These Drought-Tolerant Plants for Slopes Make Tough Spots a Focal Area

Water penetrates poorly on a slope. In fact, a lot of it runs off before it soaks in. That can make sloping land a tricky situation for planting, but this garden plan features several drought-tolerant perennials such as sedum that thrive in hot, dry, sunny conditions. The hardscape elements in this design, such as wide steps, also help convert the sloped area from inaccessible to inviting. Clusters of boulders are nestled into the soil to anchor portions of the sloped flower bed and add natural beauty. And finally, groundcovers such as creeping thyme help slow down and catch the water that might otherwise be lost on the gentle incline.

Plants for Creating the Drought-Tolerant Slope Garden Plan

• 3 White stonecrop (Sedum album 'Chubby Fingers'): Zones 4-8
• 5 Golden carpet sedum (Sedum acre): Zones 3-8
• 1 Barrenwort (Epimedium rubrum): Zones 4-9
• 6 Sea thrift (Armeria maritima): Zones 3-9
• 4 Creeping thyme (Thymus coccineus): Zones 4-9
• 1 New Zealand flax (Phormium tenax): Zones 8-10
• 4 Hybrid sedum (Sedum 'Purple Emperor'): Zones 3-7
• 1 Sea lavender (Limonium latifolium): Zones 5-9
• 2 Oregon stonecrop (Sedum oreganum): Zones 2-9
• 1 Two-row stonecrop (Sedum spurium 'Voodoo'): Zones 4-9

If you aren't able to find the exact cultivars listed above, substitute with others that have similar colors, shapes, and sizes. And because some plants can become overly aggressive and spread out of control in certain climates, always check which species are considered invasive in your area before planting.

Get the Free Drought-Tolerant Slope Garden Plan

The garden plan for this design includes an illustrated version of the planted garden, a detailed layout diagram, a list of plants for the garden as shown, and complete instructions for installing the garden. Free, one-time registration allows unlimited access to all garden plans, available as printable PDFs.

More Drought-Tolerant Garden Plans to Try

• Drought-Tolerant Garden Plan
• Small-Space, Drought-Resistant Garden Plan
• Low-Water Garden Plan