Drought Tolerant Trees and Shrubs

Landscapers may want to consider planting trees and shubs that have more drought tolerance. The following are some choices for Delaware.

The species listed below have shown greater drought-tolerance in our area than other species.

Trees

Carya ovata, Shagbark Hickory
Castanea mollissima, Chinese Chestnut
Catalpa bignonioides, Southern Catalpa
Celtis occidentalis, Common Hackberry
Fraxinus americana, White Ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Green Ash
Ginkgo biloba, Maidenhair Tree
Gleditsia tricanthos var. inermis, Thornless Honeylocust
Gymnocladus dioicus, Kentucky Coffeetree
Liquidambar styraciflua, Sweet Gum
Platanus acerifolia, London Plane Tree
Populus grandidentata, Largetooth Aspen
Ptelea trifoliata, Hoptree
Quercus coccinea, Scarlet Oak
Quercus imbricaria, Single Oak
Quercus palustris, Pin Oak
Quercus rubra, Red Oak
Quercus stellata, Post Oak
Sophora japonica, Japanese Pagodatree
Sorbus americana, American Mountain Ash
Zelkova serrata, Japanese Zelkova

Small Trees

Chionanthus virginicus, Fringe Tree
Cotinus coggygria, Smoke Tree
Crataegus phaenopyrum, Washington Hawthorn
Diospyros virginiana, Persimmon
Koelreuteria paniculata, Goldenraintree
Pyrus calleryana, cvs. Callery Pear cultivars (not ‘Bradford’)
Sassafras albidum
Syringa reticulata, Japanese Tree Lilac

Evergreen Trees

Cedrus atlantica, Atlas Cedar
Ilex opaca, American Holly
Juniperus scopulorum, Rocky Mountain Juniper
Juniperus virginiana, Eastern Red Cedar
Picea abies, Norway Spruce
Picea pungens var. and cv., Colorado Spruce varieties and cultivars
Pseudotsuga menziesii, Douglas Fir
Pinus flexilis, Limber Pine
Pinus nigra, Austrian Pine
Pinus sylvestris, Scotts Pine
Pinus thunbergiana, Japanese Black Pine

Deciduous Shrubs

Aronia arbutifolia, Red Chokeberry
Baccharis halimifolia Groundsel bush
Buddleia davidii, Butterfly Bush
Chaenomeles speciosa, Common Flowering quince
Hibiscus syriacus, Rose of Sharon
Hypericum kalmianum, Kalm St.-John’s-wort
Ilex verticillata, Winterberry
Jasminum nudiflorum, Winter Jasmine
Prunus x cistena, Purpleleaf Sand Cherry
Rhus typhina, Staghorn Sumac
Rhus glabra, Smooth Sumac
Rhus copallina, Winged Sumac
Rosa rugosa, Rugosa Rose
Vitex agnus-castus, Chastetree
Xanthorhiza simplicissima, Yellowroot

Evergreen Shrubs

Abelia x grandiflora, Glossy Abelia
Buxus microphylla, Littleleaf Box
Ilex cornuta cv., Chinese Holly cultivars
Ilex crenata cv., Japanese Holly cultivars
Ilex glabra, Inkberry Holly
Juniperus chinensis cv. Chinese Juniper cultivars
Myrica pensylvanica, Northern Bayberry
Nandina domestica, Heavenly Bamboo
Pyracantha coccinea, Scarlet Firethorn
Taxus baccata, English Yew
Taxus cuspidata, Japanese Yew
Taxus x media, cv. Upright Yew
Yucca filamentosa, Adams Needle

Taken from the publication "Dealing with Drought in the Landscape" from Delaware Cooperative Extension.