Beneficial, Drought Tolerant Plants for the DC Area - Perennials, Grasses, etc.

Beneficial Native Plants for the Metro DC Area
Plants marked with an * were selected as Favorite Native Plants by local experts
See code to abbreviations at bottom of list
Scientific Name Common Name Type Light DT Bi Bu Hu Fl Fr
Achillea millefolium Common yarrow Perennial Su X - X X X -
Amsonia tabernaemontana Blue star Perennial PS X - - - X -
Andropogon gerardii Big bluestem Grass Su-PS X X X - X -
Andropogon ternarius Split bluestem Grass Su-PS X X - - - -
*Aquilegia canadensis Wild columbine Perennial Su-FS X H X - X -
*Asclepias tuberosa Butterflyweed Perennial Su-PS X - X - X -
Baptisia tinctoria Wild indigo Perennial Su X - X - X -
*Campsis radicans Trumpet creeper Vine Su X H X - X -
Chamaecrista fasciculata Partridge Pea Annual Su-PS X X X - X -
Cimicifuga racemosa Black cohosh Perennial PS-Sh X - X - X -
Clitoria mariana Maryland butterfly pea Vine Su-PS X X - - X -
Coreopsis lanceolata Lanceleaf coreopsis Perennial Su- PS X - X - X -
Coreopsis verticillata Tickseed Perennial Su-FS X - X - X -
Delphinium tricorne Dwarf larkspur Perennial PS X - X - X -
Echinacea purpurea Purple coneflower Perennial Su-PS X - X X X -
Eragrostis spectabilis Purple lovegrass Grass Su X X - - - -
Eupatorium hyssopifolium Boneset Perennial Su X X - - X -
Gaillardia pulchella Firewheel, Indian Blanket Perennial Su-PS X - X - X -
Geranium maculatum Wild geranium Perennial PS-Sh X X - X X -
Helianthus divaricatus Woodland sunflower Perennial Su-Sh X X X - X -
Heliopsis helianthoides Oxeye sunflower Perennial Su X - X - X -
Heuchera Americana Alumroot Perennial PS-Sh X - - - X -
Iris Cristata Dwarf crested iris Perennial PS-Sh X H - - X -
Liatris spicata Gayfeather Perennial Su X - X - X -
Lobelia siphilitica Great blue lobelia Perennial Su-FS X H - - X -
Lonicera sempervirens Coral honeysuckle Vine Su, PS X H X - X -
*Mertensia virginica Virginia bluebells Perennial PS-FS X - - - X -
*Monarda didyma Red bergamot, beebalm Perennial Su-FS X H X X X -
*Monarda fistulosa Wild bergamot Perennial Su-PS X H X X X X
*Monarda punctata Horsemint Perennial Su X H X X X -
Oenothera biennis Evening primrose Biennial Su-Sh X H X X X X
Oenothera fruticosa Sundrops Perennial Su X X X - X -
*Panicum vigatum Switchgrass Grass Su X X - - - -
Passiflora incarnata Passionflower vine Vine Su-PS X X X X X -
Phlox divaricata Wild blue phlox Perennial Su-PS X - X - X -
Pityopsis graminifolia Golden aster Perennial PS X - X - X -
Polemonium reptans Jacob's Ladder Perennial Su-FS X - - - X -
Polygonatum biflorum Solomon’s seal Perennial PS-Sh X X X X X -
Pycnanthemum incanum Hoary mountain mint Perennial Su-PS X - X - X X
*Rudbeckia hirta Black-eyed Susan Perennial Su-PS X - X - X -
Salvia lyrata Lyre-leaved sage Perennial Su-Sh X H X - X -
Schizachyrium scoparium Little bluestem Grass Su-PS X X X - X -
Silphium perfoliatum Cup plant Perennial Su X H X - X -
Solidago rugosa Goldenrod Perennial Su X X X - X -
Tradescantia virginiana Virginia spiderwort Perennial Su-Sh X - X - X -
Trillium grandiflorum White trillium Perennial Su-Sh X - - X X -
Vernonia noveboracensis Ironweed Perennial Su X X X - X -
Viola pedata Bird’s foot violet Perennial PS-Sh X X X - X -


** Note: this list was created for the Metro DC Lawn and Garden Blog and may not be copied without permission. However, please feel free to link to this page and to subscribe to the blog for future lists.

Light: FS=Full Su, S=Su, Sh=Sh
Su Full Su: direct sulight at least six hours a day.
PS Partial Sh: direct sulight between three to six hours.
Sh Sh: less than three hours of direct sulight a day.
Benefits: W=Wildlife Value; Bi=Attracts birds; Bu=Attracts Butterflies; Hu=Human Value, edible or medicinal; Fr=Fragrant, Fl=Fowers

H in bird column signifies Hummingbirds. Plants which an X in the butterfly column are ofter HOST plants for specific butterfly species.

Sources: Xeriscaping and Conserving Water in the Landscape (PDF) – Maryland Cooperative Extension

Drought Tolerant Plants for the Mid-Atlantic Region (pdf) download from Charlottesville Water

Plant lists from: Native Plants for Conservation, Restoration and Landscaping, Virginia DCR

Most of the plant benefits were obtained from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Org. Native Plant Database

Drought tolerant native plants for Virginia

Drought Tolerant Perennials (PDF) – Clayton Virginia Native Plant Society

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