Heat and Drought Tolerant Plants

Sandy Feather, extension educator in Allegheny county, has prepared this list of trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials that don’t just survive but will thrive in our long, hot summers.

UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

Heat and Drought Tolerant Plants

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp.)

Trees

  • White Fir (Abies concolor)
  • Hedge Maple (Acer campestre)
  • Italian Alder (Alnus cordata)
  • Devil’s Walking Stick (Aralia spinosa)
  • Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
  • Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea)
  • Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus)
  • Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)
  • Goldenraintree (Koelreuteria paniculata)
  • American Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
  • Amur Corktree (Phellodendron amurense)
  • Bristlecone Pine (Pinus aristata)
  • Lacebark Pine (Pinus bungeana)
  • Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
  • Chinese Scholar-tree (Sophora japonica)
  • Japanese Tree Lilac (Syringa reticulata)
  • Japanese Zelkova (Zelkova serrata)

Shrubs

  • Glossy Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora)
  • Five-leaf Aralia (Acanthopanax sieboldianus)
  • New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)
  • Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles spp.)
  • Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa)
  • Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster spp.)
  • Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria)
  • Deutzia (Deitzia spp.)
  • Forsythia (Forsythia spp.)
  • Seven-Son Flower (Heptacodium miconioides)
  • St. Johnswort (Hypericum spp.)
  • Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata)
  • Juniper (Juniperus spp.)
  • Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica)
  • Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius)
  • Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
  • Mugo Pine (Pinus mugo)
  • Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica)
  • Saltspray Rose (Rosa rugosa)
  • Spirea (Spiraea spp.)
  • Coralberry/Snowberry (Symphoricarpos spp.)
  • Lilac (Syringa spp.)
  • Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)
  • Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium)
  • Chastetree (Vitex agnus-castus)
  • Weigela (Weigela spp.)
  • Adam’s Needle (Yucca filamentosa)

Annuals

  • Amaranthus (Amaranthus spp. & cvs.)
  • Bidens (Bidens ferulifolia)
  • Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
  • Annual Vinca (Catharanthus roseus)
  • Bachelor Buttons (Centaurea cyanus)
  • Spider Flower (Cleome hasslerana)
  • Larkspur (Consolida ambigua)
  • Cosmos (Cosmos spp.)
  • Strawflower (Bracteantha bracteata)
  • Euphorbia (Euphorbia spp.)
  • Treasure Flower (Gazania rigens)
  • Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena globosa)
  • Lantana (Lantana camara)
  • Annual Statice (Limonium sinuatum)
  • Bush Zinnia (Melampodium paludosum)
  • Four o’clock (Mirabilis jalapa)
  • Dwarf Cupflower (Nierembergia hippomanica)
  • Annual Ornamental Grasses
  • Moss Rose (Portulaca grandiflora)
  • Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
  • Mealy-cup Sage (Salvia farinacea)
  • Fan Flower (Scaevola aemula)
  • Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria)
  • Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia)
  • Dahlberg Daisy (Thymophylla tenuiloba)
  • Verbena (Verbena spp.)
  • Spreading Zinnia (Zinnia angustifolia)
  • Garden Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)

Perennials and Groundcovers

  • Yarrow (Achillea spp.)
  • Arkansas Bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii)
  • Golden Marguerite (Anthemis tinctoria)
  • Sea Thrift (Armeria maritima)
  • Artemesia (Artemesia spp.)
  • Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
  • Basket-of-Gold (Aurinia saxatilis)
  • False Indigo (Baptisia australis)
  • Snow-in-Summer (Cerastium tomentosum)
  • Plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides)
  • Tickseed (Coreopsis verticillata)
  • Cheddar Pink (Dianthus gratianopolitanus)
  • Globe Thistle (Echinops ritro)
  • Sea Holly (Eryngium spp.)
  • Spurge (Euphorbia spp.)
  • Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.)
  • Red-hot Poker (Kniphofia uvaria)
  • Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
  • Gayfeather (Liatris spicata)
  • Sea Lavender (Limonium latifolium)
  • Rose Campion (Lychnis coronaria) Biennial
  • Ornamental Grasses – most species
  • Bearded Tongue (Penstemon spp.)
  • Moss Phlox (Phlox subulata)
  • Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana)
  • Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp.)
  • Sage (Salvia officinalis)
  • Perennial Salvia (Salvia x superba)
  • Lavender Cotton (Santolina spp.)
  • Sedum, Live-forever (Sedum spp.)
  • Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina)
  • Germander (Teucrium chamaedrys)
  • Thyme (Thymus spp.)

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