there are plenty of gorgeous, non-native species for your garden, there are several benefits to using native plants. For one, because they have adapted to grow in the region, they sometimes require less maintenance than exotic plants once they become established, possibly allowing you to save on water and fertilizer. Secondly, North Carolina’s native flora comes in all sizes, colors, and smells. There is a trove of diversity in the local plant life to give your garden the rich natural beauty that gardeners crave.
Flowers
1) Fire pink (Silene virginica)
Fire pinks are easygoing perennials that can be found growing in woods, meadows, and even dry, rocky areas. They grow in full sun or partial shade but flower best in full sun, blooming in the spring and summer. The flowers are only about an inch in diameter, but what they lack in size, they make up for with brilliant color. The fire pink’s vibrant red blossoms contrast beautifully against green foliage. They can achieve heights of up to 24 inches, enabling them to stand out among low-growing plants. If you choose to plant fire pinks in your garden, you won’t be the only one enjoying them. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are primary pollinators for the flower, and you may see some visiting your garden.
2) Maryland golden-aster (Chrysopsis mariana)
The Maryland golden-aster is a perennial with beautiful golden blooms that likes full sun to partial shade. While the flowers are short-lived, the plant will reseed, increasing its longevity in your garden. While the Maryland golden-aster grows best in moist soil, it can tolerate drought once it becomes established. One benefit of this plant is that it blooms in the late summer and fall, providing your garden with a gorgeous pop of color after your other blossoms have come and gone. It is also a great candidate for a pollinator garden, as it attracts both butterflies and bees.
3) Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Another perennial, butterfly milkweed grows best in full sun and is found naturally growing in dry, open areas. Like many other drought-tolerant plants, this species has a deep taproot and does not transplant easily. It grows best in dry, well-draining soil. This plant is a great choice for those who want to help in the plight of the monarch butterfly. Monarchs were declared endangered in 2022 after their population decreased by 84% between 1996 and 2014 due to habitat destruction and loss of milkweed plants. These iconic butterflies require milkweed to reproduce. While adults feed on the nectar found in the stunning orange inflorescences of butterfly milkweed, caterpillars consume the foliage.
Landowners are encouraged to plant milkweed to help the monarch population recover. When growing butterfly milkweed from seed, it is best to plant the seeds in the fall, because the plant requires a three-month cold stratification.
4) Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
The purple coneflower’s long-lasting, lavender-pink flowers are a great addition to any garden. They can attain a height of anywhere from 2 to 4 feet, making them a great candidate for a background flower. They bloom from spring to fall, and they have a unique domed, spiny center that can be broken open at the end of the season to obtain seeds.
These plants grow in full or partial sun and are found growing in fields and open woods. Purple coneflowers bloom the best in soil that is light in nutrients. While well-fertilized soil will result in gorgeous, lush foliage, it may result in less flowering. The toleration of poor soil and drought makes this species relatively easy to care for, but it may become aggressive if given the proper conditions.
5) Eastern prickly pear (Opuntia humifusa)
The eastern prickly pear, a member of the cactus family, has gorgeous yellow blooms with orange centers, blossoming in the early summer. It grows best in dry areas and prefers sandy, well-draining soil. Too much water, especially in the winter, can cause the roots to rot. Rainwater will probably be enough to sustain this plant, but in instances of prolonged drought, it should receive supplemental water every 2 – 4 weeks. Because it stores water in its stem, it does not need to be watered often.
This species requires full sun and typically doesn’t grow taller than 12 inches. It is important to note the eastern prickly pear is covered in small, barbed hairs that can cause pain and irritation when embedded in the skin, so if you have small children or pets that like to explore your garden, you may want to consider another species.
Grasses
1) Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
Big bluestem certainly lives up to its name, reaching a whopping 6 – 8 feet in height. This native grass species will add interest to your garden at almost any time of year, displaying a bright shade of green in the spring, a pale blue-green in the summer, and a deep copper red in the fall. In late summer and fall, it produces small yellow spikelet flowers.
Big bluestem is versatile; it can be planted in a bunch to add a point of interest to your garden, or it can serve as a property border. It is often used in native restoration projects and provides a habitat for ground-nesting birds like quail. This grass grows best in full sun and in well-draining soil that isn’t too rich in nutrients. While it takes a little while to settle in, it is drought-tolerant once established.
2) Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Like its larger cousin, little bluestem grows best in full sun and in well-draining soil that is poor in nutrients. Too much water or nutrients may cause it to droop. Unlike big bluestem, this species establishes quickly and readily reseeds, potentially taking over your garden if not maintained.
It takes on a blueish hue in the spring and turns reddish-gold in the fall, traces of the color persisting through the winter. It produces purplish-bronze seed heads that sprout white fuzz to help them disperse at maturity, and these seeds are enjoyed by native birds. Insects also benefit from little bluestem, as it is a host for the caterpillars of many species of butterflies and moths.
3) Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
Switchgrass, one of the most dominant species of tall prairie grasses, grows best in full sun but will tolerate partial shade. It is very tolerant of drought once it is established but grows best in moist soil. It can reach heights of anywhere from 3 to 10 feet. It looks best when planted in large clumps, its bright green spring-and-summer foliage turning yellow in the fall. This species produces delicate, lacy sprays during late summer and fall, its flowers sporting purple stigmas.
Switchgrass can be quite prolific when given ideal conditions, so extra maintenance may be required if planting it in small garden spaces. Switchgrass is a larval host for skipper butterflies, so it is good for pollinators. However, it also hosts spotted-wing drosophila and the Japanese beetle, which can harm food crops, so consider neighboring plants or farms in your decision to plant switchgrass in your garden.
4) Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans)
Indiangrass is another drought-tolerant grass that blooms later in the season. In the late summer and fall, it produces gold-and-purple sprays containing minuscule yellow flowers. Its blue-green foliage turns a warm, orangish-yellow in the fall, and traces of color persist into winter. It can grow in full sun or part shade but does best in full sun.
It grows 3 to 5 feet tall, and songbirds enjoy feasting on the seeds. Other pollinators also benefit from Indiangrass; it provides structural elements for the nests of native bees and is a food source for skipper butterflies. It is important to note that Indiangrass has a high flammability rating and should not be planted too close to your home.
5) Pink muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)
Pink muhly grass gets its name from the panicles of tiny pink flowers emerging from the tops of the stems. When planted in large bunches, the numerous blossoms create a pale pink haze that contrasts beautifully with the grass’ dark green foliage. Like many other grasses, pink muhly grass blooms in the fall, adding a gorgeous and unique element to your garden’s autumn colors.
In its natural environment, this species is found growing in woodlands, grasslands, and mountainous regions. It grows best in full sun and can reach a height of 4 feet. Pink muhly grass is a stunning, drought-tolerant addition to any landscape and, as an added bonus, suffers from no major pests or diseases.
Shrubs
1) New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus)
New Jersey tea is a drought-tolerant shrub that only grows to a height of about 3 feet. It grows well in full sun or partial shade and is found in open woodlands and meadows. In March and April, it produces small, sweet-smelling white flowers on the tips of its branches in two-inch clusters, the small ovular inflorescences emerging from the axils of the shrub’s luscious and glossy leaves. These blossoms are a favorite of native insects, and pollination ecologists have recognized them as having special value to bees.
While this shrub may be a point of attraction in your garden during its blooming season, unfortunately, the New Jersey tea’s autumn foliage is lackluster. Its small brown seeds are enjoyed by native birds including turkeys and quail. This shrub is often chosen for creating borders or for planting in bunches as a tall groundcover.
2) Sweet fern (Comptonia peregrina)
Despite its name, the sweet fern is not a fern at all, though its notched leaves resemble that of a fern. This shrub typically grows 2 to 4 feet tall in dry habitats as well as at the edges of marshes. It grows well in sandy soil and full or partial sun. Once it is established, it is highly drought-tolerant.
While this shrub spreads with ease, it is not easily transplanted due to its deep taproot. Its deep green leaves are not only aesthetically pleasing but also pleasant-smelling. Sweet fern is named after the sweet fragrance emitted from its foliage. Because of its scent, it acts as a natural mosquito repellent.
3) Shrubby St. John’s wort (Hypericum prolificum)
Shrubby St. John’s wort is a small, adaptable shrub that reaches a height of about 3 feet. It is found growing in fields, rocky areas, open woodlands, along stream banks, roadsides, and the outer edges of swamps. It can tolerate a wide variety of soils, from moist to dry and rocky.
It can grow in full sun or partial shade, but full sun promotes stronger blooming. The blooming season of shrubby St. John’s wort lasts from June through September. Its blossoms are five-petaled yellow flowers that stand out against the shrub’s reddish-purple bark and deep green foliage, which turns yellow-green in the fall. Its flowers attract butterflies, bees, and songbirds.
4) Coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus)
Coralberry is a medium-sized shrub, growing to a maximum of 5 feet tall and 8 feet wide. In the spring and summer, it produces small pink flowers that give way to clusters of vivid, pinkish-purple berries in the fall. These colorful fruits are a defining characteristic of the species, and the berries persist through the winter. Coralberry grows best in full sun or partial shade, but it will tolerate full shade, making it an excellent candidate for a woodland garden. It spreads via runners, which can be easily clipped to prevent unwanted spread.
5) Smooth sumac (Rhus glabra)
Smooth sumac is a large shrub that reaches a height of 15 – 20 feet. Like coralberry, smooth sumac produces inconspicuous flowers and vibrant fruits. The shrub’s small flowers are yellow-green in color. The berries, on the other hand, are a deep red and covered in small hairs. The berries are enjoyed by deer, small animals, and birds. Humans can also consume the berries, which can be eaten raw or made into lemonade. The fruits persist into the winter, adding a splash of scarlet to an otherwise bleak landscape.
Smooth sumac is a great choice if you want to add some colorful autumn foliage to your garden. In the fall, it turns brilliant red or orange. The fall colors will achieve the highest intensity if the shrub is planted in full sun, but it can also tolerate partial shade.
Trees
1) Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)
The eastern redbud, which can be 20 – 30 feet tall and grows in full sun or partial shade, is a popular choice for many gardens and landscape projects due to its interesting and varied coloration throughout the growing season. The tree blooms in March and April, producing tiny pink blossoms along its branches. When the heart-shaped leaves emerge, they are deep purple. In summer, the redbud’s foliage turns a rich, luscious green, followed by golden yellow in the fall.
Its blooms attract butterflies and other insects, and its seeds are consumed by songbirds like chickadees. George Washington also enjoyed the eastern redbud, often describing its beauty in his diary and spending much of his leisure time transplanting redbud seedlings from the forest to his personal garden.
2) Washington hawthorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum)
The Washington hawthorn gets its name from the up-to-3-inch thorns adorning its branches. This tree is highly tolerant of pruning, and, to avoid injury, it is recommended to remove the lowest branches if you are around the tree frequently. Because it tolerates heavy pruning, it can also be grown as a shrub.
The Washington hawthorn produces white, foul-smelling blossoms in the spring and summer, and it blooms the strongest in full sun – though it will tolerate partial shade. Its dark-green summer foliage turns reddish-purple in the fall, and it also bears bright red berries that remain on the tree through winter, adding year-round interest to your garden.
3) Red cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
The red cedar is a large evergreen that grows up to 40 feet tall and 20 feet wide. Like other evergreen trees, it provides shelter for wildlife during the winter months, protecting birds and other animals from the cold wind. When planted in a group, red cedars can serve as a windbreak for your garden, shielding your backyard from fridged winter gusts.
This species is highly tolerant of a wide variety of soils, temperatures, and slopes. It also possesses the greatest drought resistance of any native conifer in the eastern US. These trees possess blueish-green needles and reddish-brown bark, and they produce small blue flowers in late winter or early spring. Little blue berries are found on female trees in the autumn.
4) Red maple (Acer rubrum)
Red maples are a highly adaptable species known for their breathtaking fall foliage. While full sun is ideal, this tree can tolerate shade. It can adapt to a wet or dry climate; in moist environments, the tree grows a shorter taproot and a more-extensive root system near the surface, and in dry environments, it grows a deeper taproot and fewer roots near the surface.
As mentioned previously, the red maple is prized for its autumn colors. They turn vibrant red, orange, or yellow. Like other species of maple, they produce winged seeds – samaras – that are more commonly known as “helicopters” or “whirlers.” Red maple samaras are red, as are the small blossoms that appear on the trees in the spring.
5) Black cherry (Prunus serotina)
Black cherry trees are named after their fruits. White flowers emerging in the spring give way to dark red fruits in the summer, which turn black when they ripen in the fall. While the fruits are edible, the rest of the plant – including the seeds – is highly toxic.
A commercially important species, the black cherry tree has various uses. Its fruit is used in jelly and wine, its wood is excellent for furniture, and its inner bark can be used to make wild cherry syrup, used in some cough medicines. The tree also has ecological value: bees feast on its blossoms, and it serves as a larval host for numerous species of butterflies and moths, including eastern tiger swallowtails.
