Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — right at home in dry rocky ground where most perennials struggle, reaching 2–4 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
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- Pennsylvania
- Drought-tolerant
Pennsylvania · Zones 5–7
Drought-Tolerant Native Plants in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania and the wider flora of the Mid-Atlantic and hardy through zones 5–7 — proven performers for Pennsylvania's humid continental climate across Appalachian ridge-and-valley & Piedmont, not a generic list. Local standouts include Wild Bergamot and Short-Toothed Mountain Mint. 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
37 native species for Pennsylvania
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 5–7 · see this collection in other states.
Short-Toothed Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — standing firm in the dry clay that defeats softer plants — 2–3 ft tall, and blooms Jul through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Prairie Blazing Star
Liatris pycnostachya
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — rooting into sharp-drained rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells — 3–5 ft tall, and flowers in Jul and Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Built for heat and dry spells — happiest in poor, gritty rocky soil where richer plants rot, reaching 2–4 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
Drought-tough once established — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells; it stands 2–4 ft tall and blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Maximilian Sunflower
Helianthus maximiliani
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — right at home in dry sand ground where most perennials struggle; it stands 5–8 ft tall and blooms Aug through Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 5–8 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot, reaching 1.5–2 ft tall and it blooms May through Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Drought-tough once established — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot, reaching 1.5–2.5 ft tall and it blooms Sep through Nov.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Nov
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot, reaching 2–4 ft tall and it flowers in Sep and Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — standing firm in the dry clay that defeats softer plants; it stands 25–50 ft tall and flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 25–50 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot; it stands 1.5–2.5 ft tall and blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Pasque Flower
Pulsatilla patens
Drought-tough once established — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle; it stands 6–12 in tall and flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Drought-tough once established — happiest in poor, gritty rocky soil where richer plants rot — 2–4 ft tall, and flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells — 2–3 ft tall, and flowers in Sep and Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — right at home in dry sand ground where most perennials struggle, reaching 1.5–3 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot; it stands 6–16 in tall and flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 6–16 in
- Blooms Apr–May
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
Drought-tough once established — rooting into sharp-drained sand soil and shrugging off dry spells, reaching 4–7 ft tall and it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Built for heat and dry spells — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants; it stands 1.5–3 ft tall and blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — thriving in the lean, fast-draining rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants, reaching 5–10 ft tall and it flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Stiff Goldenrod
Solidago rigida
Drought-tough once established — happiest in poor, gritty rocky soil where richer plants rot; it stands 3–5 ft tall and blooms Aug through Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
Creeping Phlox
Phlox subulata
Drought-tough once established — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot, reaching 4–8 in tall and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
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, reaching 2–3.5 ft tall and it blooms May through Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells, reaching 1.5–2.5 ft tall and it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — rooting into sharp-drained rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells; it stands 30–50 ft tall and flowers in Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
13 more also qualify: Purple Prairie Clover, Compass Plant, Wild Lupine, Bearberry, Fragrant Sumac, Rattlesnake Master, Common Milkweed, Indian Grass, Big Bluestem, Prairie Dropseed, Switchgrass, Little Bluestem, Pennsylvania Sedge.
Sourcing
Where to find these in Pennsylvania
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.