For people who have retired or otherwise don’t have too busy of a schedule, gardening can be a fantastic way to relax, no matter how long it takes to water the garden. However, this isn’t fair to regular folk who have to work all day, who will no doubt not have enough time to water their plants, even if they want to. Well, if that sounds like you, we have good news–the following yard plants require very little watering, so even if you work 100 hours a week, you’ll still have time to keep these resilient plants looking fresh.
Yarrow
When the busyness of life catches up on gardeners, they often choose yarrow, a vibrant plant with feathery leaves and clusters of tiny flowers that bloom in various colors. This plant is seriously tough, tolerating minimal water once established and very little care, even thriving under such circumstances. Therefore, it’s ideal for someone who simply does not have time to water every plant in their yard.
Sedum
Succulents are solid choices when it comes to plants that don’t need much water, especially the sedum. You can find this plant in various shapes and colors, all of which require very little watering. Once established, they hold onto moisture within their thick leaves as if they were specifically designed for drought-prone areas. So, if you live in a dry place, there’s really no excuse not to grow a sedum.
Lavender
Due to its beautiful appearance and fragrant smell, it’s easy to assume that lavender needs a lot of water, but it doesn’t. It’s actually very resilient, doing well with limited water once established. As a bonus, lavender attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies, helping to keep your garden lively and healthy, saving you time on taking care of your other plants, so it’s a win-win.
Russian Sage
Russian sage delivers eye-catching silver foliage and long-lasting purple flowers that don’t mind dry spells at all. Thriving in well-drained soil and full sunlight, it’s a standout for its low water needs. Better still, this hardy perennial not only tolerates drought but also resists pests, making it a durable choice for low-maintenance yards that your other plants will no doubt love sharing a space with.
Agave
Another yard plant that requires very little watering is the agave, a hardy plant with bold, architectural leaves that bring a unique look to the garden. In particular, it’s famous for handling desert-like conditions exceptionally well due to it storing water in its thick leaves, much like the sedum. Ultimately, this allows it to go for long periods without watering, making it a perfect choice if you’re aiming for a striking, low-water landscape.
Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea offers vibrant flowers in stunning shades of pink, purple, and red. This wonderful plant loves plenty of sun and can climb up walls or trellises, adding height and color to your garden without demanding much attention. Trust us–it won’t even get upset if you don’t water it frequently, especially once its roots are established.
Coneflower
If you’ve started a low-maintenance garden to accommodate your busy life but you don’t have any coneflowers yet, it’s time to change that. Otherwise known as echinacea, this flower is both resilient and beautiful, producing daisy-like blooms in various shades. Once it takes root, it’s highly drought-tolerant, making it ideal for water-wise gardening. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it also does well in full sun, and when you consider that it also attracts pollinators, you really can’t go wrong with it.
Rosemary
You most likely buy rosemary from the store for cooking, but why not start growing it? There are no excuses for this plant because it doesn’t require much watering, will be fine in the sun, and even attracts bees. Water it until it establishes itself properly, but then, you can pretty much leave it to do its thing for long periods at a time.
California Poppy
Considering how dry California is, it shouldn’t surprise you that the California poppy is impressively drought-tolerant. Simply plant it in any soil type, and it will add a charming pop of orange to your yard with almost no watering, provided it gets plenty of sun. They even reseed themselves, so they’ll be back year after year–who wouldn’t want that?
Jade Plant
Another succulent on this list is the jade plant, which really doesn’t need much watering at all. As with several plants on this list, especially succulents, it holds water in its thick, fleshy leaves, allowing it to go weeks without additional moisture. Ultimately, this rich green foliage and easy care make them popular choices for gardens, with no gardener being “too busy” to grow it.
Salvia
If you’re looking for a particularly hardy perennial that will keep coming back, even without much watering, you can’t go wrong with the salvia plant. Its beautiful spiked flowers come in shades of blue, purple, or pink and will still flourish in dry conditions. Therefore, it’s a great choice if you want color without constant watering, and your garden won’t be complete without it.
Lamb’s Ear
Cherished for its soft, velvety foliage that adds a unique texture to gardens, lamb’s ear does very well in sunny spots with little water, like almost every plant on this list. In fact, it can even thrive in rocky, poor soil, making it particularly impressive. We’ve got no doubt that you’ll love seeing its silvery and soft leaves in your garden, especially considering that they won’t give you much grief.
Blue Fescue
Blue fescue is an ornamental grass that’s incredibly drought-tolerant. Its striking blue-gray color stands out in any landscape, and believe it or not, it doesn’t require much water once established. This plant does well in sunny locations with well-draining soil and is a fantastic choice for low-maintenance borders or accents in rock gardens, so regardless of where you live, we’re sure that blue fescue should be able to handle it.
Portulaca
Regardless of whether you’re too busy, live in a dry area, or simply want to be eco-friendly about your watering, Portulaca or moss rose makes for a great choice. As a hardy succulent, it keeps its colorful, delicate flowers even when dehydrated, which will open during the day and close at night, bringing a lot of dynamism to your yard. Better still, it’s low-growing and has a spreading habit, so while it might not be ideal in some spots, it definitely suits borders.
Red Yucca
Yet another yard plant that you won’t have to water much is the red yucca. Interestingly, this desert plant has long, arching leaves and vibrant red flowers that attract hummingbirds, so your garden will never feel more lively. Most importantly, it’s extremely drought-resistant and does well in hot, dry climates, so don’t overlook it for your garden next year.
Aloe Vera
You shouldn’t be too surprised to see aloe vera on this list, a succulent just like the sedum and jade plant. Aloe vera isn’t just known for its medicinal uses (which are fantastic) but also for being a hardy, low-water plant. Its thick, fleshy leaves store moisture, allowing it to thrive with minimal watering. So, don’t be tempted to continuously water this amazing plant because, if anything, you’ll stunt its growth by doing so.
Autumn Sage
Last but not least is the autumn sage, a shrub that produces vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers and tolerates dry conditions well. It simply had to make this list, as it loves full sun and requires little watering once established. Overall, it’s truly one of the best options for a low-maintenance garden, so if you haven’t got one already, it might be time to change that. Good luck!