Short-Toothed Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
Built for heat and dry spells — standing firm in the dry clay that defeats softer plants, reaching 2–3 ft tall and it blooms Jul through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Delaware · Zone 7
Drought-Tolerant Native Plants in Delaware
Deep-rooted native plants that shrug off heat and dry spells and rarely need watering once they are established. Every species here is genuinely native to Delaware and the wider flora of the Mid-Atlantic and hardy through zone 7 — proven performers for Delaware's mild, humid climate across Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens & Piedmont, not a generic list. Local standouts include Short-Toothed Mountain Mint and Black-Eyed Susan. Drought-tough natives earn their reputation with deep roots, so the secret is patience: water them through the first season while those roots reach down, then taper off and let them fend for themselves. Plant in fall or early spring, give them sharp drainage and full sun, and resist the urge to coddle — overwatering kills more of these than any heat wave.
The plants
30 native species for Delaware
Each one native to your region and hardy in zone 7 · see this collection in other states.
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — rooting into sharp-drained sand soil and shrugging off dry spells — 1.5–3 ft tall, and blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
Drought-tough once established — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle; it stands 2–4 ft tall and flowers in Sep and Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
Built for heat and dry spells — tough enough for hard, dry clay that bakes in summer, reaching 25–50 ft tall and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 25–50 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Drought-tough once established — thriving in the lean, fast-draining rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants — 2–4 ft tall, and blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
Built for heat and dry spells — happiest in poor, gritty sand soil where richer plants rot, reaching 4–7 ft tall and it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — happiest in poor, gritty rocky soil where richer plants rot; it stands 2–5 ft tall and blooms May through Oct.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 2–5 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants; it stands 2–3 ft tall and flowers in Sep and Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Drought-tough once established — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot; it stands 1.5–3 ft tall and blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants — 1.5–2 ft tall, and blooms May through Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — thriving in the lean, fast-draining rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants; it stands 2–4 ft tall and flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants, reaching 1.5–2.5 ft tall and it blooms Sep through Nov.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Nov
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — happiest in poor, gritty rocky soil where richer plants rot — 2–4 ft tall, and blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Prairie Blazing Star
Liatris pycnostachya
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — rooting into sharp-drained rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells; it stands 3–5 ft tall and flowers in Jul and Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Built for heat and dry spells — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells, reaching 1.5–2.5 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — happiest in poor, gritty rocky soil where richer plants rot, reaching 30–50 ft tall and it flowers in Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Creeping Phlox
Phlox subulata
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells; it stands 4–8 in tall and flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Rattlesnake Master
Eryngium yuccifolium
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — right at home in dry sand ground where most perennials struggle; it stands 3–5 ft tall and blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
Drought-tough once established — rooting into sharp-drained rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells — 5–10 ft tall, and flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants; it stands 2–3.5 ft tall and blooms May through Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Stiff Goldenrod
Solidago rigida
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — happiest in poor, gritty rocky soil where richer plants rot, reaching 3–5 ft tall and it blooms Aug through Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
Wild Lupine
Lupinus perennis
Drought-tough once established — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot — 1–2 ft tall, and blooms Apr through Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells; it stands 2–6 ft tall and flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — happiest in poor, gritty sand soil where richer plants rot; it stands 3–5 ft tall and flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
6 more also qualify: Switchgrass, Big Bluestem, Indian Grass, Prairie Dropseed, Little Bluestem, Pennsylvania Sedge.
Sourcing
Where to find these in Delaware
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.