Drought-tolerant plants for UK gardens and a changing climate
The best drought-tolerant plants for UK gardens include lavender, Salvia nemorosa, nepeta, Phlomis russeliana, eryngiums, achilleas, sedums, Euphorbia characias, Stipa gigantea and alliums. Most enjoy full sun and free-draining soil. Plant them in autumn, water well while they establish, then let them look after themselves, and you'll have a garden that stays beautiful through hot, dry summers.
Gardening for a changing climate
UK summers are becoming hotter and drier, and hosepipe bans are something many of us now plan for. Winters, meanwhile, are often wetter. That combination matters: the plants that do best are those that cope with summer drought but don't mind a damp winter, as long as their roots aren't sitting in water.
The good news is that many of the most beautiful plants are naturally built for dry conditions. Look out for clues such as silver or grey leaves, fine or hairy foliage, aromatic leaves and deep roots. These are all ways plants save water.
It also helps to shift how we think about a garden in high summer. A border of drought-tolerant plants may look a little softer and more golden in August than a lush, irrigated one, but it has its own beauty: silver foliage shimmering in the heat, grasses turning straw-coloured, and seedheads forming early. Plants that are allowed to grow at their own pace are usually healthier and longer-lived too.
Drought-tolerant perennials
Salvia nemorosa: upright spires of violet or blue in early summer. Cut back after flowering for a second flush.
Nepeta: catmint is tough, long-flowering and loved by bees.
Phlomis russeliana: whorls of soft yellow flowers, with seedheads that stand all winter.
Eryngium: sea hollies bring steely blue structure and thrive in poor, dry soil.
Achillea: flat flowerheads in a huge range of colours.
Hylotelephium: the sedums, with fleshy leaves and late flowers for pollinators.
Salvia yangii: formerly Perovskia, with silvery stems and haze-like blue flowers in late summer.
Verbena bonariensis: tall, see-through and happy to seed around in dry gravel.
I've written more about combining some of these in my post on geum, salvia and nepeta combinations.
Shrubs and grasses
Lavender, rosemary, Cistus, Euphorbia characias and Santolina all bring evergreen or silvery structure to a sunny, dry garden. For grasses, Stipa gigantea is wonderful, with tall golden oat-like flowerheads that catch the light, and Sesleria and Festuca glauca give lower, neater clumps. Grasses are especially useful in dry gardens because they link the other plants together and keep the planting looking full right through autumn and winter.
Bulbs for dry gardens
Many bulbs actually prefer a dry summer rest, which makes them perfect partners for drought-tolerant planting. Allium 'Mont Blanc', one of my favourites, gives pure white globes in early summer and looks beautiful rising through grasses. Tulips enjoy a summer bake too, and in a sunny, free-draining spot Tulipa 'Ballerina', another favourite, with its scented orange flowers, and the deep, dark Tulipa 'Queen of Night' both look lovely woven through silver foliage.
How to plant for drought
Plant in autumn. Warm soil and autumn rain give roots months to grow before summer arrives.
Plant small. Younger plants establish quickly and develop deeper roots than large ones.
Improve drainage on heavy soil. Many drought-tolerant plants dislike wet winters. On clay, use raised beds or choose plants that cope with both.
Water deeply, then less often. In the first summer, give a good soak once a week rather than a light sprinkle every day. This encourages roots to go down.
Mulch. A layer of gravel suits Mediterranean plants, while compost or a peat-free soil improver works well around other perennials.
Collect rainwater. Water butts on every downpipe are one of the simplest ways to prepare for dry spells.
Above all, try to resist watering established plants. Once settled, most of the plants here will look after themselves, and a few weeks of summer stress will toughen them up rather than harm them. My peat-free gardening guide covers mulches and soil improvers in more detail.
Drought-tolerant planting checklist
Choose plants with silver, fine, hairy or aromatic leaves.
Plant in autumn and plant small.
Make sure drainage is good, especially for Mediterranean plants.
Water deeply and infrequently while plants establish.
Mulch with gravel or organic matter to hold in moisture.
Install water butts to catch winter rain.
Quick answers
What is the most drought-tolerant plant in the UK?
Sedums (Hylotelephium), lavender, eryngiums and Euphorbia characias are among the toughest. Once established in a sunny, free-draining spot, they rarely need watering.
When should I plant drought-tolerant plants?
Autumn is ideal on most soils, giving roots time to grow before summer. On heavy, wet ground, early spring planting can be more reliable for Mediterranean plants.
Do drought-tolerant plants need watering?
Yes, while they establish. Water deeply through their first summer, then most will cope with dry spells on their own.
