The best drought-tolerant plants for Fresno and the Central Valley are Desert Willow, Rosemary, Lantana, Lavender, and Salvia. These five handle 100-degree-plus summers, alkaline soil (pH 8.0+), and restricted watering schedules while looking great year-round. Below are our top 15 picks across every plant category --- trees, shrubs, ground covers, and perennials --- with specific details for Central Valley growing conditions.
All of these plants thrive in USDA Zone 9b (Fresno County), perform well in alkaline clay soil, and need minimal supplemental water once established.
Drought-Tolerant Trees (4 Picks)
1. Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)
- Water needs: Very low
- Sun: Full sun
- Mature size: 15--25 feet tall, 15--20 feet wide
- Why it works in Fresno: Desert Willow is native to the Southwest and completely at home in the Central Valley. It produces showy pink, purple, or white trumpet-shaped flowers from late spring through fall --- exactly when your yard needs color most. It is deciduous, dropping narrow leaves in winter for easy cleanup.
- Maintenance tip: Prune in late winter to shape. No supplemental water needed once established except during extreme heat waves. Avoid overwatering --- it actually performs better with less.
2. Chinese Pistache (Pistacia chinensis)
- Water needs: Low to moderate
- Sun: Full sun
- Mature size: 25--35 feet tall, 25--35 feet wide
- Why it works in Fresno: Chinese Pistache is one of the most popular shade trees in Fresno and Clovis for good reason. It provides excellent summer shade, tolerates alkaline soil and heat, and delivers brilliant red-orange fall color --- one of the few trees that gives genuine autumn color in the Central Valley. The City of Fresno includes it on their recommended street tree list.
- Maintenance tip: Water deeply once every 2--3 weeks in summer during the first two years. After establishment, it can survive on natural rainfall plus minimal supplemental irrigation. Select a male tree to avoid the small berries females produce.
3. Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)
- Water needs: Low to moderate
- Sun: Full sun
- Mature size: 10--25 feet tall (varies by variety), 10--20 feet wide
- Why it works in Fresno: Crape Myrtles bloom heavily in the hottest months --- July, August, and September --- when most other flowering plants have checked out. Available in white, pink, red, and purple, they are one of the most colorful summer-blooming trees for the Valley. They also have attractive exfoliating bark and good fall color.
- Maintenance tip: Do not commit "crape murder" --- the aggressive topping that ruins the tree's natural form. Instead, remove spent flower clusters and thin crossing branches in winter. Water deeply every 1--2 weeks in summer once established.
4. Olive Tree (Olea europaea)
- Water needs: Very low
- Sun: Full sun
- Mature size: 20--30 feet tall, 20--30 feet wide
- Why it works in Fresno: Olives are a Central Valley staple --- the region has been growing them commercially for over a century. As ornamentals, they provide evergreen silver-green foliage, drought tolerance that is nearly unmatched, and a Mediterranean elegance. They thrive in alkaline soil and extreme heat.
- Maintenance tip: Select a fruitless variety (like "Swan Hill" or "Wilsonii") to avoid the mess of fallen olives. Prune annually to maintain shape and thin the canopy. Once established, olive trees need almost no supplemental water.
Drought-Tolerant Shrubs (4 Picks)
5. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
- Water needs: Very low
- Sun: Full sun
- Size: 2--6 feet tall depending on variety (upright or trailing)
- Why it works in Fresno: Rosemary is essentially bulletproof in the Central Valley. It thrives in heat, poor soil, and drought. It provides evergreen structure, fragrant foliage, and blue flowers in late winter through spring. Use trailing varieties as ground cover on slopes, or upright varieties as hedges and borders.
- Maintenance tip: The most common way to kill rosemary is overwatering. Plant in well-drained soil, water sparingly once established, and prune after flowering to maintain shape. Do not cut into old wood --- it does not regenerate well from bare stems.
6. Lantana (Lantana camara)
- Water needs: Low
- Sun: Full sun
- Size: 2--6 feet tall, 3--8 feet wide (spreading)
- Why it works in Fresno: Lantana is a heat-loving machine that flowers nonstop from spring through the first frost. Available in yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, and multi-color varieties, it provides continuous color when many other plants wilt. It is a magnet for butterflies and hummingbirds. In Kerman and Fresno, it is treated as a perennial --- it may freeze back in cold winters but returns reliably from the roots.
- Maintenance tip: Cut back hard in late February before spring growth. Remove spent flower heads to encourage continuous blooming. Water once per week in peak summer for the best flower production; it can survive on less but flowers more with occasional deep watering.
7. Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens)
- Water needs: Very low
- Sun: Full sun
- Size: 5--8 feet tall, 4--6 feet wide
- Why it works in Fresno: Also called Texas Ranger or Barometer Bush, Texas Sage bursts into purple or pink bloom after summer rain or high humidity --- earning it the name "barometer bush." The rest of the year, its silver-gray foliage provides beautiful contrast in the landscape. It is extremely heat and drought tolerant, and it actually performs better in alkaline soil.
- Maintenance tip: Do not shear into a formal hedge shape --- it looks best in its natural, rounded form. Avoid overwatering and heavy clay without drainage, which can cause root rot. Prune lightly after flowering if needed.
8. Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora)
- Water needs: Very low
- Sun: Full sun
- Size: 3--4 feet tall (foliage), flower spikes to 5--6 feet
- Why it works in Fresno: Despite the name, Red Yucca is not actually a yucca --- it is a succulent-like perennial that sends up tall coral-red flower spikes from late spring through fall. The grass-like foliage is evergreen and architectural. It is virtually maintenance-free and handles the worst heat and drought the Central Valley can produce.
- Maintenance tip: Remove spent flower stalks in late fall. That is essentially the entire maintenance requirement. No fertilizer needed, no pruning, and no supplemental water once established (though occasional deep watering in peak summer keeps it looking its best).
Drought-Tolerant Ground Covers (3 Picks)
9. Dymondia (Dymondia margaretae)
- Water needs: Low
- Sun: Full sun to light shade
- Size: 1--3 inches tall, spreading
- Why it works in Fresno: Dymondia forms a tight, silver-green carpet that tolerates light foot traffic. It is one of the best lawn alternatives for small areas --- front yard strips between the sidewalk and street, pathways between stepping stones, or borders around plant beds. It stays flat without mowing and handles heat well.
- Maintenance tip: Plant from flats spaced 6--8 inches apart in spring. Water regularly during the first summer to establish, then reduce to once per week or less. It spreads slowly but fills in densely. Pull weeds by hand until it achieves full coverage.
10. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
- Water needs: Low
- Sun: Full sun
- Size: 1--4 inches tall, spreading
- Why it works in Fresno: Creeping thyme forms a fragrant, flowering carpet that releases a pleasant scent when stepped on. It produces tiny purple flowers in late spring that attract pollinators. It handles moderate foot traffic and fills in between stepping stones and pavers beautifully.
- Maintenance tip: Plant in well-drained soil --- it does not tolerate standing water or heavy clay without amendment. In Fresno's alkaline clay, amend the planting area with compost and coarse sand to improve drainage. Water once per week in summer once established.
11. Silver Carpet (Dymondia or Cerastium tomentosum)
- Water needs: Low
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Size: 3--6 inches tall, spreading
- Why it works in Fresno: Silver Carpet (Snow-in-Summer) provides bright silver-white foliage that contrasts beautifully with green plants and dark mulch. It covers ground quickly, suppresses weeds, and produces small white flowers in spring. It handles heat and drought once established.
- Maintenance tip: Trim back after flowering to maintain a tidy appearance and encourage dense new growth. It can become aggressive in irrigated areas, so plant it where spreading is welcome or use edging to contain it.
Drought-Tolerant Perennials (4 Picks)
12. Salvia (Salvia spp.)
- Water needs: Low
- Sun: Full sun
- Size: 1--5 feet tall depending on variety
- Why it works in Fresno: Salvia is one of the most versatile and rewarding plant families for the Central Valley. Dozens of species and varieties offer flowers in purple, blue, red, pink, orange, and white. They bloom heavily from spring through fall, attract hummingbirds and butterflies, and handle heat and alkaline soil with ease. Top picks for Fresno: Salvia greggii (Autumn Sage), Salvia leucantha (Mexican Bush Sage), and Salvia clevelandii (Cleveland Sage).
- Maintenance tip: Cut back by one-third in late winter before spring growth. Deadhead spent flowers for continuous blooming. Water deeply once per week in summer for best flowering; less water is fine but reduces bloom count.
13. Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
- Water needs: Very low
- Sun: Full sun
- Size: 1--3 feet tall, 2--4 feet wide
- Why it works in Fresno: Lavender is practically made for Central Valley conditions. It thrives in heat, alkaline soil, and drought --- three things that define our growing environment. The fragrant purple flowers bloom in late spring through summer, and the gray-green foliage provides year-round structure. Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas) and Goodwin Creek Grey are top performers locally.
- Maintenance tip: Good drainage is essential --- amend heavy clay soil with compost and coarse material before planting. Prune after flowering by cutting back to just above the woody growth. Never cut into bare wood. Avoid overwatering --- more lavender dies from too much water than too little in Fresno.
14. Penstemon (Penstemon spp.)
- Water needs: Low
- Sun: Full sun to light shade
- Size: 1--4 feet tall depending on variety
- Why it works in Fresno: Penstemons produce tall spikes of tubular flowers in red, pink, purple, blue, and white that hummingbirds cannot resist. Several species are California natives perfectly adapted to our climate. They bloom in spring and early summer, filling the gap between early spring bulbs and summer-blooming plants. Penstemon heterophyllus (Foothill Penstemon) and Penstemon spectabilis (Showy Penstemon) are excellent local choices.
- Maintenance tip: Cut back spent flower stalks after blooming. Penstemons are short-lived perennials (3--5 years) but self-seed readily. Plant in well-drained soil --- they are more sensitive to wet feet than to drought or heat.
15. Agapanthus (Agapanthus africanus)
- Water needs: Low to moderate
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Size: 1--2 feet tall (foliage), flower stalks 2--4 feet
- Why it works in Fresno: Agapanthus (Lily of the Nile) produces dramatic globe-shaped clusters of blue or white flowers on tall stalks in summer. The strap-like evergreen foliage provides year-round structure. It handles heat well, tolerates alkaline soil with occasional iron supplementation, and is one of the most reliable summer-blooming perennials in the Central Valley. You will see it in nearly every established Fresno neighborhood.
- Maintenance tip: Remove spent flower stalks after blooming. Divide clumps every 3--4 years in fall when they become overcrowded (you will know because flowering decreases). Water once per week in summer for best flower production.
Plants to Avoid in the Central Valley
Some popular plants sold at big-box garden centers struggle or fail in Fresno's combination of alkaline soil, extreme heat, and limited water:
- Hydrangeas --- Need acidic soil (pH 5.5--6.5) and consistent moisture. Our alkaline clay soil is the opposite of what they want. They will survive in sheltered, irrigated spots but never truly thrive.
- Azaleas and Rhododendrons --- Require acidic soil and humidity. Not suited for the Central Valley climate.
- Japanese Maples --- Suffer in our extreme summer heat and alkaline soil. Can work in sheltered north-facing locations with afternoon shade and consistent watering, but they are high-maintenance here.
- Hostas --- Shade-loving plants that cannot handle our heat even in full shade. Leaves burn and crisp by mid-summer.
- Impatiens --- Popular annual that melts in temperatures above 90 degrees. Not viable from June through September in Fresno.
- Most ferns --- Need consistent moisture and humidity. A few tough varieties (like Autumn Fern) can work in deeply shaded, irrigated spots, but most will not survive a Central Valley summer.
Designing a Drought-Tolerant Front Yard
The most effective approach to drought-tolerant landscaping is a three-zone design:
Zone 1: Focal Point Tree (1--2 trees)
Select a Desert Willow, Chinese Pistache, or Crape Myrtle as the anchor of your design. This provides shade, vertical interest, and seasonal color. Position it where it will shade the west-facing side of your home for summer energy savings.
Zone 2: Mid-Layer Shrubs and Perennials
Surround the tree with a mix of Lantana, Salvia, Lavender, and Texas Sage. Group plants by water needs --- rosemary and Texas Sage (very low water) together, Lantana and Agapanthus (low-moderate water) together. This is called hydrozoning and it prevents overwatering drought-tolerant plants.
Zone 3: Ground Cover and Mulch
Fill remaining areas with Dymondia, Creeping Thyme, or decomposed granite. Apply 3--4 inches of organic mulch around all plant beds to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and moderate soil temperature. Mulch is especially important in the Central Valley, where exposed soil can reach 140 degrees in summer.
Use drip irrigation for all plant beds. Drip delivers water directly to the root zone with minimal evaporation --- critical in our 3-day watering schedule. A well-designed drip system uses 50--70% less water than overhead sprinklers.
Cost and Rebates
A drought-tolerant front yard conversion typically costs $3,000--$7,000 depending on size and materials. Fresno homeowners may qualify for the Lawn-to-Garden rebate --- up to $1,500 ($1.00 per square foot of lawn replaced). Read our complete rebate guide for step-by-step instructions on applying.
For more design ideas, see our guide to drought-tolerant landscaping in the Central Valley.
We Design and Install Drought-Tolerant Landscapes
Our landscape design service creates custom, water-smart designs tailored to Central Valley soil and climate conditions. We handle everything from lawn removal and soil prep to plant installation, mulch and flowerbeds, and drip irrigation setup.
Request a free consultation or call (559) 809-1230. We serve Kerman, Fresno, Clovis, and surrounding communities throughout the Central Valley.