As temperatures rise every summer, we have to consider what we are planting in our gardens. Varieties need to be drought-tolerant and potentially still provide us with color and texture.
‘Choosing and planting Drought tolerant species, we can conserve water, reduce maintenance efforts and enjoy a beautiful and thriving garden throughout the summer months,’ says the gardening expert. Sarah Raven.
Below, we look at five varieties to get you started with expert tips from those who have them Drought tolerant garden.
1. Lavender
(Image credit: Getty Images)
is the first Lavender – An excellent, reliable alternative that bees and butterflies love.
‘Adapted to its native Mediterranean climate, lavender tolerates both heat and drought. The flowers are edible and can be used to add a delicious flavor to cocktails, syrups, sherbets and salads. Just cut back the flower spikes in autumn, but don’t cut into the woody stem,’ advises Sarah.
Julien Palframand, Head of Plant at British Garden Centres, Agreed, ‘You really can’t go wrong with lavender. Plant it in a sunny spot with proper drainage, and it will flower its heart out all summer while the bees do the rest for you.’
For smaller gardens, check out The Munstead variety, currently £5.99 for a 2-3 liter pot at Gardening Express. It is compact, perfectly hard and very fragrant.
Amazon Classic sells English lavender from Carbeth Plants for £11.99 for a 14cm pot; It is great for beginner gardeners and perfect for pots.
2. Pelargonium or Geranium
(Image credit: Future plc/Polly Altes Photography)
Sarah says that not only are they beautiful to look at, but they also have a really delicious aroma and taste and are the perfect addition to refreshing cordials and herbal teas.
‘Pelargoniums It is not a thirsty plant, but growth will be stunted if kept too dry. You should water and feed the plant well to encourage a second flush of flowers in summer and deadhead,’ she adds.
Gardening Express has a lovely variety called Raspberry Ripple for £3.99 for a liter pot. It has beautiful pink petals with raspberry speckles.
For a punchy red look on Amazon’s Bullseye Scarlet variety, £13.99 for a pack of six.
3. Achillea or yarrow
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Sometimes called yarrow, this hardy plant is a great low maintenance Perennial Which comes in a beautiful range of colors.
Gardening and greenhouse specialist at Easy Garden IrrigationLucy Bradley, explains, ‘Staying green and vibrant during hot, dry summers when many other plants struggle, yarrow achieves this by developing its roots, foliage and structure so it can thrive in dry soil in nutrient-poor, intense sunlight and drying winds. Its strong root system is formed from deep, fibrous roots and creeping rhizomes, so it can reach deep into the soil for moisture.’
Julian also likes this, ‘Another star for our potential hot client, Achillea has flat-topped flowers in yellow, pink or red. It’s one of those plants that really likes to be left to its own devices, so it can thrive with little water.’
For a classic look, choose pure white Achillea millefolium of crocus, from £8.99 for a 9cm pot.
4. Verbena
(Image credit: Getty Images / AmTreasure)
‘Verbena bonariensis produce an absolutely stunning display of head-high purple flowers from late summer to autumn and are covered in a coffee of butterflies as soon as they catch a glimpse of sunlight,’ says Sarah. ‘They endure drought PerennialSo they require little maintenance, but you should protect them in autumn with a layer of leaf mold or composted mulch.’
Lucy also recommends this beautiful variety, ‘A native of tropical and subtropical South America means this architectural perennial has developed its roots, stems and leaves to positively thrive in warm temperatures and minimal humidity, so it actually grows quickly and produces prolific blooms as temperatures rise.’
If you’d like to see this in your garden, we’d love to Pack of five from J.Parker for £7.99. Great for pots and even as cut flowers, butterflies will be your best friend!
For dark purple, consider Santos Purple variety from Gardening Express, from £3.99.
5. Sea holly or eryngium
(Image credit: Getty Images/ Jackie Parker Photography)
For those who prefer an architectural look more and perhaps less color, sea holly is your go-to plant.
Sea holly actually thrives in extreme temperatures, able to survive for months with only limited rainfall while requiring very little care.
‘Its extreme hardiness is due to its being a native of the dry, rocky and coastal regions of the world in which it has adapted to cope with these extremes,’ explains Lucy. ‘Its ability to thrive in bright sunlight, high temperatures and low rainfall is mainly due to the long tips that reach deep into the soil to capture moisture, while at the same time it develops hard, spiny leaves with a thick, waxy covering, which means it loses very little moisture, even in dry heat.
A more traditional look can be purchased from Sea Holly B&Q – They have the Blue Hobbit variety for £13.49 for three plants. For a silver look that can be tailored coastal style garden, see Crocus’s Magical White Lagoon, currently £7.50 for a 9cm pot.
Drought-tolerant garden essentials
Whitefurz Water Butt and Kit, 230L
This comes complete with a watering butt kit and a three-piece interlocking stand. It is ideal for small to medium-sized gardens and will help you keep a drought-tolerant garden watered.
5-in-1 Soil Moisture/Fertility/PH/Temperature/Insolation Meter
This is a really simple kit so you can measure humidity, pH, temperature, fertility and sunlight intensity all at once so you can make sure your drought tolerant plants get the best care.
RocketGro Organic Magic Mulch, 50L
A really good mulch is important to help your drought-happy plants retain moisture. This is a really good design with good reviews.
With climate change, it’s a good time to see which plants will do well in the heat and are drought-tolerant. And choosing these resilient plants proves that creating a drought-tolerant garden doesn’t mean compromising on color or character.
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