Ornamental Plants
with Above Average Tolerance to Drought

Compiled by The University of Georgia

College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Cooperative Extension Service

Trees
Common Name Botanical Name
Bald cypress Taxodium distichum
Bradford pear Pyrus calleryana
Bur oak Quercus macrocarpa
Cabbage palm Sabal palmetto
Chaste tree Vitex angus-castus
Cherry laurel Prunus caroliniana
Chestnut oak Quercus prunus
Chinese pistache Pistacia chinensis
Crape myrtle Lagerstroemeia indica
Deodarcedar Cedrus deodara
Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba
Goldenrain tree Koelreuteria paniculata
Hollies Ilex spp.
Honeylocust Gleditzia triacanthos
Japanese zelkova Zelkova serrata
Japanese pagoda tree Sophora japonica
Lacebark elm Ulmus parvifolia
Laurel oak Quercus laurifolia
Live oak Quercus virginiana
Loquat Eriobotrya japonica
Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora
Mimosa Albizia julibrissin
Needle palm Rhapidophyllum hystrix
Pin oak Quercus palustris
Pindo palm Butea capitata
Pond cypress Taxodium ascendens
Redbud Cercis canadensis
Shumard oak Quercus shumardii
Smoke tree Cotinus coggygria
Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflura
Sycamore Platanus occidentalis
Tulip poplar Liriodendron tulipifera
Washington hawthorne Crataegus phaenopyrum
Water oak Quercus nigra
White ash Fraxinus americans
White oak Quercus alba
Windmill palm Trachycarpus fortunei
Shrubs
Common Name Botanical Name
Aucuba Aucuba japonica
Barberry Berberis sp.
Beauty bush Kolkwitzia amabilis
Beautyberry Callicarpa americans
Boxwood Buxus spp.
Butterfly bush Buddlea davidli
Chaste-tree Vitex agnus-castus
Chinese photinia Photinia serrulata
Chinese holly Ilex cornuta
Cotoneaster Cotoneaster spp.
Crepe myrtle Lagerstroemia indica
Dwarf yaupon holly Ilex vomitoria 'Nana'
Elaeagnus Elaeagnus pungens
Euonymus Euonymus spp.
Firethorn (Pyracantha) Pyracantha coccinea
Flowering quince Chaenomeles speciosa
Forsythia Forsythia intermedia
Fragrant sumac Rhus aromatics
Glossy abelia Abelia grandiflora
Japanese privet Ligustrum japonicum
Japanese barberry Berberis thunbergii
Jasmine Jasminum spp.
Juniper Juniper spp.
Ligustrum Ligustrum spp.
Mahonia Mahonia spp.
Nandina Nandina spp.
Oleander Norium oleanders
Osage orange Maclura pomifera
Pampas grass Cortaderia selloana
Pittosporum Pittosporum tobira
Quince Chaenomeles japonica
Russian olive Elaeagnus spp.
Scotch broom Cytissus spp.
Spirea Spirea spp.
Strawberry bush Euonymus americans
Vibernum Viburnum spp.
Wax myrtle Myrica cerifera
Yaupon holly Ilex vomitoria
Vines/Ground Covers
Common Names Botanical Names
Asiatic jasmine Jasminum asiaticu
Bearberry cotoneaster Cotoneaster dammeri
Carolina jasmine Gelsemium sempervirens
Chinese wisteria Wisteria chinensis
Confederate jasmine Trachelospermum jasminoides
Creeping juniper Juniperus horizontalis
Daylily Hemerocallis spp .
English ivy Hedera helix
Honeysuckle Lonicera spp.
Japanese clematis Clematis spp.
Juniper Juniper spp.
Lantana Lantana spp.
Liriope Liriope sp.
Mondograss Ophiopogon japonicus
Periwinkle Vinca minor
St. John's wort Hypericum calycinum
Thrift Phlox subulata
Trumpet vine Campsis radicans
Trumpet honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens
Wintercreeper Euonymus fortunei
Wisteria Wisteria spp.
Annuals/Perennials
Common Names Botanical Names
Annual phlox Phlox drummondii
Annual periwinkle Vinca rosea
Baby's Breath Gypsophila spp.
Black eyed susan (coneflower) Rudbeckia bicolor
Calendula Calendula officinalis
Cape marigold Calendula officinalis
Coreopsis Coreopsis spp.
Cornflower Centaurea cyanus
Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus
Gaura Gaura lindheimeri
Gazania Gazania linean's
Globe amaranth Gomphrena globosa
Moss rose Portulaca grandiflora
Stonecrop Sedum spp.
Strawflower Helichrysum bacteatum
Verbena Verbena hybrida