Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — happiest in poor, gritty sand soil where richer plants rot; it stands 1.5–3 ft tall and blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
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- New Hampshire
- Drought-tolerant
New Hampshire · Zones 3–6
Drought-Tolerant Native Plants in New Hampshire
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 New Hampshire and the wider flora of the Northeast and hardy through zones 3–6 — proven performers for New Hampshire's cool, humid continental climate across White Mountains & northern hardwoods, not a generic list. Local standouts include Black-Eyed Susan and Butterfly Weed. 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
24 native species for New Hampshire
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 3–6 · see this collection in other states.
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot, reaching 1.5–2.5 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — right at home in dry rocky ground where most perennials struggle; it stands 2–4 ft tall and flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Built for heat and dry spells — happiest in poor, gritty rocky soil where richer plants rot; it stands 2–4 ft tall and blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — 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
Short-Toothed Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
Built for heat and dry spells — holding up in dry clay where other perennials wilt, reaching 2–3 ft tall and it blooms Jul through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
Drought-tough once established — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot; it stands 2–4 ft tall and flowers in Sep and Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
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, reaching 1.5–3 ft tall and it 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 — 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
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants; it stands 1.5–2 ft tall and blooms May through Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Drought-tough once established — rooting into sharp-drained rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells — 30–50 ft tall, and flowers in Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells — 4–8 in tall, and flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Lupine
Lupinus perennis
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants, reaching 1–2 ft tall and it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Built for heat and dry spells — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle — 2–6 ft tall, and flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — 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.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
Built for heat and dry spells — right at home in dry rocky ground where most perennials struggle, reaching 5–10 ft tall and it flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Drought-tough once established — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand soil that defeats thirstier plants — 3–5 ft tall, and flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Creeping Phlox
Phlox subulata
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells, reaching 4–8 in tall and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants; 2–3 ft tall, hardy in zones 3–8.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Fall color
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — right at home in dry sand ground where most perennials struggle; 3–6 ft tall, hardy in zones 4–9.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 3–6 ft
- Fall color
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot — 2–4 ft tall and hardy in zones 3–9.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — right at home in dry sand ground where most perennials struggle — 4–7 ft tall and hardy in zones 4–9.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — thriving in the lean, fast-draining rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants; 6–12 in tall, hardy in zones 3–8.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — happiest in poor, gritty sand soil where richer plants rot — 4–7 ft tall and hardy in zones 3–9.
- Full sun
- Dry to wet
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Sourcing
Where to find these in New Hampshire
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.