Drought tolerant, low maintenance
Drought tolerant plants in this group will need watering weekly in dry weather for the first year or two while they grow deep roots. After that, they'll generally be happy with 2-4 weeks without water. ; Top tip: Climate change is making our summers drier, so dig in organic matter (compost or soil improvers) to improve soil structure and water retention capability. Also, collect rainwater by installing water butts.
Best plants for drought
461 plants
Drought, low maintenance climbers
68 plants
Drought, low maintenance containers
600 plants
Drought, low maintenance in shade
368 plants
Drought, low maintenance in sun
1470 plants
Drought, low maintenance trees & conifers
192 plants
Drought tolerant roses
64 plants
Shady border, drought collection
153 plants
Sunny border, drought collection
249 plants
All plants (2388)
Acanthus mollis
Brank-ursine, Artist's acanthus, Oak leafed bear's breeches
Achillea 'Apricot Delight'
Ornamental yarrow
Achillea 'Moonshine'
Ornamental yarrow
Achillea 'Pomegranate'
Ornamental yarrow
Achillea 'Summer Pastels'
Ornamental yarrow
Achillea filipendulina 'Cloth of Gold'
Fernleaf yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Bloodwort, Woundwort, Nosebleed, Thousand leaved yarrow, Sanguinary, Carpenter's weed
Achillea millefolium 'Paprika'
Bloodwort, Woundwort, Nosebleed, Thousand leaved yarrow, Sanguinary, Carpenter's weed
Agapanthus africanus 'Albus'
White flowered blue African Lily
Ajuga reptans 'Braunherz'
Common bugle, Carpet bugle, Sicklewort, Carpenter's herb
Ajuga reptans 'Burgundy Glow'
Common bugle, Carpet bugle, Sicklewort, Carpenter's herb
Akebia quinata
Five leaf aralia, Fiveleaf akebia
Alchemilla mollis
Garden lady's mantle
Allium 'Gladiator'
Onion
Allium cristophii
Star of Persia, Persian onion
Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation'
Onion, Giant flowering onion
Anemone blanda
Grecian windflower, Greek anemone
Anthemis punctata subsp. cupaniana
Roman chamomile, Sicilian chamomile
Aquilegia vulgaris 'Winky Rose-Rose'
Columbine, Winky columbine
Arbutus unedo
Killarney strawberry tree, Djina
Arbutus unedo f. rubra
Killarney strawberry tree, Djina
Aucuba japonica 'Crotonifolia'
Spotted laurel, Japanese aucuba
Berberis x stenophylla
Rosemary barberry
Bergenia 'Abendglut'
Pigsqueak, Megasea
Bergenia 'Baby Doll'
Pigsqueak, Megasea
Bergenia 'Bressingham White'
Pigsqueak, Megasea
Bergenia 'Harzkristall'
Elephant ears, Megasea, Pigsqueak
Bergenia 'Rotblum'
Elephants ears, Megasea, Pigsqueak
Brachyglottis compacta 'Sunshine'
Compact shrubby ragwort
Brachyglottis greyi
Grey's shrubby ragwort
Brachyglottis Walberton's Silver Dormouse = 'Walbrach'
Shrubby ragwort
Buddleja 'Miss Ruby'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii Adonis Blue = 'Adokeep'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii Nanho White = 'Monite'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Campanula glomerata 'Superba'
Clustered bellflower, Danesblood bellflower
Campanula portenschlagiana
Dalmation Wall harebell
Campanula portenschlagiana
Dalmation bellflower, Wall harebell
Campanula portenschlagiana 'Catharina'
Dalmation bellflower, Wall harebell
Ceanothus arboreus 'Trewithen Blue'
Catalina mountain lilac, Feltleaf ceanothus
Ceanothus griseus var. horizontalis 'Yankee Point'
Creeping carmel ceanothus
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. repens
Creeping blue blossom, Blue blossom, Blue brush
Ceratostigma willmottianum
Chinese plumbago, Leadwort
Chaenomeles speciosa 'Geisha Girl'
Showy Chinese quince
Choisya ternata
Mexican orange blossom
Choisya ternata 'Brica'
Mexican Orange Blossom
Choisya x dewitteana 'Aztec Gold'
Mexican orange blossom, Golden Mexican orange blossom
Choisya x dewitteana 'Aztec Pearl'
Mexican orange blossom, Golden Mexican orange blossom
Choisya x dewitteana White Dazzler = 'Londaz'
Mexican orange blossom, Golden Mexican orange blossom