Summer has hit Utah, even though it hasn’t technically arrived. With temps hovering in the 90s and 100s in the summer months, you want beautiful looking plants that can withstand drought conditions and yet be water-wise. That may seem like a tall order, but there are many such plants, so keep scrolling to learn more.
Water-Wise Shrubs
Here is Utah State University’s Utah House Water-Wise plant list that includes water use requirements, sun exposure, and what pollinators (if any) they attract and if they’re a Utah native plant.
- Artemisia frigida: Fringed Sagebrush (full sun and uses very low water, and is a Utah native plant)
- Artemisia tridentata: Big Sagebrush (full sun, very low water usage, native Utah plant, larger than fringed.)
- Cercoarpus ledifolius: Curl-lead Mountain Mahogany (full sun, very low water usage, Utah native plant)
- Achillea milleofolium “Moonshine”: Moonshine Yarrow (full sun, very low water – perennial)
- Berlandiera lyrata: Chocolate flower (full sun, very low to low water usage – perennial)
- Linum Levisii: Blue Flax (full sun, very low to low water usage, attracts pollinators, and is Utah native plant – perennial)
- Cotinus coggygria: Smoketree (full sun and low water usage)
- Juniperis Squamata: ‘Blue Star’: Blue Star Juniper (part-sun, and low to very low water usage)
Groundcovers
- Arctostaphylos uva-ursi: Bearberry or Kinnikinnick (sun to part-sun, low to very low water usage, and Utah native plant)
- Ceratostigma plumbaginoides: Hardy Plumbago (Full to part-sun, or shade, low to very low water usage)
- Mabonia repens: Creeping Oregon Grape (sun, part-sun, shade, low to very low water usage, and Utah native plant)
- Sedum Kamtschatium: Russian Stonecrop (sun to part-sun and low to very low water usage – Dragon’s Blood and Tricolor or variegated stonecrop has the same requirements)
- Thymus Praecox ‘Coccineus’: Red Creeping Thyme (full sun, low to very low water usage, and attracts pollinators)
Ornamental Grasses
- Calamagrostis x aculiflora ‘Avalanche’: Feather Reed Grass (sun to part sun and low to very low water usage)
- Festuca glauca ‘Sea Urchin’: Sea Urchin Blue Fescue (sun to part sun and low to very low water usage)
- Miscanthus sinesis ‘Yaku Jima’: Yaku Jima Maidenhair Grass (sun to part sun and low to very low water usage)
- Pennisetum alopecuroides: Fountain Grass (full sun, low to very low water, and Utah native plant)
Perennials
- Agastache x ‘Desert Sunrise’: Hybrid Hummingbird Mint (full sun, low to very low water, and attracts hummingbirds)
- Callirboe involucrata: Poppy Mallow (Full sun and low water)
- Delosperma cooperi: Hardy Pink Ice Plant (Full sun and low water)
- Gaillardia aristata ‘Goblin’: Goblin Blanket Flower (full sun, low water, attracts butterflies)
- Iris pallida ‘Albo Variegata’: Variegated Sweet Iris (full sun and low water)
- Penstemon eatonii: Firecracker Penstemon (full sun, low water, attracts hummingbirds, and is a Utah native plant)
- Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’: Black-Eyed Susan (sun, low water, and attracts butterflies)
- Salvia argentea: Elephant Ear Silver Sage (full sun and low water usage)
There are many more plants that do well in drought conditions, but this gives you an idea of what you can plant that will look beautiful and yet do well with low water requirements and drought conditions.
Protect Your Plants
Now that you know what water-wise plants you can grow in Utah contact Summit Lawn and Pest Control to protect your plants from harmful bugs. Our experts use safe and effective pest control and serve all of Utah County. Call us today to schedule an appointment.
