Prairie Blazing Star
Liatris pycnostachya
Drought-tough once established — happiest in poor, gritty rocky soil where richer plants rot, reaching 3–5 ft tall and it flowers in Jul and Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Ohio · Zones 5–7
Drought-Tolerant Native Plants in Ohio
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 Ohio and the wider flora of the Midwest and hardy through zones 5–7 — proven performers for Ohio's humid continental climate across Eastern Corn Belt & Allegheny Plateau, not a generic list. Local standouts include Prairie Blazing Star and Common Yarrow. 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
34 native species for Ohio
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 5–7 · see this collection in other states.
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Drought-tough once established — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants — 1.5–3 ft tall, and blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants, reaching 1.5–2.5 ft tall and it blooms Sep through Nov.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Nov
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells — 6–16 in tall, and flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 6–16 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Pasque Flower
Pulsatilla patens
Drought-tough once established — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle — 6–12 in tall, and flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Drought-tough once established — rooting into sharp-drained rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells; it stands 2–4 ft tall and flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Drought-tough once established — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells; it stands 1.5–2 ft tall and blooms May through Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot, reaching 2–4 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Maximilian Sunflower
Helianthus maximiliani
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand soil that defeats thirstier plants — 5–8 ft tall, and blooms Aug through Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 5–8 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Drought-tough once established — rooting into sharp-drained 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
Short-Toothed Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — holding up in dry clay where other perennials wilt; it stands 2–3 ft tall and blooms Jul through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — 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
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — right at home in dry sand ground where most perennials struggle — 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 — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot, reaching 2–4 ft tall and it flowers in Sep and Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — right at home in dry rocky ground where most perennials struggle, reaching 2–4 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Compass Plant
Silphium laciniatum
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — standing firm in the dry clay that defeats softer plants, reaching 5–9 ft tall and it flowers in Jul and Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 5–9 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Rattlesnake Master
Eryngium yuccifolium
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand soil that defeats thirstier plants — 3–5 ft tall, and blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Stiff Goldenrod
Solidago rigida
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — right at home in dry rocky ground where most perennials struggle; 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
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot — 2–6 ft tall, and flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — 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
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
Drought-tough once established — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle, reaching 2–3.5 ft tall and it blooms May through Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Purple Prairie Clover
Dalea purpurea
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot — 1–3 ft tall, and flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — right at home in dry sand ground where most perennials struggle — 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
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle — 4–8 in tall, and flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
10 more also qualify: Wild Lupine, Bearberry, Sideoats Grama, Virginia Creeper, Indian Grass, Switchgrass, Prairie Dropseed, Little Bluestem, Big Bluestem, Pennsylvania Sedge.
Sourcing
Where to find these in Ohio
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.