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)
Bergenia x schmidtii
Old hybrid bergenia
Betula pendula
European white birch, Silver birch, Warty birch, Common birch
Betula pendula 'Fuzzy Feathers'
European white birch
Bidens 'Hot and Spicy'
Tickseed
Bidens 'Nice 'n Spicy'
Tickseed
Bidens 'Spicy Ice'
Tickseed
Bidens 'Spicy Margarita'
Tickseed
Bidens 'Tiger Bee'
Tickseed
Bidens ferulifolia 'Electric White XXL'
Tickseed
Bidens Rockstar = 'BIDROSTA'
Tickseed
Brachyglottis 'Drysdale'
Drysdale's shrubby ragwort
Brachyglottis 'Moira Reid'
Shrubby ragwort
Brachyglottis bidwilli
Bidwill's shrubby ragwort
Brachyglottis compacta
Compact shrubby ragwort
Brachyglottis elaeagnifolia
Elaeagnus leaved groundsel
Brachyglottis huntii
Rautini
Brachyglottis monroi
Monroi's ragwort
Briza media
Common quaking grass, Didder grass, Totter grass, Cow quakes, Dillies, Doddering dickies
Briza media
Common quaking grass, Didder grass, Totter grass, Cow quakes, Dillies, Doddering dickies
Briza media 'Golden Bee'
Common Quaking grass
Briza media 'Limouzi'
Common Quaking grass
Briza media 'Russells'
Common quaking grass, Didder grass, Totter grass, Cow quakes, Dillies, Doddering dickies
Buddleja 'Blue Chip'
Buddleia, Butterfly bush
Buddleja 'Lilac Chip'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja 'Longstock Pride'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja 'Pink Delight'
Hybrid summer lilac, Hybrid butterfly bush
Buddleja 'White Chip'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii 'African Queen'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii 'Bicolor'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush
Buddleja davidii 'Bressingham Bountiful'
Buddleia, Butterfly bush
Buddleja davidii 'Buzz Lavender'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii 'Buzz Pink'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii 'Ellen's Blue'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii 'Fascinating'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush
Buddleja davidii 'Florence'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush
Buddleja davidii 'Fortune'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii 'Summer House Blue'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii 'Variegata'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush
Buddleja davidii 'White Bouquet'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii Buzz Ivory = 'Tobuivo'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii Buzz Magenta = 'Tobudpipur'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii Buzz Sky Blue = 'Tobuskyblu'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii Buzz Velvet = 'Tobudvelve'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii Camberwell Beauty = 'Camkeep'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii Little Pink = 'BotEx005'
Butterfly bush
Buddleja davidii Little White = 'BotEx003'
Butterfly bush
Buddleja davidii Marbled White = 'Markeep'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii Peacock = 'Peakeep'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia