Our Blog

Gardeners know that being water aware in Oklahoma includes planting drought-tolerant plants. The state transitions between forest regions and dry regions. For all zones, planning water smart yards is important. Still, choices are endless, from shade-loving ferns to flowering shrubs and shady trees.

Be creative. Add calming greenery to soothe your eyes. Try bright pops of color that add playfulness pizazz. Plan for shade on sunny days and relief against strong winds.

Use a mix of plants that provide eye-catching variation. Enhance your landscaping with color and texture. It is also a great way to extend the personality of your house to your landscape.

Seven Drought-Tolerant Plants for Oklahoma

Flowering Shrub – Korean Spice Viburnum (Viburnum carlesii)

Korean Spice Viburnum resembles a bridal bouquet when in bloom. It is a hardy deciduous flowering shrub. Dainty flowers start pink and mature to white with a memorable spicy fragrance. The neat foliage is dark green with serrated edges.

Flowers give way to red berries that ripen to a blackish color in the fall. Mature shrubs grow to about 4-6 feet tall and 4-7 feet wide. It prefers moist, well-drained soil and, if well-established, can be drought resistant. This is a sun-loving plant. Full sun ensures you get the loveliest blooms.

Grown along your hedge. Use the shrub to add a fun contrast to the usual green of the borders.

Flowering Shrub – Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)

Butterflies and birds love Red Chokeberry. It is a flowering shrub that transitions over to bright red fruit. The flowers are a favorite of hummingbirds. Enjoy spring blossoms that grow in clusters of white and light pink blooms. These blooms give way to glossy bright red fruit in autumn, which also last into winter. The berries are edible with a tart taste.

Give this plenty of water. Once established, Red Chokeberry is drought tolerant. It favors moist soil and complete or partial sunlight. They grow 6-8 feet tall and about 3-5 feet wide. Plant them towards the back of the yard for best results.

Flowering Shrub – Diabolo Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Monlo’)

If a show-stopper is what you are after, the Diabolo Ninebark is an excellent choice. It is a deciduous shrub with eye-catching blackish-dark purple leaves. Enjoy blooms of clustered tiny pink-blushed white flowers. Flowers provide a beautiful contrast against dark foliage. As the season moves on, enjoy bunches of reddish-purple fruit.

Diabolo Ninebark grows to 8-10 feet high. It tolerates a range of soil conditions from wet to dry alkaline soil. The shrub likes the sun and some shade from the hot afternoon sun. It prefers regular pruning. Contrasting colors add an exciting twist to your yard.

Flowering Shrub – Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum)

Want a plant that blooms in winter? Sounds too good to be accurate, but Winter Jasmine is precisely that. Come January, enjoy cheerful bright yellow flower bunches. Flowers blossom before the leaves unfurl.

Winter Jasmine tends to grow scrambling over other structures and can grow up to 4-15 feet in height. It is easy to maintain and likes the full sun. Well-drained sandy loams with regular moisture are also preferred.

This is a warm addition to your yard for cold winter days. Train the plant to climb a trellis. Let them run along the ground as ground cover.

Flowering Tree – Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica)

Persian Ironwood is a beautiful small flowering tree. It gives an incredible display of colors year-round. The bark peels off and has shades of brown, gray, green, and white. Young red leaves unfurl in spring to take on a green color in summer. The flowers bloom in early spring before the leaves unfurl. Incomplete flowers do not form petals with eye-catching red and white colors. Autumn sees leaves maturing into colorful bouquets of red, orange, and yellow.

The Persian Ironwood can grow to 20-40 feet high with a total width of 15-35 feet. It prefers full sun or partial shade. This ornamental tree is suitable for small yards.

Shade Tree – American Elm (Ulmus americana ‘Valley Forge’)

Strong in stature, graceful spread-out branches are the hallmarks of The American Elm. It is a majestic tree needing a lot of space. Newer elms are disease-resistant. Lush green leaves take on lovely golden yellows in the fall.

American Elms can reach 60 feet in height and 30 feet in width. Established trees are adaptable and tolerate a variety of adverse environmental conditions. It resists droughts, air pollution, and deicing salts. The American elm thrives in full sunlight.

A mature elm tree has branches spread out like a canopy. As a result, it provides ample shade and a perfect cozy picnic location.

Shade Plant – Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum)

While this is not a drought tolerant plant, Japanese Painted Ferns add magical touches to landscaping. This fern stands out due to its unique coloring and textures. Most ferns are green in color. In contrast, the Japanese Painted Fern has silvery-grey leaves. Red and blue highlights contrast with the metallic silver-gray. The midribs have a purplish tone.

Ferns grow 12-14 inches in height and spread to a similar width. Like other ferns, they love moist, humus-rich soil. Exposure to the harsh sun causes discoloration. Leaves dry out and can bleach due. Partial to full shade in the morning or evening is ideal.

Drought Tolerant Plants for Oklahoma

While water-wise, turn your yard into a haven of visual beauty. There are plenty of drought-tolerant plans for Oklahoma. Select eye-catching foliage and flowers. Create your own personal haven.