Climbing plants add shade, fragrance, privacy, and visual interest, transforming a pergola into a lush outdoor retreat throughout the season.

A lush, thriving garden is beautiful, but many regions across the country are dealing with ongoing water shortages. Choosing drought resistant plants that need less water is one of the easiest ways to reduce water use, lower your bills, and create an eco-friendly garden that still feels vibrant.

Drought resistant plants go far beyond cacti. There are flowering perennials, shrubs, herbs, and groundcovers that can tolerate dry conditions once established. In the first few weeks or months, these plants still need consistent watering, but after they settle in, they will survive and even bloom when rainfall is minimal.

Below is a full guide to drought resistant plants along with simple tips to help you get the most out of a low-water landscape.

Top Plant Selection

Passionflower

Passionflower quickly covers pergolas and trellises, making it ideal for creating shade and visual drama. Cold-hardy varieties are available for cooler climates, and it pairs beautifully with early-blooming clematis.

Clematis

A lightweight climber loved for its large, colorful flowers and long blooming season. Clematis is easy to train along pergola beams and can be layered with other vines to provide continuous blooms from spring through fall.

Wisteria

Known for its cascading clusters of fragrant flowers, wisteria creates a romantic, timeless look. This vigorous climber requires strong structural support and regular pruning, but rewards with stunning spring displays and dappled shade.

Honeysuckle

A fast-growing vine prized for its sweet fragrance, especially in the evening. Honeysuckle quickly fills in pergola structures and attracts pollinators, making it both beautiful and beneficial to the garden.

Jasmine

Famous for its intense, intoxicating scent, jasmine is perfect for pergolas near seating or dining areas. In warm climates it blooms for extended periods, while in cooler regions it can be grown as an annual for seasonal impact.

Grape Vine

Grape Vine

Grape Vine

Grape Vine

Grape Vine

Grape Vine

Grape Vine

Grape Vine

Grape Vine

Grape Vine

Grape Vine

Grape Vine

A functional and beautiful choice that provides shade, privacy, and fruit. Grape vines thrive in a wide range of climates and create a dense canopy over pergolas, making them ideal for sunny backyards.

A functional and beautiful choice that provides shade, privacy, and fruit. Grape vines thrive in a wide range of climates and create a dense canopy over pergolas, making them ideal for sunny backyards.

Trumpet Vine

A bold climber with vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers in red, orange, and yellow. This vine grows quickly and attracts hummingbirds and bees, adding color and movement to pergola structures.

Bignonia (Cross Vine)

A vigorous climber with elegant, bell-shaped flowers. Bignonia thrives in warm climates and tolerates light frost, offering lush coverage and long-lasting visual appeal.

Sweet Pea

A delicate, fragrant vine with soft blooms that work beautifully on pergolas and garden structures. Sweet peas prefer full sun and well-drained soil and are ideal for seasonal color in spring or cooler months.

Bleeding Heart & Tropical Bleeding Heart

Heart-shaped flowers make this vine a standout choice for shaded pergolas. Traditional bleeding heart suits cooler climates, while tropical varieties thrive in warm regions and provide continuous blooms.