The key to a successful waterwise landscape is knowing how to water. Many plants can be trained to utilize water better by how they are established when first planted. Long, deep soakings that saturate the entire root ball done only as needed will help the roots seek water by growing deeper into the soil. Check out our blog Watering 101 for more detailed information on establishment watering protocols.
That being said, the below list of plants are great options that naturally are more adaptable for Utah’s climate.
Be sure to check out Utah’s Center for Water-Efficient Landscaping. This USU Extension department has many great resources for more specific plant information as well as ideas on how to get started with adjusting your existing landscape.
Note: Plants in bold are Utah Native and Waterwise.
Coniferous Trees
- White Fir – Abies concolor
- Spanish Fir – Abies pinsapo
- Incense Cedar – Calocedrus decurrens
- Blue Atlas Cedar – Cedrus atlantica glauca
- Himalayan Cedar – Cedrus deodora
- Cedar of Lebanon – Cedrus libani
- Leyland Cypress – Cupressus leylandii
- Juniper – Juniperus spp.
- Arizona Cypress – Hesperocyparis arizonica
- Bristlecone Pine – Pinus aristata
- Two Needle Pinyon Pine – Pinus edulis
- Limber Pine – Pinus flexilis
- Bosnian Pine – Pinus heldrechii syn. leucodermis
- Single Leaf Pinyon Pine – Pinus monophylla
- Austrian Pine – Pinus nigra
- Ponderosa Pine – Pinus ponderosa
- Scotch Pine – Pinus sylvestris
- Giant Sequoia – Sequoiadendron giganteum
Deciduous Trees
- Hedge Maple – Acer campestre
- Bigtooth Maple – Acer grandidentatum
- Paperbark Maple – Acer griseum
- Box Elder Maple – Acer negundo
- Norway Maple – Acer platanoides
- Tatarian Maple – Acer tataricum
- Shantung Maple – Acer truncatum
- Sycamore “Petticoat” Maple – Acer pseudoplatanoides
- Sunset Maples – Acer platanoides x trucatum
- Mimosa – Albizia julibrissin
- Serviceberry – Amelanchier sp.
- Catalpa – Catalpa spp.
- Chitalpa – Chitalpa tashkentensis
- Common Hackberry – Celtis occidentalis
- Eastern Redbud – Cercis canadensis
- Western Redbud – Cercis occidentalis
- Desert Willow – Chilopsis linearis
- Turkish Filbert – Corylus colurna
- Smoke Tree – Cotinus spp.
- Hawthorn – Crataegus spp.
- Ginkgo – Ginkgo biloba
- Honeylocust – Gleditsia triacanthos
- Seven-Son Flower – Heptacodium miconoides
- Kentucky Coffeetree – Gymnocladus dioicus
- Goldenrain Tree – Koelreuteria paniculata
- Tulip Tree – Lirodendron tulipifera
- Crabapple – Malus spp.
- Fruitless Mulberry – Morus alba
- Persian Ironwood – Parrotia persica
- London Planetree (Sycamore) – Platanus acerifolia
- Flowering Cherry – Prunus spp.
- Flowering Plum – Prunus spp.
- Chokecherry – Prunus virginiana
- Flowering Pear – Pyrus callereana
- Gambel (Scrub) Oak – Quercus gambelii
- Bur Oak – Quercus macrocarpa
- English Oak – Quercus robur
- Chinkapin Oak – Quercus muehlenbergii
- Shrub Live Oak – Quercus turbinella
- Purple Robe Locust – Robinia pseudoacacia
- Japanese Lilac Tree – Syringa reticulata
- Linden – Tilia spp.
- Elm – Ulmus spp.
- Yellowwood – Cladrastis kentukea
- Zelkova – Zelkova spp.
Shrubs
- Saskatoon Serviceberry – Amalanchier alnifolia
- Leadplant – Amorpha canescens
- Chokeberry – Aronia spp.
- Silver Sage – Artemisia cana
- Sand Sage – Artemisia filifolia
- Fringed Sage – Artemisia frigida
- Black Sage – Artemisia nova
- Big Sage – Artemisia tridentata
- Fourwing Saltbush – Atriplex canescens
- Shadescale – Atriplex confertifolia
- Barberry – Berberis thunbergii
- Butterfly Bush – Buddleia davidii
- Siberian Peashrub – Caragana arborescens
- Bluebeard – Caryopteris x clandonensis
- Little-Leaf Mtn. Mahogany – Cercocarpus intricatus
- Curl-Leaf Mtn. Mahogany – Cercocarpus ledifolius
- Alder-Leaf Mtn. Mahogany – Cercocarpus montanus
- Fernbush – Chamaebatiaria millefolium
- Smoke Bush – Cotinus spp.
- Cranberry Cotoneaster – Cotoneaster apiculatus
- Bearberry Cotoneaster – Cotoneaster dammeri
- Spreading Cotoneaster – Cotoneaster divaricatus
- Rock Cotoneaster – Cotoneaster horizontalis
- Ephedra / Mormon Tea – Ephedra spp.
- Rubber Rabbitbrush – Ericameria nauseosus
- Apache Plume – Fallugia paradoxa
- New Mexican Privet – Forestiera neomexicana
- Forsythia – Forsythia spp.
- Spanish Broom – Genista hispanica
- Rose of Sharon – Hibiscus syriacus
- Ocean Spray – Holodiscus discolor
- Maple Mallow – Iliamna rivularis
- Juniper – Juniperus sp.
- Beauty Bush – Kolkwitzia amabilis
- Winterfat – Krascheninnikovia lanata
- Crape Myrtle – Lagerstroemia indica
- Bush Honeysuckle – Lonicera spp.
- Oregon Grape – Mahonia aquifolium
- Fremont Holly – Mahonia fremontii
- Wild Crabapple – Peraphyllum ramosissimum
- Littleleaf Mockorange – Philadelphus microphyllus
- Mallow-leaved Ninebark – Physocarpus malvaceus
- Ninebark – Physocarpus opulifolius
- Mugo Pine – Pinus mugo
- Potentilla / Shrubby Cinquefoil – Potentilla fruticosa
- Sand Cherry – Prunus pumila v. besseyi
- Cliffrose – Purshia mexicana
- Shrub Live Oak – Quercus turbinella
- Fragrant Sumac – Rhus aromatica
- Smooth Sumac – Rhus glabra
- Three-leaf Sumac – Rhus trilobata
- Staghorn Sumac – Rhus typhina
- Golden Currant – Ribes aureum
- Shrub Rose – Rosa spp.
- Rugosa Rose – Rosa rugosa
- Woods Rose – Rosa woodsii
- Elderberry – Sambucus spp.
- Silver Buffaloberry – Shepherdia argentea
- False Spiraea – Sorbaria sorbifolia
- Coralberry – Symphoricarpos orbiculatus
- Mountain Snowberry – Symphoricarpos oreophilus
- Snowberry – Symphoricarpos x chenaultii
- Lilac – Syringa vulgaris
- Wayfaring Tree – Viburnum lantana
- Blackhaw Viburnum – Viburnum rhytidophylloides
- Leather-Leaf Viburnum – Viburnum rhytidophyllum
- Chaste Tree – Vitex spp.
Perennials
- ‘Gold Plate’ Yarrow – Achillea filipendula
- Greek Yarrow – Achillea ageratifolia
- Common Yarrow – Achillea millefolium
- Pearl Yarrow – Achillea ptarmica
- Wooly Yarrow – Achillea tomentosa
- Persian Stonecress – Aethionema schistosum
- Texas Hummingbird Mint – Agastache cana
- Orange Hummingbird Mint – Agastache aurantiaca
- Sunset Hyssop – Agastache rupestris
- Lady’s Mantle – Alchemilla sp.
- Ornamental Onion – Allium sp.
- Willow Blue Star – Amsonia tabemaemontana
- Mount Atlas Daisy – Anacyclus depressus
- Pearly Everlasting – Anaphalis margaritacea
- Columbine – Aquilegia sp.
- Rock Cress – Arabis caucasica
- Showy Sandwort – Arenaria macradenia
- Sea Pinks / Thrift – Armeria maritima
- Swamp Milkweed – Asclepias incarnata
- Showy Milkweed – Asclepias speciosa
- Butterfly Milkweed – Asclepias tuberosa
- ‘Monch’ Aster – Aster x frikartii
- ‘Wonder of Staffa’ Aster – Aster x frikartii
- Purple Rock Cress – Aubrieta hybrids
- Basket-of-Gold – Aurinia saxatilis
- Desert Marigold – Baileya multiradiata
- Horehound – Ballota pseudodictamnus
- Bergenia – Bergenia cordifolia
- Chocolate Flower – Berlandiera lyrata
- Poppy Mallow / Wine Cups – Callirhoe involucrata
- Sundrops – Calylophus sp.
- Desert Paintbrush – Castilleja sp.
- Cupid’s Dart – Catananche caerulea
- Jupiter’s Beard / Valerian – Centranthus ruber
- Autumn Crocus – Colchicum autumnale
- Large-flowered Coreopsis – Coreopsis grandiflora
- Thread-Leaf Coreopsis – Coreopsis verticillata
- Yellow Corydalis – Corydalis lutea
- Crocus – Crocus sp.
- Ice Plant – Delosperma sp.
- Maiden Pinks – Dianthus deltoides
- Cheddar Pinks – Dianthus gratianopolitanus
- Cottage Pinks – Dianthus plumarius
- Border Pinks – Dianthus x allwoodii
- ‘Coral Canyon’ Twinspur – Diascia integerrima
- Gas Plant – Dictamnus albus
- Sunset Foxglove – Digitalis obscura
- Pale Coneflower – Echinacea pallida
- Purple Coneflower – Echinacea purpurea
- Globe Thistle – Echinops ritro
- Engelmann’s Daisy – Engelmannia peristenia
- Zauschneria | Hummingbird Trumpet – Epilobum canum
- Barrenwort – Epimedium sp.
- Fernleaf Fleabane – Erigeron compositus
- Showy Fleabane – Erigeron speciosus
- Hercules Buckwheat – Eriogonum heracleoides
- James Buckwheat – Eriogonum jamesii
- Cushion Buckwheat – Eriogonum ovalifolium
- Sulfur Buckwheat – Eriogonum umbellatum
- Amethyst Sea Holly – Erygium amethystinum
- Blanket Flower – Gaillardia x grandiflora
- Gaura / Whirling Butterflies – Gaura lindheimeri
- Endress Cranesbill – Geranium endressii
- Bigroot Cranesbill – Geranium macrorrhizum
- Bloody Cranesbill – Geranium sanguineum
- Sticky Geranium – Geranium viscosissimum
- Baby’s Breath – Gypsophila paniculata
- Common Sneezeweed – Helenium autumnale
- Sun Rose – Helianthemum nummularium
- Maximilian Sunflower – Helianthus maximiliani
- Daylily – Hemerocallis hybrid
- Coral Bells – Heuchera sp.
- Orange Sneezeweed / Owl’s Claw – Hymenoxys hoopesii
- Candytuft – Iberis sempervirens
- Iris
- Red-Hot Poker/Torch Lily – Kniphofia uvaria
- English Lavender – Lavandula angustifolia
- Dotted Blazing-Star – Liatris punctata
- Tall Gayfeather – Liatris scariosa
- Spike Gayfeather – Liatris spicata
- Sea Lavender – Limonium latifolium
- Lewis Flax – Linum lewisii
- Blue Flax – Linum perenne
- Blackfoot Daisy – Melampodium leucanthum
- Desert Four O’Clock – Mirabilis multiflora
- Little Bee Balm – Monardella odoratissima
- Daffodils/Narcissus – Narcissus sp.
- Catmint – Nepeta x faassenii
- White Evening Primrose – Oenothera caespitosa
- Bronze Evening Primrose – Oenothera howardii
- Missouri Evening Primrose – Oenothera macrocarpa
- Pale Evening Primrose – Oenothera pallida
- Ornamental Oregano – Origanum sp.
- Oriental Poppy – Papaver orientale
- Beardlip Penstemon – Penstemon barbatus
- Mat Penstemon – Penstemon caespitosus
- Wasatch Penstemon – Penstemon cyananthus
- Firecracker Penstemon – Penstemon eatonii
- Mexicali Penstemon – Penstemon mexicali hybrids
- Palmer Penstemon – Penstemon palmeri
- Pine-Leaf Penstemon – Penstemon pinifolius
- Desert Penstemon – Penstemon pseudospectabilis
- Bridges Penstemon – Penstemon rostriflorus
- Rocky Mtn. Penstemon – Penstemon strictus
- Utah Penstemon – Penstemon utahensis
- Whipple’s Penstemon – Penstemon whippleanus
- Russian Sage – Perovskia atriplicifolia
- Jerusalem Sage – Phlomis sp.
- Cinquefoil/Potentilla – Potentilla sp.
- Paper Flower – Psilostrophe tagetina
- Pasqueflower – Pulsatilla vulgaris
- Mexican Hat / Prairie Coneflower – Ratibida columnifera
- Black Eyed Susan – Rudbeckia hirta
- Goldsturm Coneflower – Rudbeckia fulgida
- Little Henry Rudbeckia – Rudbeckia subtomentosa
- Silver Salvia – Salvia argentea
- Arizona Sage – Salvia arizonica
- Germander Sage – Salvia chamaedryoides
- Scarlet Sage – Salvia coccinea
- Platinum Sage – Salvia daghestanica
- Mexican Sage – Salvia darcyii
- Desert Purple Sage – Salvia dorrii
- Texas Autumn Sage – Salvia greggii
- Meadow Sage – Salvia nemorosa / S. sylvestris
- Culinary Sage – Salvia officinalis
- Mojave Sage – Salvia pachyphylla
- Cotton Lavender – Santolina sp.
- Pincushion Flower – Scabiosa caucasia
- Red Birds in a Tree – Scrophularia macrantha
- Cherry Skullcaps – Scutellaria suffrutescens
- Gold Moss Sedum – Sedum acre
- Kamschatka Stonecrop – Sedum kamtschaticum
- Two-Row Stonecrop – Sedum spurium
- ‘Autumn Joy’ Sedum – Sedum x ‘Autumn Joy’
- Hens and Chicks – Sempervivum tectorum
- Greek Mountain Tea – Sidertis syriacus
- False Solomon Seal – Smilacina racemosa
- Goldenrod – Solidago spp.
- Globemallow – Sphaeralcea sp.
- Lamb’s Ear – Stachys spp.
- Sundancer Daisy – Tetraneuris (Hymenoxys) acaulis
- Germander – Teucrium chamaedrys
- Tulip – Tulipa
- Spike Speedwell – Veronica spicata
- Showy Goldeneye – Viguiera multiflora
- Desert Zinnia – Zinnia grandiflora
Groundcovers
- Pussytoes – Antennaria sp.
- Bearberry – Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
- Rock Cress – Aubretia spp.
- Snow-in-Summer – Cerastium tomentosum
- Hardy Plumbago – Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
- Iceplant – Delosperma spp.
- St. Johns Wort – Hypericum calycinum
- Dead Nettle – Lamium spp.
- Soapwort – Saponaria spp.
- Stonecrop – Sedum spp.
- Hens & Chicks – Sempervivum spp.
- Partridge Feather – Tanacetum densum ssp. amani
- Creeping Germander – Teucrium cussonii
- Creeping Thyme – Thymus spp.
- Turkish Veronica – Veronica liwanensis
- Creeping Speedwell – Veronica spp.
Grasses
- Indian Rice Grass – Achnatherum hymenoides
- Big Bluestem – Andropogon gerardii
- Sideoats Grama Grass – Bouteloua curtipendula
- Blue Grama Grass – Bouteloua gracilis
- Buffalograss – Bouteloua dactyloides
- Feather Reed Grass – Calamagrostis acutiflora
- Korean Feather Reed Grass – Calamagrostis arundinacea
- Tufted Hair Grass – Deschampsia caespitosa
- Blue Fescue – Festuca ovina syn. glauca
- Idaho Fescue – Festuca idahoensis
- Atlas Fescue – Festuca mairei
- Blue Oat Grass – Helictotrichon sempervirens
- Great Basin Wildrye – Leymus cinereus
- Maiden Grass – Miscanthus sinensis
- Purple Moor Grass – Molina caerulea
- Muhly Grass – Muhlenbergia reverchonii
- Mexican Feather Grass – Nassella (Stipa) tenuissima
- Switch Grass – Panicum virgatum
- Ravenna Grass – Saccharum (Erianthus) ravennae
- Little Bluestem – Schizachyrium scoparium
- Autumn Moor Grass – Sesleria autumnalis
- Indian Grass – Sorghastrum nutans
- Alkali Dropseed – Sporobolus airoides
- Prairie Dropseed – Sporobolus heterolepis
- Giant Sacaton Grass – Sporobolus wrightii
Vines
- Trumpet Vine – Campsis radicans
- Honeysuckle – Lonicera spp.
- Japanese Wisteria – Wisteria floribunda
- Kentucky Wisteria – Wisteria macrostachya
Succulents
- Havard Agave – Agave havardiana
- Parry’s Agave – Agave parryi
- Artichoke Agave – Agave parryi var. truncatum
- Utah Agave – Agave utahensis
- Sotol / Desert Spoon – Dasylirion wheeleri
- Texas Red Yucca – Hesperaloe parviflora
- Little Giant Hesperaloe – Hesperaloe funifera
- Beargrass – Nolina microcarpa
- Banana Yucca – Yucca baccata
- Soaptree Yucca – Yucca elata
- Soapweed Yucca – Yucca glauca
- Adam’s Needle Yucca – Yucca filamentosa
- Beaked Yucca – Yucca rostrata
Cactus
- Englemann Hedgehog – Echinocereus englmannii
- Claretcup Cactus – Echinocereus triglochidiatus
- Beavertail Cactus – Opuntia basilaris
- Hedgehog Prickly Pear – Opuntia erinacea
- Prickly Pear Cactus – Opuntia phaeacantha
- Plains Prickly Pear Cactus – Opuntia polyacantha
