Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
Drought-tough once established — tough enough for hard, dry clay that bakes in summer — 25–50 ft tall, and flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 25–50 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
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- By state
- New Jersey
- Drought-tolerant
New Jersey · Zones 6–7
Drought-Tolerant Native Plants in New Jersey
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 Jersey and the wider flora of the Mid-Atlantic and hardy through zones 6–7 — proven performers for New Jersey's humid, four-season climate across Pine Barrens & Piedmont, not a generic list. Local standouts include Crossvine and American Beautyberry. 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
30 native species for New Jersey
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 6–7 · see this collection in other states.
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand soil that defeats thirstier plants — 4–7 ft tall, and flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Short-Toothed Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — holding up in dry clay where other perennials wilt — 2–3 ft tall, and blooms Jul through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — happiest in poor, gritty rocky soil where richer plants rot — 2–4 ft tall, and blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Drought-tough once established — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells; it stands 1.5–2.5 ft tall and blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Built for heat and dry spells — 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
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
Built for heat and dry spells — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants, reaching 2–4 ft tall and it flowers in Sep and Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
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
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
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Built for heat and dry spells — 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
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — happiest in poor, gritty sand soil where richer plants rot, reaching 1.5–3 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
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
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Built for heat and dry spells — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells; it stands 1.5–3 ft tall and blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Built for heat and dry spells — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle, reaching 2–3 ft tall and it flowers in Sep and Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Wild Lupine
Lupinus perennis
Drought-tough once established — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle; it stands 1–2 ft tall and blooms Apr through Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Rattlesnake Master
Eryngium yuccifolium
Built for heat and dry spells — right at home in dry sand ground where most perennials struggle, reaching 3–5 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells; it stands 4–8 in tall and flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Creeping Phlox
Phlox subulata
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants, reaching 4–8 in tall and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Built for heat and dry spells — right at home in dry rocky ground where most perennials struggle; it stands 30–50 ft tall and flowers in Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle — 2–3.5 ft tall, and blooms May through Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — thriving in the lean, fast-draining rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants, reaching 5–10 ft tall and it flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Stiff Goldenrod
Solidago rigida
Built for heat and dry spells — thriving in the lean, fast-draining rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants; it stands 3–5 ft tall and blooms Aug through Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle, reaching 2–6 ft tall and it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Drought-tough once established — happiest in poor, gritty sand soil where richer plants rot — 3–5 ft tall, and flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
6 more also qualify: Prairie Dropseed, Little Bluestem, Big Bluestem, Pennsylvania Sedge, Switchgrass, Indian Grass.
Sourcing
Where to find these in New Jersey
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.