Drought Tolerant Plants

Drought tolerance refers to the degree to which a plant is adapted to arid or drought conditions. The plants in dry environments are subjected to random droughts, and it is generally impossible for them to escape from such adverse conditions. The terms drought tolerant and drought resistant are often used interchangeably—and incorrectly so. While drought-tolerant landscaping and plants are able to grow or thrive with minimal water or rainfall, drought-resistant plants can survive for long periods of time without water. Because drought-tolerant plants have adapted to dryer climates and have lower water requirements, they naturally use less water. Although native plants are not necessarily drought tolerant, once established, they usually require minimal supplemental irrigation.