Full Sun Drought Perennials

Sea Holly

• The various cultivars of sea holly (Eryngium planum) are viable perennials for the "sun-baked" areas on your property, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden. Sea holly is native to southeastern and central parts of Europe, growing to 3 feet and requiring little water once established. The Blue Glitter hybrid has multi-branched stems and steel blue flowers, while the Jade Frost cultivar possesses variegated leaves and violet flowers. Sea holly works well in flowerbeds and perennial borders.

Aloe Vera

• Aloe (Aloe vera) is a plant of Mediterranean origin that grows outdoors in containers in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 12. Able to survive nights where temperatures dip to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, aloe is drought tolerant. Place in full sun when outdoors and bring aloe in when it rains. Aloe requires only moderate amounts of water during spring, summer and fall, while in winter it needs hardly any moisture. Aloe grows to 3 feet, with succulent, green-gray leaves; its yellow flowers bloom on stalks, but only when the plant is in bright sunlight.

Prickly Pear

• The prickly pear cactus (Opuntia compressa) is a perennial and the only cactus species growing native in many parts of the eastern United States. Prickly pear grows to a foot high and spreads out to 18 inches. In the wild, it forms colonies. As a landscaping tool, prickly pear is suitable as a ground cover in a small area or as a plant for rock gardens and sunlit, sandy hillsides. Prickly pear does not grow in wet soils. Keep it in full sun. The cactus blooms in June and July, with the yellow flowers eventually turning into edible red fruits.

Shrubby Evening Primrose

• Rock gardens and border fronts are suitable settings for the shrubby evening primrose (Calylophus serrulatus). The species develops a deep taproot to combat drought. Grown in full sun, this perennial matures to 18 inches in the wild in western Canada and western parts of the United States. Shrubby evening primrose blooms during June into July, producing 1-inch-wide yellow blossoms that turn into seed capsules. Shrubby evening primrose handles gravelly or sandy soil, as long as it drains well.