British gardens now get wetter winters and longer, hotter, drier summers. If you choose drought-tolerant plants that are made for those conditions, you'll use less water and lose far fewer plants in a heatwave. These are the plants we grow and recommend for a low-water garden in the UK.
What makes a plant drought tolerant?
Plants that cope with dry spells usually have something in their leaves or roots that helps. Fleshy, succulent leaves store water. Silver, grey or hairy leaves reflect the sun, and small or narrow leaves lose less moisture. Deep roots reach water further down.
One thing to remember: even the toughest plant needs regular watering until it's established. Water new plants through their first growing season, then gradually leave them to fend for themselves.
Sedum (stonecrop)
Sedums are low, mat-forming succulents that do best in poor, free-draining soil and full sun. Use them in gravel gardens, on wall tops, in containers and on green roofs. Bees love the summer flowers. For deep red foliage try Sedum spurium 'Dragon's Blood', or Sedum rupestre if you want blue-green, needle-like leaves.
Sempervivum (houseleeks)
Sempervivums make neat rosettes and will grow almost anywhere that drains well, from pots and troughs to cracks in a wall. The cobweb houseleek is covered in fine silvery threads. Hens and chicks spread by putting out small offsets around the parent plant. See our sempervivum collection.
Alpines
Low-growing alpines like sun and sharp drainage. Frankenia thymifolia (sea heath) and Delosperma 'Red Mountain', an ice plant with bright flowers, are both happy in gravel and rockeries. They do well in troughs too. Browse our alpines.
Perennials for dry, sunny borders
For height and colour in a sunny border, go for Agapanthus, Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia), Liatris spicata and Day Lilies (Hemerocallis). Bergenia is a tough evergreen that copes well with dry shade. Hostas and Ligularia like moister soil, so give them a shadier, damper corner. Have a look at our perennials.
Shrubs
Ceanothus (Californian lilac), Hebe and Lonicera 'Baggesen's Gold' all handle dry spells once they're established. For a dense evergreen screen, use Laurel. See our shrubs.
Trees
Field maple is a tough native tree that puts up with dry soil and wind. A Brown Turkey fig likes a warm, sunny wall and will give you fruit. Browse our trees.
Tips for a drought-tolerant, low-water garden
- On heavy soil, add grit to improve drainage. Most drought-tolerant plants hate sitting in wet ground over winter.
- Mulch your beds in spring to keep moisture in the soil.
- Water deeply and less often, early in the morning or in the evening.
- Put plants with similar needs together.
- Plant in autumn if you can, so the roots get established over winter before the summer heat.
- Collect rainwater in a water butt for dry spells.
We pick every plant in our drought-tolerant plants collection to cope with the changing British climate. We grow them in Lincolnshire and deliver across the county.