MYTH: Drought-tolerant plants don't need to be watered
THE FACTS
ALL plants NEED WATER.
Drought-tolerant plants are those that, once established, will survive receiving low levels of rainfall or watering.
Plants considered drought-tolerant typically have EXTENSIVE root systems.
Newly-installed trees or shrubs, drought-tolerant or not, LACK the root system needed to draw in sufficient moisture, thus require adequate irrigation to establish sufficient root systems.