In many parts of the world, gardeners seek out drought resistant plants as an attractive and less resource-heavy way to decorate a garden. Although drought resistant plants have a reputation of being dull and not very showy, the truth is that there are some stunningly beautiful drought resistant plants that can enhance any garden, not just one with a drought friendly or Mediterranean theme. In addition to using less water, drought resistant plants tend to be hardier and better able to stand up to weather extremes, pests, and other abuses. It should be noted that drought resistant plants are drought resistant, not drought proof, and they do require water and care.

Drought resistant plants fall into a number of categories. There are ground covers, flowers, shrubs, trees, grasses, and everything in between. It is possible to fill a garden entirely with a profusion of colorful drought resistant plants that will liven it up while being better for the environment.

As a general rule of thumb, drought resistant plants should be heavily mulched to help them retain water. They should also be watered in the morning, rather than the evening, as the cooler night weather combined with the water may cause the plants to rot. Mulch doesn't have to be expensive – many gardeners use newspaper, though not glossy print, and in addition to keeping the plant moist, it keeps down weeds and pests.

Some drought resistant flowers include the Dahlberg daisy, a bright yellow flower that grows about a foot (30 cm) tall, and members of the salvia family, which come in a dazzling array of colors and sizes. Four o'clocks, flowering tobacco, baby's breath, poppies, geraniums, lavender, lupine, sunflowers, periwinkle, statice, zinnia, alyssum, and verbena are other examples of drought resistant flowers. There are numerous others, although those listed above present a nice range of colors and sizes to enhance the garden.

Most grasses and vines are drought resistant, although the following species are particularly so: mallow, heather, sedge, blue fescue, switchgrass, sage, hens and chicks, honeysuckle, and periwinkle. In addition, many herbs, such as thyme, oregano, sage, members of the mint family, and catnip, are drought resistant and can be used to create fragrant borders in the garden.

Shrubs and bushes include butterfly bush, clematis, flowering quince, witch hazel, juniper, yew, arrowwood, roses, and cinquefoil. Shrubs can be used to establish low borders, to differentiate various parts of the garden, and to add dimension to planting. Some shrubs may require more pruning than others to maintain shape and prevent them from taking over the garden. Luckily, like most drought resistant plants, shrubs are able to handle radical cutbacks, and in some cases, they like being clipped right to the roots and allowed to grow back in the next year.

There are also a number of drought resistant trees, such as oaks, cedars, fir, sumac, elders, and birch trees. Be careful not to plant trees too close to the house or to each other. Try to maintain open sunny areas, and do not block off all the available sun with a line of trees at the southern boundary of your garden. If you want more privacy, continue a hedge of some sort, which can be kept low and controlled.

As this brief list suggests, drought resistant plants come in a dazzling array of shapes, sizes, and colors. Whether planning a drought resistant garden or merely sprinkling a few species in, there's something for every gardener in drought resistant plants – and not just a smaller water bill!