Top Drought-Resistant Plants for Thriving Gardens in Hotter, Drier Seasons
In these scorching summer days, as we face more frequent droughts and hosepipe bans, it's smart to consider swapping out your water-guzzling plants for some hardy, drought-resistant ones, especially if you've got a sunny spot and well-drained soil.
Drought-tolerant plants have spent millennia evolving to endure high temperatures and lengthy droughts during summer. They often boast succulent or furry leaves, thin or silvery-gray leaves, and underground storage organs like bulbs, as well as deep and expansive root systems.
If you've got a hot, sunny border with well-drained soil, it's time to opt for drought-resistant plants. This not only cuts down on watering but will see these plants thrive in these conditions.
Annie Godfrey, the proprietor of Daisy Roots nursery in Hertfordshire, sells a plethora of hardy drought-resistant perennials and kindly shares her top picks.
Top Drought-Tolerant Plants for Your Garden
Sedums (Hylotelephium)
With fleshy leaves and flat, nectar-rich flowerheads that develop slowly over several months, sedums (also known as ice plants) offer stunning looks for months on end. Don't forget to do the Chelsea chop on your sedums to prevent them from flopping in the middle of the growing season.
Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia/Salvia yangii)
This hardy plant boasts silvery-grey foliage and spires of lavender-blue flowers from July to the first frosts. To keep it in top shape, give it a hard prune when it comes back into growth in spring. Reaching 75cm in height.
Anthemis (Chamomile)
Lovely mound-forming plants with attractive ferny leaves and masses of daisy flowers in summer, Anthemis is a delight. 'Suzanne Mitchell' showcases creamy daisies with a golden eye, grey leaves, and low mounding, silver ferny foliage, while 'Sauce Hollandaise' offers pale yellow flowers that fade to cream as they age.
Salvias
Excellent for drought tolerance and long flowering periods, salvias like Salvia verticillata are a gardener's dream. It flowers for ages and is a boon for bees, forming large mounds, with hairy leaves and small, reddish-purple flowers that are borne in long, dense, spikes on reddish stems in summer.
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Keen gardening insights bring your garden to life, even in the driest of conditions. Embrace the change and make a splash with drought-tolerant plants!
- Incorporating drought-tolerant plants like Sedums, Russian Sage, Anthemis, and salvias can help make your garden more sustainable during summer droughts, adding beauty and longevity to your home-and-garden lifestyle.
- The Chelsea chop technique, applied to plants such as Sedums, can help prevent them from flopping in the middle of the growing season, ensuring a well-maintained and eye-catching display.
- Taking care of drought-resistant plants like Russian Sage involves giving it a hard prune when it comes back into growth in spring, allowing it to thrive in hot, sunny conditions.
- By choosing drought-tolerant plants, not only will you save on watering, but you can help protect and preserve your gardens during periods of water scarcity, contributing to sustainable living practices.
