Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — rooting into sharp-drained rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells — 2–4 ft tall, and blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Nebraska · Zones 4–6
Drought-Tolerant Native Plants in Nebraska
Deep-rooted native plants that shrug off heat and dry spells and rarely need watering once they are established. For Nebraska, the right natives are shaped by Sandhills & mixedgrass prairie and a continental, semi-arid west climate. Every species below, from Wild Bergamot and Maximilian Sunflower to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Nebraska and the wider flora of the Great Plains and hardy through zones 4–6. 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
33 native species for Nebraska
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 4–6 · see this collection in other states.
Maximilian Sunflower
Helianthus maximiliani
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — rooting into sharp-drained sand soil and shrugging off dry spells; it stands 5–8 ft tall and blooms Aug through Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 5–8 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells; it stands 1.5–2.5 ft tall and blooms Sep through Nov.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Nov
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
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
Drought-tough once established — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants; it stands 1–2.5 ft tall and blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Chocolate Flower
Berlandiera lyrata
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — 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
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — 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
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Drought-tough once established — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells — 1.5–2.5 ft tall, and blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle; it stands 1.5–3 ft tall and blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and 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
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — right at home in dry sand ground where most perennials struggle; it stands 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
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells; it stands 2–4 ft tall and flowers in Sep and Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — thriving in the lean, fast-draining rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants; it stands 2–4 ft tall and blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Prairie Blazing Star
Liatris pycnostachya
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — thriving in the lean, fast-draining rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants; it stands 3–5 ft tall and flowers in Jul and Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — right at home in dry rocky ground where most perennials struggle — 2–4 ft tall, and flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Pasque Flower
Pulsatilla patens
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells, reaching 6–12 in tall and it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — 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
Purple Prairie Clover
Dalea purpurea
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells, reaching 1–3 ft tall and it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Rattlesnake Master
Eryngium yuccifolium
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — rooting into sharp-drained sand soil and shrugging off dry spells — 3–5 ft tall, and blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Blue Grama
Bouteloua gracilis
Built for heat and dry spells — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants; it stands 8–20 in tall and blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 8–20 in
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Compass Plant
Silphium laciniatum
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — tough enough for hard, dry clay that bakes in summer, reaching 5–9 ft tall and it flowers in Jul and Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 5–9 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — right at home in dry sand ground where most perennials struggle; it stands 2–4 ft tall and flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
Drought-tough once established — thriving in the lean, fast-draining rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants — 5–10 ft tall, and flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — right at home in dry rocky ground where most perennials struggle, reaching 30–50 ft tall and it flowers in Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
9 more also qualify: Sideoats Grama, Stiff Goldenrod, Fragrant Sumac, New Jersey Tea, Switchgrass, Little Bluestem, Prairie Dropseed, Indian Grass, Big Bluestem.
Sourcing
Where to find these in Nebraska
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.