Trees That Can Grow in Dry Conditions
Below you will find a list of shade and flowering trees from our plant database that can grow in dry climates. If you click on any of the photos, you will see a Virtual Plant Tag that may contain plant descriptions, usage suggestions and a link to where you can buy that plant. The concept of a tree can be difficult to define since different people might consider the same plant a broadleaf evergreen, needled evergreen, conifer, bush or shrub.
Certain varieties of drought tolerant trees can handle withstand heat and dry conditions or lower soil moisture levels for months on end and can flourish in areas where there is little or no precipitation for much of the year. While these trees have drought tolerance, many also grow equally well in moderate and even moist conditions.
With increased awareness of the value that native trees add to the natural landscape, these suggestions will help you make good choices about which plants are best suited for your home garden: American Elder or Sambucus canadensis is tolerant of dry soils; American Hophornbeam or Ostrya virginiana and American Linden, Basswood or Tilia americana accept either wet or dry areas; American Smoketree, Chittamwood or Cotinus obovatus prefers drier conditions; Arizona Cypress or Cupressus arizonica or lovely blue cultivars are fine with dry areas; despite often growing in standing water in swamps, the Baldcypress or Taxodium distichum is surprisingly drought tolerant too; either of the two native Basket Oaks; Quercus prinus or michauxii, handle wet or dry growing conditions well; Bigleaf or Oregon Maple (Acer macrophyllum) are for moderate or dry spots; Bigtooth Aspen or Populus grandidentata is fine for drought problems and also has wonderful fall color; Bull Bay, Evergreen or Southern Magnolia (M. grandiflora) tolerates high and low soil moisture; performing well in the Southwest for street or shade trees is Cedar Elm (Ulmus crassifolia); the popular Colorado Blue Spruce and Colorado Redcedar (Juniperus scopulorum) are drought resistant; Chinkapin Oak, also known as Yellow Chestnut (Quercus muehlenbergii) is a good shade tree that withstands drought; Black Locust and several highly ornamental cultivars is both drought and salt tolerant; Flameleaf or Shining Sumac (Rhus copallina) and Gray or Poplar Birch (Betula populifolia) are resistant to droughts; one of the best native trees because of multi-season ornamental characteristics that tolerates dryness is Lily of the Valley Tree, also known as Sorrel Tree, Sourwood and Oxydendrum arboreum; Live Oak or Quercus virginiana accepts dry conditions, natively in sand.
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