After the heavy rains we had recently, I went out in the yard with my husband to bask in the glory of green grass and well-watered plants. My husband said, “Laura, look at this.” He proceeded to scratch up the mulch in one of the flowerbeds to reveal that right under the mulch it was still dry as a bone. I was flabbergasted.

This just reminded me how drastic the drought situation is. Hot and dry is something South Carolinians are well used to and fortunately, many plants can thrive in such conditions. When planting, keep in mind the specimen’s water requirements and opt for drought-tolerant plants whenever possible.

Xeriscaping is the practice of landscaping with drought-tolerant plants. In this area, that is a wise practice.

If you want to see what kinds of plants are really tough and drought-resistant, look beside roadways. If those plants can survive a long, hot summer alongside pavement with no irrigation, they can surely make it in your yard.

Crepe myrtles are a favorite tree along roads because of their drought tolerance, not to mention their beauty. For those reasons, they make a great addition to the home landscape.

Other drought-tolerant trees include redbud, Carolina cherry laurel, yoshino cherry, pecan, gingko biloba and Southern magnolia. Some drought-tolerant shrubs include butterfly bush, holly, juniper, nandina, rose of Sharon, spirea, forsythia, camellia, India hawthorn, Japanese aucuba, boxwood, ligustrum and flowering quince.

There is also a large variety of drought-tolerant perennials to choose from. A few of them include lamb’s ear, lantana, sedum, artemisia, baby’s breath, blanket flower, butterfly weed, cockscomb, coreopsis, gaura, geranium, bearded iris, globe amaranth, red hot poker, purple coneflower, verbena, yarrow, zinnia, bee balm, goldenrod, daylily, dusty miller, candytuft, shasta daisy and marigold. And I don’t think you’ll find anything more drought-tolerant than our desert friends, prickly pear cactus and hens and chicks. If you’re in the market for drought-tolerant vines, consider Carolina jessamine, sweet autumn clematis, honeysuckle, English ivy, wisteria and Virginia creeper.

In addition to the plants listed, most ornamental grasses are drought-tolerant, as well. There are dozens and dozens of ornamental grasses to choose from, ranging in height from just a few inches tall to several feet high. The offerings go far beyond the popular pampas grass and are worth taking a look at.

Chances are that you have a fondness for some plants that like a lot of moisture. It is okay to include these plants in your landscape as well, as long as you’re smart about their placement. To save time and money on watering, locate plants with similar water needs together. It’s easy to water one flowerbed a couple of times a week, but if you scattered those plants throughout the landscape you’d find yourself running through the yard with a hose for a good part of the summer.

Laura Stokes is a Master Gardener and author of “The Southern Wildlife Garden.” She can be reached at laurapstokes@bellsouth.net.