Drought Tolerant Plants Care Guide
Plants that can withstand periods of drought
Featured Drought Tolerant
Adenium obesum
Adenium obesum is an evergreen or drought-deciduous succulent shrub with thick, swollen stems and a prominent basal caudex that protrudes from the soil. It grows 0.12-5 meters tall with leathery, spirally arranged leaves clustered at branch tips (5-15 cm long). The plant produces striking tubular flowers (2-5 cm long) with five petals in red and pink hues, often featuring a whitish blush near the throat. Notable for its bonsai potential and poisonous milky sap containing cardiac glycosides, it thrives in arid conditions and displays remarkable drought tolerance.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is a succulent plant with thick, fleshy leaves that contain a gel-like substance. It grows in a rosette pattern and is known for its medicinal and skincare properties.
Delosperma lehmannii
Delosperma lehmannii is a compact succulent plant with distinctive smooth, angular leaves arranged in a triangular cross-section. It forms dense cushion-like clumps with sprawling prostrate stems and develops both a tap root and adventitious roots. The glaucous (bluish-gray) leaves grow up to 4 cm long and 10 mm wide, spaced alternately along the stems. Its most notable feature are the 4 cm diameter flowers with translucent white to straw-colored petals that decrease in length toward the center.
Dracaena masoniana
Dracaena masoniana is a striking tropical plant known for its dramatic foliage. It features thick, paddle-shaped leaves that grow vertically from a basal rosette, often cultivated as a single large leaf reaching impressive sizes. The stiff, mottled green leaves display irregular light-green to silvery patterns and a distinctive wavy margin. This architectural plant grows slowly and maintains a bold, sculptural appearance, making it popular for modern interior design.
Dracaena pinguicula
Dracaena pinguicula is a short, erect succulent resembling a dwarf agave with blue-green leaves covered in a thick waxy cuticle. Its leaves are lunate in cross-section, 12-30 cm long, 2.8-3.5 cm thick, featuring reddish-brown margins and a central channel that develops longitudinal grooves in dry conditions. The plant's most distinctive feature is its aerial stolons that produce elevated plantlets on stilt-like roots, creating the appearance of 'walking' away from the parent plant. Mature specimens develop thick brown succulent roots that survive drought by entering dormancy while sacrificing fine absorption roots.
Dracaena reflexa
Dracaena reflexa is an evergreen tree native to Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Indian Ocean islands. It features lanceolate, dark green leaves arranged in tight spirals around thick, irregular stems, forming an open oval crown. The plant grows slowly, reaching 4–5 m in ideal outdoor conditions but remains smaller as a houseplant. Notable for its richly colored foliage and tolerance of indoor conditions, it produces small, fragrant white flowers in mid-winter, though these are not showy.
- LightBright to direct light
- WaterSparse, infrequent
- Common IssuesOverwatering, root rot
Recommended For:
Getting Started with Drought Tolerant
Drought-tolerant plants have evolved special adaptations to store water and survive with minimal moisture. These resilient species—including succulents, cacti, and many Mediterranean herbs—are perfect for forgetful waterers or travelers. Their ability to withstand dry periods makes them exceptionally low-maintenance while still providing beautiful, often architectural forms to your space.
