Border Shrubs That Are Drought-Resistant

Boxleaf Honeysuckle

• Boxleaf honeysuckle's fragrant flowers bloom from late spring until early fall. Honeysuckles grow best between USDA plant hardiness zones 4 and 10 and can be planted in sandy or clay soils. They can also grow up to 10 feet and withstand partial shade or sun, making them useful for planting around windows or exterior home walls. Provide 1 inch of water a week, especially during the first year of establishment. Fertilize throughout the year with organic fertilizer.

False Holly

• The false holly has dark, shiny leaves and blooms with white, fragrant flowers that bloom during the early fall. False hollies grow best in temperate zones between 50 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit with medium humidity, such as zones 6 through 9. They also grow up to 30 feet, so trimming and pruning may be needed for bordering around the windows. False hollies require feeding every two weeks from the spring through the fall, using slow-release fertilizer or diluted water-soluble fertilizer. Water with lime-free, warm water and plant in a good-draining location.

Savin Juniper

• Savin junipers grow up to 10 feet with evergreen needles. They thrive best in zones 3 through 7 and require full sun. While all are dense in branches, some savin junipers are vase-shaped and grow slowly, so they can be used as privacy borders in established homes. The leaves are dark green; fruits are brown and black. They don't require a lot of water (an inch every two weeks), but savin junipers should be planted in well-drained soil.

Blueberry

• The evergreen species of lowbush blueberry bushes can be used as a low to medium-high border with pink or white blooms. They also grow in nearly any kind of soil and temperatures; they are hardy in zones 3 through 8. Most grow between 1 and 6 feet tall, producing fruit anywhere between mid-spring and fall, depending on your zone. Plant them in well-drained soil and use azalea or rhody acidic fertilizer in the late spring.