All plants require water for metabolic and physiological functioning.
Although some plant species are large consumers of water, other species can be maintained with relatively low quantities of water. Many people consider turfgrasses to be large water consumers, but many turf species have excellent drought tolerance mechanisms. Bahiagrass, for example, can survive for long periods of time with virtually no water. In drought periods, bahiagrass will go into a dormant stage, during which time shoot tissue will become chlorotic or necrotic. Upon resumption of adequate rainfall, however, bahiagrass will resume growth and become green again.