Deep-rooted native plants that shrug off heat and dry spells and rarely need watering once they are established. Rhode Island sits in a landscape of Narragansett coastal lowland, and the natives that thrive here are the ones built for its cool, humid, maritime character. The list below — led by Lanceleaf Coreopsis and Foxglove Beardtongue — is filtered to species genuinely native to Rhode Island and the wider flora of the Northeast and hardy through zones 6–7. 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.
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 6–7 · see this collection in other states.
Coreopsis lanceolata
Built for heat and dry spells — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants, reaching 1.5–2 ft tall and it blooms May through Jul.
Penstemon digitalis
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — rooting into sharp-drained rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells, reaching 2–4 ft tall and it flowers in May and Jun.
Rudbeckia hirta
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — rooting into sharp-drained sand soil and shrugging off dry spells, reaching 1.5–3 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Sep.
Echinacea purpurea
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — thriving in the lean, fast-draining rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants, reaching 2–4 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Sep.
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.
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.
Achillea millefolium
Drought-tough once established — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants — 1.5–3 ft tall, and blooms May through Aug.
Agastache foeniculum
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot; it stands 2–4 ft tall and blooms Jun through Sep.
Pycnanthemum muticum
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — holding up in dry clay where other perennials wilt — 2–3 ft tall, and blooms Jul through Sep.
Solidago speciosa
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle, reaching 2–4 ft tall and it flowers in Sep and Oct.
Ceanothus americanus
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle; it stands 2–3.5 ft tall and blooms May through Jul.
Lupinus perennis
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells; it stands 1–2 ft tall and blooms Apr through Jun.
Rhus aromatica
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants; it stands 2–6 ft tall and flowers in Mar and Apr.
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — rooting into sharp-drained rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells, reaching 30–50 ft tall and it flowers in Jun.
Asclepias syriaca
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand soil that defeats thirstier plants — 3–5 ft tall, and flowers in Jun and Jul.
Phlox subulata
Drought-tough once established — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot — 4–8 in tall, and flowers in Apr and May.
Physocarpus opulifolius
Built for heat and dry spells — rooting into sharp-drained rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells, reaching 5–10 ft tall and it flowers in May and Jun.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot; it stands 4–8 in tall and flowers in Apr and May.
Sorghastrum nutans
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — right at home in dry sand ground where most perennials struggle; 4–7 ft tall, hardy in zones 4–9.
Schizachyrium scoparium
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot, reaching 2–4 ft tall, hardy in zones 3–9.
Andropogon gerardii
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand soil that defeats thirstier plants, reaching 4–7 ft tall, hardy in zones 3–9.
Carex pensylvanica
Built for heat and dry spells — happiest in poor, gritty rocky soil where richer plants rot; 6–12 in tall, hardy in zones 3–8.
Sporobolus heterolepis
Built for heat and dry spells — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells; 2–3 ft tall, hardy in zones 3–8.
Panicum virgatum
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — rooting into sharp-drained sand soil and shrugging off dry spells; 3–6 ft tall, hardy in zones 4–9.
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.