Drought Tolerant Flowering Shrubs

Barberry fruit emerges in fall.barberry image by AGphotographer from Fotolia.com

Drought tolerant shrubs are ideal for areas where rainfall is limited or when you want an unfussy, low maintenance garden. Choose those that flower and you have shrubs that help create a colorful garden display. Grown in a wide range of colors, shapes and sizes, drought tolerant flowering shrubs often have the ability to tolerate a wide range of soil varieties and typically grow best in full sun.

Glossy Abelia

Glossy abelia (Abelia x grandiflora) is a drought tolerant, semi-evergreen shrub that has a moderate growth rate and spreading habit that is dense and rounded, according to the North Carolina State University. It grows 3 to 6 feet tall and wide and produces white, funnel-shaped flowers that bloom along the arching branches. These blooms emerge in early summer when temperatures are often high, and the ability to withstand drought is ideal. As they grow, the slightly fragrant blooms develop a purple and pink tinge to create a striking display. Abelia bears glossy, dark green leaves that cast a bronze-green to red tinge in winter. The shrub tolerates clay, dry and damp soils; grows best in full sun to part shade and well-drained soil; and responds well to severe pruning. Grow glossy abelia in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 to 9.

Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Longwood Blue' is a drought tolerant deciduous shrub with a low, mounding habit and moderate growth rate, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden. It grows 3 to 6 feet tall and wide and has a spreading growth habit. It produces flowers that resemble clouds of blue smoke, hence it's common name, blue mist. The fragrant, violet to blue flowers appear in clusters or cymes from late summer into fall. Blue mist is not only drought tolerant, but also heat tolerant, ideal when the late summer temperatures creep up and moisture is limited. The silver and gray, ovate to lance-shaped foliage on blue mist is aromatic and grows up to 1 ½ inches long. It grows best in full sun and well-drained, loamy soil in zones 6 to 9. It is not tolerant of wet or poorly-drained soil.

Wintergreen barberry (Berberis julianae) is a slow-growing evergreen shrub that has a rounded, dense form that becomes more open with age. It grows 4 to 6 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide. It produces small, yellow flowers that are abundant in April and May. Following the wintergreen barberry flowers are the blue and black fruit that persists into fall. The dark green, 2- to 3-inch-long foliage on wintergreen barberry is serrated, and in fall, turns a stunning wine to red color. Wintergreen barberry is the hardiest evergreen barberry, according to North Carolina State University Extension. It is drought tolerant and grows best in full sun to part shade. Wintergreen barberry tolerates a wide range of soil types. Grow wintergreen barberry in zones 6 to 8.