Drought-tolerant: Plants that survive without rainfall or irrigation for short periods. Most plants are drought-tolerant after establishment, when planted in the right conditions; i.e., succulents survive droughts in xeric soils, while wetland plants survive droughts in hydric soils. Although plants can be drought-tolerant, their health and aesthetics during drought may decline due to stress, high maintenance, and dormancy (a plant may lose its leaves, stop blooming, and stems may desiccate, but the roots of the plant survive).
Updated 10/1/13 for rating system applicability.