Best Plants for Utah's Climate: Guide to Perennials for Utah

Creating a thriving landscape in Utah’s unique environment requires choosing plants that can handle everything from scorching summers to snowy winters. That’s where perennials for Utah come in. These tough, reliable plants return year after year, saving you time and money while adding lasting color and structure to your yard.

This guide features 35 of the best perennials for Utah, broken down by sun, soil, bloom time, and landscape goals—helping you build a beautiful, climate-smart garden that thrives across seasons.

What Are Perennials?

Perennials are plants that live for more than two years, returning each growing season from their root system. They go dormant in winter and regrow in spring, making them ideal for Utah’s cold-weather cycles.

Why Choose Perennials for Utah?

Choosing perennials for Utah means less replanting, less maintenance, and more resilience. These plants are typically adapted to poor soils, fluctuating temperatures, and limited water—exactly what Utah gardens require.

Utah’s Climate Zones

Utah's USDA Hardiness Zones range from 4a to 9a, but most of northern and central Utah falls between zones 5a–7a. Knowing your zone helps you pick perennials for Utah that won’t just survive, but thrive.

• Penstemon

With vibrant, tubular flowers, penstemon is one of the most iconic perennials for Utah. It thrives in full sun and dry soils and is a favorite among hummingbirds.

• Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)

This sun-loving perennial produces cheerful, daisy-like blooms in red, orange, and yellow. It’s drought-tolerant, making it ideal for xeriscaping with perennials for Utah.

• Russian Sage

Russian sage features silvery foliage and tall spikes of lavender-blue flowers. It adds height and texture and thrives in hot, dry climates—a standout among perennials for Utah.

• Coneflower (Echinacea)

A beloved native perennial, coneflower is hardy, colorful, and pollinator-friendly. Its long blooming season and tolerance for heat and poor soil make it a reliable choice.

• Salvia

Salvia is a fragrant and hardy plant that blooms all summer long. Available in a range of colors, it's low maintenance and pairs well with other perennials for Utah.

• Yarrow

Yarrow is a tough perennial with fern-like foliage and flat-topped flower clusters. It thrives in sun and lean soil, ideal for Utah’s drought-prone areas.

• Bee Balm (Monarda)

Bee balm adds bold color and attracts pollinators. It prefers moderate watering and partial sun, offering diversity among drought-tolerant perennials for Utah.

• Coreopsis

Coreopsis produces masses of golden blooms and thrives in full sun. It tolerates poor soil and minimal water, making it a dependable addition to your garden.

• Lavender

Lavender is both ornamental and practical. It loves heat, dislikes wet roots, and is one of the most aromatic perennials for Utah, ideal for herb gardens and borders.

• Black-Eyed Susan

This cheerful yellow daisy blooms from mid-summer to fall. It’s hardy, easy to grow, and an essential pick for low-maintenance perennials for Utah.

• Sedum (Stonecrop)

Sedums are succulents that thrive in hot, dry conditions. Their thick leaves and late-season flowers make them an excellent contrast in mixed perennial beds.

• Hens and Chicks

These low-growing succulents are excellent ground covers. Cold-hardy and drought-resistant, they’re great for rock gardens and xeriscaping with perennials for Utah.

• Ice Plant

The ice plant forms a mat of foliage and bright blooms, especially suited to hot, dry locations. It’s a low-maintenance favorite in the world of perennials for Utah.

• Catmint (Nepeta)

Catmint is an excellent border plant with silvery foliage and lavender-blue flowers. It blooms early and reblooms through summer. As one of the easiest perennials for Utah to grow, it thrives in full sun and dry conditions.

Catmint is also deer- and rabbit-resistant, which makes it great for more rural properties or gardens near open space. Its strong fragrance and soft texture pair well with roses or ornamental grasses.

• Jupiter’s Beard (Centranthus ruber)

Jupiter’s beard is a long-blooming perennial with clusters of reddish-pink flowers. It tolerates drought, poor soil, and rocky conditions, thriving in areas that challenge other plants.

It's one of the most adaptable perennials for Utah, offering both charm and toughness. Bees and butterflies love it, and it reseeds easily for naturalized landscapes.

• Columbine (Aquilegia)

Columbine is a spring-blooming perennial with delicate, nodding flowers in many colors. It tolerates shade and adds whimsical beauty to woodland-style gardens.

Many Utah native varieties of columbine are especially resilient. Their ability to handle partial shade and rocky soils makes them one of the most versatile perennials for Utah.

• Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

A standout variation of the standard coneflower, purple coneflower brings rich color and strong upright form. It thrives in full sun and is drought-tolerant once established.

This long-lived bloomer attracts bees, butterflies, and birds alike. As a hardy and ornamental pick, it remains one of the best-loved perennials for Utah.

• Helianthemum (Rock Rose)

This low-growing, shrubby perennial produces cheerful flowers in early summer and prefers poor, dry soils. It’s great for rock gardens and slopes.

Its mounding shape helps control erosion and fill space quickly. Among perennials for Utah, rock rose stands out for durability and visual charm.

• Daylilies (Hemerocallis)

Daylilies are among the easiest perennials for Utah. With thousands of cultivars, they offer blooms in nearly every color. Their foliage remains green and tidy throughout the growing season.

They tolerate a wide range of soils, from clay to sand, and once established, they require minimal care. Perfect for borders, banks, or mass plantings.

• Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina)

Lamb’s ear offers soft, velvety foliage and pale purple flower spikes in summer. It’s a kid-favorite plant and a reliable groundcover that suppresses weeds.

It grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. Its drought resistance and silvery texture make it one of the most useful perennials for Utah in dry designs.

• Coral Bells (Heuchera)

Known for their colorful foliage and delicate flower spikes, coral bells perform well in shade and part sun. Newer varieties come in purples, oranges, and even silver tones.

Though more moisture-loving than some, they’re adaptable when planted in the right spot. Ideal for shaded Utah gardens, coral bells offer variety in shade-tolerant perennials for Utah.

• Prairie Coneflower (Ratibida columnifera)

This wildflower has a unique, sombrero-shaped bloom and thrives in dry, sunny locations. It’s native to much of the western U.S., including Utah.

Perfect for prairie-style gardens, it reseeds freely and supports native pollinators. As a true western native, it earns its place among the toughest perennials for Utah.

• Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)

Though technically a grass, prairie dropseed is often used like a flowering perennial thanks to its fine texture and graceful shape. It forms tidy mounds and sends up fragrant, airy seedheads in late summer.

This native grass is drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and extremely low maintenance—an excellent complement to flowering perennials for Utah in both formal and naturalistic gardens.

• Blanketflower 'Arizona Sun'

This compact variety of gaillardia produces bold red and yellow blooms and thrives in full sun. It blooms profusely with little water or care and handles poor soil with ease.

‘Arizona Sun’ is particularly well-suited to xeriscaping and color-themed gardens. Its long bloom period makes it one of the most rewarding perennials for Utah.

• Globe Thistle (Echinops ritro)

Globe thistle brings architectural interest with spherical blue flowers and deeply lobed foliage. It’s incredibly heat- and drought-tolerant, thriving in lean soils and full sun.

In addition to being stunning in dried arrangements, it also attracts bees and butterflies. For bold texture, globe thistle is a standout among perennials for Utah.

• Goldenrod (Solidago)

Goldenrod adds bright, golden-yellow plumes in late summer to early fall. It thrives in full sun and poor soil and is often wrongly blamed for allergies (ragweed is the true culprit).

It’s a native plant that supports pollinators and birds while requiring little from the gardener. For late-season color and habitat support, goldenrod is a top-tier pick in perennials for Utah.

• Creeping Thyme

This aromatic herb forms a dense mat of foliage and produces small purple flowers in summer. It’s ideal for pathways, rock gardens, or between stepping stones.

As a ground cover, creeping thyme is one of the most versatile perennials for Utah, needing little water and withstanding light foot traffic.

• Blue Flax (Linum lewisii)

A native wildflower in Utah, blue flax produces delicate sky-blue flowers that open in the morning and close by afternoon. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.

Blue flax is a great addition to naturalized or meadow plantings, and it self-sows freely. For a soft, fluttery texture, it's an excellent native among perennials for Utah.

• Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia)

With dramatic, torch-like flowers in red, orange, and yellow, red hot poker adds bold color and architectural interest. It thrives in heat and prefers dry, sandy soil.

Its exotic look belies how well it performs in Utah landscapes. As long as drainage is good, this eye-catching bloomer fits right in with tough perennials for Utah.

• Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

This milkweed variety produces clusters of orange flowers that butterflies and bees can’t resist. It’s drought-tolerant, native, and low maintenance once established.

Butterfly weed is a critical food source for monarch butterflies. As both an ornamental and ecological powerhouse, it's a top pick among perennials for Utah.

• Sea Holly (Eryngium)

Sea holly features spiky blue flowers and silvery foliage, offering a dramatic touch to sunny borders. It thrives in dry, sandy soils and adds texture and contrast.

It’s especially deer-resistant and loved by pollinators. As a bold accent, sea holly deserves a spot among unique perennials for Utah.

• Veronica (Speedwell)

Veronica produces spikes of purple, blue, or pink blooms and has a compact, mounding habit. It works well in borders and cottage-style gardens.

Drought-tolerant and easy to grow, it’s a great filler among showier perennials for Utah, offering extended bloom time and pollinator support.

Final Tips for Planting Perennials in Utah

Now that you've discovered 35 beautiful and reliable perennials for Utah, it’s time to plan your garden layout with success in mind. While choosing the right plants is key, how you plant and care for them in the first season makes all the difference.

When planting perennials for Utah, always start with well-drained soil. Amending heavy clay with compost or sand improves aeration and helps roots establish. Choose planting locations based on sun requirements—many Utah perennials need full sun (6+ hours per day), but some thrive in partial shade.

Spacing is also crucial. Avoid overcrowding by giving each plant room to grow. This promotes airflow, reduces disease risk, and helps every perennial reach its full potential. After planting, water deeply and consistently for the first few weeks. Once established, most perennials for Utah will thrive with far less attention than annuals.

Mulching around your plants helps retain moisture, keeps weeds down, and regulates soil temperature—especially important in Utah’s fluctuating climate. Use natural mulch like bark or shredded wood, and refresh it each spring.

Build a Lasting Landscape with Perennials for Utah

Utah’s climate can be tough on plants, but with the right perennials, your landscape can be both beautiful and resilient. The 35 plants in this guide are tried-and-true performers—many of them native or adapted—that handle drought, heat, cold, and poor soil like champions.

From the vibrant blooms of blanket flower and penstemon to the low-growing elegance of creeping thyme and hens and chicks, these perennials for Utah offer long-lasting color, texture, and pollinator appeal. By choosing regionally appropriate plants, you'll save water, reduce maintenance, and enjoy a garden that returns stronger every year.

Whether you’re creating a xeriscape, enhancing a cottage garden, or building a pollinator haven, the best perennials for Utah will reward you with stunning results and minimal fuss.

If you're unsure where to start or how to group your plants for maximum impact, reach out to your local experts—like Sable Hills Landscaping—for design support, soil prep, and installation tailored to your space and goals.

With smart plant choices and a climate-adapted strategy, your Utah garden can flourish beautifully for years to come.

Looking for a landscaper near you? Call us at (801) 367-0945 to learn more.