42 Drought Tolerant Perennials

42 Drought Tolerant Perennials

Why use drought tolerant perennials? There are several reasons why to incorporate them in the garden. To mention a few: plants considered drought tolerant have key characteristics that help them survive moderate to severe drought; planning a drought tolerant garden will conserve one of our most valuable resources – water; and believe it or not you will have a garden jammed pack with lots of color and action. Several of the plants listed serve more than one purpose in the garden than just being drought tolerant. For example: some plants will deter deer and rabbits; attract hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden; herbs for cooking; and lastly used in fresh-cut or dried floral arrangements. And, when you started planning this project of drought tolerant perennials you were thinking dull, drab garden. Right?

Introducing drought tolerant gardening that will have lots of color and action. When planning your garden for drought consider a few things such as light, drainage, soil conditions, and watering. Full sun is the best for all the perennials listed below. The general rule of thumb is an area is considered full sun when the area receives 5 or more hours a day of sunlight. Drainage is essential; when planning the garden do not plant in an area where water collects after rainy weather because the plants will not tolerate wet feet or soggy conditions. Drought tolerant plants do better in soils that are not rich in compost. Save these areas for the plants that liked to be pampered. Even though the plant is considered to have drought tolerance the plant needs to be established in the ground and this usually takes a few months to several months for a plant to be established. Below are a few of the plants listed as drought tolerant perennials. I chose these varieties because the plants are more than drought tolerant; the plants will provide color, attract wildlife and will serve as more than one purpose in the garden.

Achillea millefolium - Common Yarrow

Achillea millefolium – Yarrow: has lacy, fern-like foliage with flat, round blossoms in a range of colors, white, yellow, red, peach, and pink that bloom from summer to fall. Zones: 3-9. Height from 18-36 inches. Spacing: 10-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Yarrows tolerate poor soil and can be used in borders, mass plantings, and rock gardens. The flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden and can be used in fresh or dried arrangements. Periodically deadhead faded flowers.

Agastache spp. – Hummingbird Mint: is a relative of the mints and blooms summer through fall. Zones: 3-9. Height: 24 to 36 inches. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden. The scented, mint like foliage is used in cooking and potpourri.

Agastache foeniculum - Anise Hyssop

Allium spp. – Flowering Onion: blooms from early spring through the fall. Foliage has a mild onion scent that keeps deer and rabbits away from the garden. Zones: 3-9. Height: 12-36 inches. Spacing: 4-6 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Borders, mass plantings, rock gardens.

Amsonia ciliata – Amsonia: Sky blue flowers in late spring. Beautiful shades of gold fall foliage. Plant in groupings for the best show. Zones: 4-9. Height: 18-24 inches. Spacing: 16-18 inches. Deer resistant plant. Attracts butterflies and bees to the garden. Uses: rock gardens, borders, and containers.

Anthemis tinctoria – Marguerite Daisy: provides several weeks of daisy-like flowers in the summer. Deer and rabbit resistant plant. Zones: 3-8. Height: 24-30 inches. Spacing: 24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds, borders, and cut flowers.

Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ – Silver Sage: Fragrant, lacy, silver foliage provides contrast to ornamental grasses, flowers, and foliage. The foliage is used in fresh or dried arrangements, fresh herbal wreaths, and drying for potpourris. Deer and rabbit resistant plant. Zones: 5-9. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 3-4 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds and borders.

Asclepias tuberosa – Butterfly Milkweed: Deer resistant plant. Attract butterflies to your garden. This plant is a nectar and larval food plant to the Monarch butterfly.

Asclepias tuberosa - Butterfly Weed

Zones: 3-9. Height: 18-24 inches. Spacing: 1-2 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Butterfly gardens and borders.
Baptisia spp. - False Indigo, Wild Indigo, Baptisia: Zones: 4-9. Height: 26-36 inches, but some species can reach to 4 feet. Spacing: 12-36 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Borders, cut flower, dried flower, drought tolerant, attracts butterflies.

Callirhoe involucrata – Poppy Mallow, Wine Cups: Attractive lacy foliage with purple flowers with a white eye that makes an excellent ground cover for large areas. Zones: 4-9. Height: 12 inches. Spacing 24-36 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Ground cover, border fronts, cascading over retaining walls, spiller for containers.

Centranthus ruber – Jupiter’s Beard: Excellent fresh cut flower with fragrant foliage. Butterfly attractant, deer and rabbit resistant plant. Companion plant to other perennials in the garden: Lamb’s ear, Artemisia, and Baptisia. Trim spent flower heads to extend blooming. Zones: 4-9. Height: 24-30 inches. Spacing: 24-30 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Specimen, borders, small group plantings.

Coreopsis spp. – Tickseed: Single or double flowers are excellent for fresh cut

Coreopsis grandiflora cv. Baby Sun - Coreopsis

arrangements. Attract numerous butterflies to the garden. Trim spent flower heads to extend blooming. Zones: 3-9. Height: 3 feet or shorter. Spacing: From 1-3 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Borders, edger, or as a ground cover.

Dianthus X allwoodii cv. Old Spice - 

Old Spice Dianthus

Dianthus spp. - Dianthus, Pinks: Zones: 3-10. Height: From groundcovers under 4 inches to varieties up to 30 inches. Spacing: 8-15 inches apart. Light: Full sun to semi shade. Uses: Attracts butterflies, deer resistant plant, cut flowers, borders or edgers, groundcovers, fragrant flowers.

Echinacea purpurea – Coneflower: There are many varieties of coneflower available. They come in a variety of heights, colors, single or double flowers. Any variety you  

Echinacea purpurea cv. Magnus - Purple Coneflower

choose will be drought tolerant. Single or double flowers are excellent for fresh cut arrangements. Attract numerous butterflies to the garden. Trim spent flower heads to extend blooming. Zones: 4-9. Height: 28-36 inches. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden, perennial, wildflower, mixed or cottage gardens, mass plantings, companion plant to Rudbeckia – Black-eyed Susan.

Echinops spp. – Globe Thistle: One of the underused drought tolerant plants and the flowers are good to use in fresh or dried floral arrangements. Trim spent flower heads to extend blooming. The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden. Rabbit and deer are repelled by this plant in the garden, which is another plus to using this plant. Zones: 3-10. Height: 42-46 inches. Spacing: 18-24 inches. Light: Full sun. Uses: Borders, mixed flower gardens, companion plant to grasses.

Euphorbia epithymoides – Cushion Spurge: Bright yellow flowers in the spring and bronze foliage in the fall. Zones: 3-8. Height: 24 inches. Spacing: 18-24 inches. Light: Full sun to part-sun. Uses: Borders, container gardens, rock gardens, deters rabbit and deer away from the garden.

Gaillardia grandiflora – Blanket Flower: The flowers are good to use in fresh floral arrangements. Trim spent flower heads to extend blooming. The flowers attract 

Gaillardia X grandiflora cv. Goblin - Blanket Flower

butterflies to the garden. Rabbit and deer are repelled by this plant in the garden, which is another plus to using this plant. Zones: 3-10. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 1-2 feet. Light: Full sun. Uses: Borders, cottage gardens, cutting gardens.

Gaura lindheimeri – Whirling Butterflies: The airy flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden. Trim spent flower heads to extend blooming. Zones: 5-9. Height: 24-36 inches. Spacing: 24-36 inches. Light: Full sun. Uses: Borders, cutting and perennial gardens.

Geum triflorum – Prairie Smoke: Red to light pink flowers, but the real attraction to this plant is the airy, feathery seed heads. Zones: 3-8. Height: 12-15 inches. Spacing: 6-8 inches. Light: Full sun. Uses: Deer resistant, border, ground cover, or rock gardens.

Helianthus maximiliana – Maximilian’s Sunflower: Bright yellow flowers on tall stems will attract butterflies to the garden. Zones: 3-9. Height: 3-10 feet. Spacing: 36 inches. Light: Full sun. Uses: Show stopper to any garden. Place in the back of the garden. Accent, specimen, fresh cut flower gardens, wildlife gardens, and cottage gardens.

Heliosis helianthoides – Perennial Sunflower, False Sunflower: Bright yellow flowers that attract pollinators to the garden. Zones: 3-9. Height: 24-36 inches. Light: Full sun to semi-shade. Uses: Attracts butterflies and bees, borders, cut flowers, and deer resistant plant.

Hemerocallis spp. – Daylily: Daylilies are available in every color except blue. Zones: 3-10. Height: 12 inches to 4 feet depending on variety. Spacing: 6 to 48 inches

Hemerocallis cv. Stella de Ora - Day Lily

depending on variety. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds, borders, and groundcover. Deadhead to achieve re-bloom.

Hymenoxys acaulis – Sundancer Daisy: Bright yellow 1-inch flowers. Zones: 4-9. Height: 12 inches. Spacing: 12-24 inches. Light: Full sun. Uses: Edger or borders. Flowers attract butterflies.

Lamium maculatum – Dead Nettle: Excellent ground cover with lovely blossoms starting late spring through summer. The silvery foliage combines nicely with the white or lavender flowers. Zones: 3-9. Height: 6-8 inches. Spacing: 12-18 inches. Light: Semi-shade to shade. Uses: Ground cover and combinations outdoor planters. The plant is excellent trailing down the side of containers when planted around the rim of the pot. Flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Deer and rabbit resistant plant.

Lantana camara – Lantana: Lantana plants come in a variety of heights, which can be used as groundcovers to shrubs. The plants provide non-stop color from spring to first frost.  Zones: 7-11, outside zone 7 the plant is treated as an annual. Height: 1-5 feet, depending on cultivar. Spacing: 24-48 inches, depending on cultivar. Light: Full sun. 

Lantana camara cv. Miss Huff - Lantana

Uses: Profuse bloomer until first frost. The low growing varieties can be used as seasonal color or evergreen groundcover, annual, flowering shrub, containers, hanging baskets, beach plantings. The bright flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Lavandula angustifolia – English Lavender: Wonderful fragrant lavender flowers and silver foliage. Zones: 5-9. Height: 18-36 inches. Spacing: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun. Uses: Deer and rabbit resistant, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, fragrant flowers and foliage, flowers can be used fresh or dried, containers, border fronts, rock gardens, herb gardens, scented gardens. Deadhead after flowering.

Linum perenne – Blue Flax: Bright blue flowers cover the plant from late spring to fall. Zones: 3-9. Height: 18-30 inches. Spacing: 10-12 inches. Light: Full sun. Uses: Very showy flowers for beds and borders. Deer and rabbit resistant.

Monarda didyma – Bee Balm: Fragrant foliage and flowers will attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden. The flower color are in shades of pink, red, lavender, and white. Zones: 3-9. Height: 18-36 inches. Spacing: 24-36 inches. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds, borders, cut or dried flowers.

Monarda fistulosa – Wild Bergamot: Fragrant foliage and flowers will attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden. The flower color are in shades of pink/lavender. Zones: 3-9. Height: 18-36 inches. Spacing: 24-36 inches. Light: Full sun. Uses: Beds, borders, cut or dried flowers.

Nepeta racemosa – Catmint: Fragrant flowers and foliage will attract butterflies to your garden. Zones: 4-9. Height: 18-36 inches depending on variety. Spacing: 18-24 inches depending on variety. Light: Full sun. Uses: Deer and rabbit resistant. Beds and borders. Groundcover.

Nepeta x faassenii – Catmint: Fragrant flowers and foliage will attract butterflies to

Nepeta faassenii - Catmint

your garden. Zones: 4-9. Height: 12-24 inches. Spacing: 12-24 inches. Light: Full sun. Uses: Deer and rabbit resistant. Beds and borders. Groundcover.

Oenothera spp. – Evening Primrose: Masses of flowers that open in the evening and close in the morning. A good groundcover to plant around outdoor entertainment areas, especially nighttime activities. Zones: 4-9. Height: 15 inches. Spacing: 18-24 inches. Light: Full sun. Uses: Groundcover for sunny areas.

Penstemon spp. – Beardtongue: Zones: 4-10. Height: 12-36 inches. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Mixed perennial garden, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.


Perovskia atriplicifolia – Russian Sage: Zones: 4-9. Height: 3-5 feet. Spacing: 24-36 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Containers, bed 

Perovskia atriplicifolia - Russian Sage

and borders, cut flowers, butterfly attractant.






Platycodon grandiflorus - Balloon Flower: Zones: 4-9. Height: 6-36 inches depending on cultivar. Spacing: 8-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Border, rock garden, cut flower, containers.

Platycodon grandiflorus - Balloon Flower

Rudbeckia fulgida – Black Eyed Susan: Zones: 3-10. Height: 18-30 inches. Spacing: 12-24 inches. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Beds and borders, containers, attract birds and butterflies.    

Rudbeckia fulgida - Black-Eyed Susan

Salvia spp. – Sages: Autumn Sage - Salvia greggii 'Maraschino'. Zones: 7-10.  Height: 3’ – 4’. Spacing: 18” – 24” apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses:

Salvia greggii cv. Maraschino - Autumn Sage

Butterfly and hummingbird attractant, accent, cut flower, herb and perennial garden.  Sage - Salvia officinalis. Height: 3 feet. Spacing: 12 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Leaves are used in stuffing and meat dishes.









Salvia rosmarinus – Rosemary: Zones: 6-10. Height: 4 feet. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: The leaves are 

Salvia rosmarinus - Rosemary

used in lamb and fish dishes, butterfly nectar plant, and containers.







Salvia rosmarinus 'Prostrates' - Prostrate Rosemary. Type: Perennial shrub or groundcover. Height: 12-18”. Spacing: 2 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: The leaves are used in lamb and fish dishes, butterfly nectar plant, trailing down retaining walls, and containers.  

Rosmarinus officinalis cv. Prostratus -  Prostrate Rosemary

Sedum spp.: Sedums, Stonecrops: Zones: 3-11. Height: 2-24 inches. Spacing: 4-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Containers, slopes, rock gardens, cracks and crevices, butterfly attractant.   

Sedum spectabile cv. Autumn Joy - Stonecrop

Stachys byzantine – Lamb’s Ear: Zones: 3-9. Height: 12-18 inches. Spacing: 10-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Borders, edger, containers, rock garden.

Stachys byzantina cv. Silver Carpet - Lamb's Ear

Thymus spp. – Thymes: Lemon Thyme – Thymus vulgaris cv. Argenteus. Height: 12 inches. Spacing: 12 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Light purple flowers in summer. Wonderful Lemon scent when leaves are crushed or walked upon. Additional 

Thymus vulgaris cv. Argenteus - Silver Thyme

Uses: All leaves have a distinct lemon flavor that can be used in cooking. Attracts Butterflies and Hummingbirds to the garden. Summer Thyme – Thymus vulgaris. Height: 6 – 12 inches. Spacing: 6 – 12 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Blooms lilac to purple flowers in summer. Additional Uses: All leaves are used in cooking. Attracts butterflies to the garden. All thyme plants can be used as an alternative ground cover.

Veronica spp. – Speedwell or Veronica: Zones: 4-9. Height: 4-12 inches. Spacing: 8-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Ground cover, borders, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

All photographs and digital images are ©Cheryl Ann Meola Photography 2020. All Rights Reserved. All photographs and digital images displayed in this article are for viewing purposes only and cannot be duplicated.

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40 Mosquito Repellent Plants

As summer fast approaches, these recommended plants will repel mosquitoes in your landscape and how to use these plants to enjoy the outdoors during summer. In addition to the plants that repel mosquitoes, there are eco-friendly ways to keep mosquitoes from your outdoor living spaces.

Some areas of the southeast have had drought-busting rainstorms and even with the tremendous amounts of rainfall, these areas are still considered to be under drought conditions.  With the severe amounts of rainfall that comes into an area, and the warmer temperatures of the season that is a sure sign the annoying mosquito is not far behind.

The plants that I am suggesting will repel mosquitoes from your outdoor living space. There are a few suggestions when planning to use the plants mentioned to enhance the natural repelling abilities:

v  Use the plants in containers around your patio, deck, or outdoor living space such as patio tables and chairs.

v  Use the plants in containers or planted in the ground by your front door and your back door.

v  Lemon Grass is the #1 recommended plant to grow in the landscape and in containers to use around your patio, deck, or outdoor living spaces to repel mosquitoes during the summer.

v  Before having outdoor activities brush the Lemon Grass to release more of its fragrance.

v  Lemon Grass is used in cooking.

Here are a few suggestions recommended to do in addition to using the recommended plants:

v  Fix all outdoor facets that drip.

v  Drain your birdbath twice a week and refill your birdbath. Another suggestion is to add one 1-inch chlorine pool tab to your birdbath once a month.

v  Turn your empty outside pots and containers upside down to prevent the containers from collecting water.

v  Drain your plant saucers that collect water once a week, mosquitos lay their eggs in stagnant water.

v  To reduce numerous other flying insects, including mosquitoes, plant marigolds in containers or in the landscape.

There are additional benefits to adding mosquito-repelling plants to your landscape. A few of the benefits are that the mixture of plants listed can be used in addition to repelling mosquitoes, but also used as herbs in cooking, the trees listed will attract additional wildlife such as birds to the garden to give natural predators of mosquitoes a safe heaven, the majority of the plants are nectar and larval food plants for butterflies in your area, and the Silver Dollar Tree can be used in your fresh cut flower arrangements as greens.

Ageratum, Floss Flower - Ageratum houstonianum. Type: Annual. Zones: All. Height: 6-12”. Spacing:

6-8” apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Butterfly nectar plant, bedding, edging, or in containers. (Ageratum pictured left.)

American Beautyberry – Callicarpa americana. Type: Shrub. Zones: 6-10. Height: 3-6 feet. Spacing: 3-6 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Attracts birds, mass plantings, woodland gardens, butterfly nectar plant. (American Beautyberry pictured below right.)

Basil Lemon, Mrs. Burns' Lemon Basil -  Ocimum basilicum citriodora. Type: Annual. Zones: All. Height: 2 feet. Spacing: 18 – 24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. The best tasting lemon basil, with a sweet, tangy flavor. Very bright green, 2 1/2" long leaves with white blooms make this basil both attractive and intensely flavorful. Uses: Butterfly nectar plant, leaves used in cooking, especially good on chicken and fish dishes.

Basil Lemon, Sweet Dani Lemon  -  Ocimum basilicum. Type: Annual. Zones: All. Height: 26 – 36 inches. Spacing: 18 – 24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Tall, upright plant with high yields. 3 inch long, light olive-green leaves. The high citral content (68%) in the essential oil results in a sweetly pungent lemon flavor and scent. Uses: Butterfly nectar plant, leaves used in cooking.

Basil - Ocimum basilicum. Type: Annual. Zones: All. Height: 2 feet. Spacing: 18-24” apart. Light: Full

sun to partial shade. Uses: Butterfly nectar plant, leaves used in cooking. (Basil pictured left.)

Cadaga Tree - Eucalyptus torelliana. Type: Tree. Zones: 10-12. Height: To 80 feet. Spacing: 20-30 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Attracts wildlife to the garden. (Cadaga Tree pictured right.)

Catmint - Nepeta faassenii. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-10.

Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 12-18 “apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Butterfly and hummingbird nectar plant and your cats will love it. (Catmint is pictured left.)

Catmint - Nepeta mussinii. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-10. Height: 12 – 18 inches. Spacing: 12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Profuse lavender blooms on spiky stems. Good for containers and the perennial garden. Soft, crinkled, gray-green leaves on a compact, mounding plant. Uses: Butterfly nectar plant, ground cover, and cats will love it.

Catnip - Nepeta cataria. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-10. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 12-18 “apart. Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Vigorous, high-yielding plants. Cat-attracting perennial with gray-green leaves and white flowers. Uses: Butterfly nectar plant and cats will love it. (Catnip is pictured right.)

Citronella Geranium, Mosquito Plant – Pelargonium ‘citrosum’. Type: Perennial. Zones: 9-10, treat as an annual outside zone 9. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 6-12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Containers, herb garden, cottage garden, and bedding.

Citronella Grass - Cymbopogon nardus. Type: Perennial in USDA Zones 9 and 10, annual outside zone 9. Height: 5-6 feet. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: The oil from the plant is used in citronella candles. Plant along walkways and in containers to use around outdoor living areas.

Clove Tree - Syzygium aromaticum. Type: Tree. Zones: 9-10.

Height: 20-30 feet. Spacing: 25 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: The flower buds are the spice of commerce, and attract wildlife to the garden. (Clove Tree is pictured left.)

Garlic – Allium sativum. Type: Bulb. Zones: 3-9. Height: 3 feet. Spacing: 4-6 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: The cloves are used in flavoring numerous culinary dishes and breads. Garlic has several medicinal properties check with your health care professional before starting.

Horsemint or Lemon Beebalm - Monarda citriodora. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-10.  Height: 12-30 inches. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: The flowers can be used in fresh cut arrangements, nectar plant for butterflies and hummingbirds.

Lavender - Lavandula angustifolia ‘‘Lady’. Type: Perennial. Zones: 5-10. Height: 24 – 30 inches. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Blooms heavily the first year. Lady sets the standard for earliness and uniform, dark violet bloom color. Blooming begins 10-12 weeks after planting. Uses: Nectar plant for butterflies, use dried flowers in potpourris and sachets.

Lemon Balm - Melissa officinalis ‘Quedlinburger niederliegende’. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-10. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Improved Lemon Balm with high essential oil content. All leaves have a distinct lemon flavor. Uses: Leaves used in potpourris, flavor hot and iced teas, and used as a substitute for lemon peel in cooking. Toss three stems on the barbeque to deter flying insects. Attracts Butterflies and Hummingbirds to the garden.

Lemon Balm - Melissa officinalis. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-10. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Leaves used in potpourris, flavor hot and iced teas, and as a substitute for lemon peel in cooking. Toss three stems on the barbeque to deter flying insects. Attracts Butterflies and Hummingbirds to the garden.

Lemon Grass - Cymbopogon citrates. Type: Perennial. Zones 8-11, treat as an annual outside zone 8. Height: 4-6 feet. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: The leaves are used in cooking, herb garden, beds or borders, and containers. (Lemon Grass is pictured right.)

Lemon Scented Geranium - Pelargonium crispum. Type: Perennial. Zones: 9-10, treated as an annual outside zone 9. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Nectar plant for butterflies, leaves used in cooking, in potpourris, sachets, and containers.

Lemon Verbena - Aloysia triphylla. Type: Perennial. Zones 8-11, treat as an annual elsewhere. Height: To 4 feet. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: The oil is used in perfumes; the leaves are used in flavoring teas and jellies.

Mexican Marigold Mint - Tagetes lucida. Type: Perennial.

Zones: 8-11. Height: 24-30 inches. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Butterfly nectar and larval food plant, fresh flowers used in salads, leaves are used as a substitute for French tarragon. (Mexican Marigold Mint is pictured left.)

Mindanao Gum Tree - Eucalyptus deglupta. Type: Tree. Zones: 10-11. Height: To 225 feet. Spacing: 30 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Attracts wildlife to the garden, fragrant leaves and colorful bark. (Mindanao Gum Tree pictured right.)

Mugwort – Artemisia vulgaris. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-11. Height: 3-4 feet. Spacing: 12-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Nectar and larval food plant for butterflies, drought tolerant plant.

Neem Tree – Azadirachta indica. Type: Tree. Zones: 9-11. Height: 50-65 feet. Spacing: 25-30 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Shade tree.

Pennyroyal - Mentha pulegium. Type: Perennial. Zones: 6-11. Height: 6-12 inches. Spacing: 12 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: A groundcover, nectar plant for butterflies, leaves used in the flavoring for fish dishes.

Peppermint - Mentha piperita. Type: Perennial. Zones: 6-10. Height: 24-36 inches. Spacing: 12-18 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Leaves are used fresh in hot and iced teas, butterfly nectar, and larval food plant.

Pitcher Plant - Nepenthes alata. Type: Herbaceous perennial. 

Zones: 10-11. Height: To 14 feet, usually grown in a hanging basket. Spacing: N/A. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Will attract and capture all types of pesky insects from your garden. The plant is available at local garden centers in hanging baskets and can be placed in tree limbs or placed on patio plant stands. The plant uses the insects it captures as fertilizer. (Pitcher Plant pictured right).

Prostrate Rosemary - Rosmarinus officinalis 'Prostrates'. Type: Perennial shrub or groundcover. Height: 12-18”. Spacing: 2 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: The leaves are used in lamb and fish dishes, butterfly nectar plant, drought tolerant plant. (Prostrate Rosemary pictured above left).

Red-Flowering Gum Tree - Eucalyptus ficifolia. Type: Tree. 

Zones: 8-10. Height: 25-30 feet. Spacing: 20-25 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: After establishment in the landscape the tree is very drought tolerant, the leaves are fragrant, attracts wildlife to the garden, very showy red flowers in spring and summer. (Red-Flowering Gum Tree pictured above right).

Roman Wormwood - Artemisia pontica. Type: Perennial. Zones: 2-10. Height: 18-24”. Spacing: 12” apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Nectar and larval food plant for butterflies, drought tolerant plant, ground cover, beds, and containers.

Rosemary - Rosmarinus officinalis. Type: Perennial shrub. 

Zones: 6-10. Height: 4 feet. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: The leaves are used in lamb and fish dishes, drought tolerant plant, butterfly nectar plant, and containers. Cut stems 6-12 inches long when firing up the barbeque and place on the grill. The scent will deter the mosquitoes away and the flavor of rosemary will be absorbed into the meats you are cooking on the grill. (Rosemary pictured left.)

Sagebrush – Artemisia tridentate. Type: Shrub. Zones: 4-9. Height: 2-8 feet. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Drought tolerant shrub.

Silver Dollar Tree - Eucalyptus cinerea. Type: Tree. 

Zones: 8-11. Height: To 20 feet. Spacing: 25 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Attracts wildlife to the garden, the foliage is used in fresh cut flower arrangements as greens, and dried floral arrangements. (Silver Dollar Tree pictured right.)

Silver Drop Eucalyptus, Cider Gum Eucalyptus, Cidergum Eucalyptus - Eucalyptus gunnii ‘Silver Drop’. Type: Tree or shrub. Zones: 8-11. Height: 24 – 36 feet. Spacing: 25 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Blooms: Summer through fall, white flowers. Drought tolerant.  Small, silver-green leaves that are used in fresh or dried bouquets. Easily preserved with glycerin. Uses: Butterfly larval plant, grows well in containers, accent in beds.

Tansy - Tanacetum vulgare. Type: Perennial. Zones: 3-10. 

Height: 3-4 feet. Spacing: 12-18” apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Nectar food plant for butterflies. (Tansy pictured left.)

Tea Tree – Melaleuca alternifolia. Type: Tree. Zones: 9-11. Height: 20 feet. Spacing: 20-25 feet apart. Light: Full sun. Uses: Flowering tree for formal or informal landscapes.

Vanilla Leaf – Achlys triphylla. Type: Ground cover. Zones: 7-9. Height: 12-18 inches. Spaing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Ground cover for shady areas, fragrant vanilla scented leaves.

Vetiver Grass – Vetiveria zizanioides. Type: Perennial grass. Zones: 8-10. Height: 4-5 feet. Spacing: 2-4 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Erosion control.

Wormwood - Artemisia absinthium. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-9. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Nectar and larval food plant for butterflies, drought tolerant plant.

Wormwood - Artemisia 'Powis Castle'. Type: Perennial. Zones: 4-9. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 3 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Nectar and larval food plant for butterflies, drought tolerant plant.

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