Some of these perennials are native plants and have evolved to handle a fairly wide range of weather extremes for short periods of time, have a wider tolerance for diseases, and are generally more insect resistant. One native woodland plant is American Trout Lily, and with adequate soil moisture, the gardener is rewarded with bi-color yellow and purple blooms in the summer. Trilliums or Wake-robin are fantastic for moist, shady areas in a naturalized planting.

Many perennials that flower can flourish in years of average temperatures, average rainfall, or an overall average climate although many of these same plants can also do quite well in years with below average and above average temperatures, below and above average rainfall.

Non-native perennials that flourish in average garden conditions include Persian Onion Hybrids; Astilbe Hybrids; Bethlehem Sages have captivating silver variegated foliage all summer in soils with adequate moisture; Hardy Geranium species or Cranesbills are tolerant of average to below average moisture, adding nice summer bloom colors; flowering blue summer through frost, the Blue Anise Sage handles the full sun heat; the old-fashioned favorite Maltese Cross add much needed pure red summer blooms; Common Sun-rose and its many cultivars are great rock garden plants; and try the Formosa Toad-lily for purple blooms from late summer until frost.

To view learn more about drought tolerant perennials, please visit Virtual Plant Tags.