Desert Willow
Chilopsis linearis
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle, reaching 15–25 ft tall and it blooms May through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms May–Sep
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- By state
- California
- Drought-tolerant
California · Zones 5–10
Drought-Tolerant Native Plants in California
Deep-rooted native plants that shrug off heat and dry spells and rarely need watering once they are established. For California, the right natives are shaped by Coast Ranges, Central Valley & Sierra Nevada and a Mediterranean, summer-dry climate. Every species below, from Desert Willow and Prairie Smoke to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to California and hardy through zones 5–10. 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
23 native species for California
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 5–10 · see this collection in other states.
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
Drought-tough once established — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot, reaching 6–16 in tall and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 6–16 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Desert Marigold
Baileya multiradiata
Drought-tough once established — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants; it stands 12–18 in tall and blooms Mar through Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Mar–Oct
Firecracker Penstemon
Penstemon eatonii
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants; it stands 1.5–3 ft tall and blooms Mar through May.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Rocky Mountain Penstemon
Penstemon strictus
Built for heat and dry spells — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot, reaching 1.5–2.5 ft tall and it blooms May through Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Gregg's Mistflower
Conoclinium greggii
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle, reaching 1–2 ft tall and it blooms May through Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Red-Flowering Currant
Ribes sanguineum
Drought-tough once established — rooting into sharp-drained rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells; it stands 5–9 ft tall and flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 5–9 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Autumn Sage
Salvia greggii
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants; it stands 2–3 ft tall and blooms Apr through Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Apr–Oct
California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells, reaching 8–18 in tall and it blooms Mar through Jun.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 8–18 in
- Blooms Mar–Jun
Flame Acanthus
Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot — 2–4 ft tall, and blooms Jun through Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Oct
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — 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
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot, reaching 1–2.5 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
California Lilac
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants — 6–20 ft tall, and blooms Mar through May.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 6–20 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
Drought-tough once established — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells — 3–6 ft tall, and blooms Apr through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Chocolate Flower
Berlandiera lyrata
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot — 1–2 ft tall, and blooms May through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Sep
Oregon Grape
Berberis aquifolium
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — thriving in the lean, fast-draining rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants — 3–6 ft tall, and flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Blue Grama
Bouteloua gracilis
Built for heat and dry spells — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot; it stands 8–20 in tall and blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 8–20 in
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
Built for heat and dry spells — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants, 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
Hairy Manzanita
Arctostaphylos columbiana
Drought-tough once established — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants — 3–9 ft tall, and blooms Mar through May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 3–9 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Built for heat and dry spells — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot; it stands 4–8 in tall and flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Toyon
Heteromeles arbutifolia
Drought-tough once established — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells, reaching 8–15 ft tall and it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 8–15 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — happiest in poor, gritty sand soil where richer plants rot; it stands 2–4 ft tall and flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Built for heat and dry spells — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells; 2–4 ft tall, hardy in zones 3–9.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Sourcing
Where to find these in California
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.