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)
Buddleja davidii var. alba
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja Sugar Plum = 'Lonplum'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Callistemon citrinus 'Splendens'
Crimson bottle brush
Campanula 'Birch Hybrid'
Dalmation Bellflower
Campanula garganica
Adriatic bellflower, Dalmation bellflower, Gargano bellflower
Campanula garganica
Adriatic bellflower, Dalmation bellflower, Gargano bellflower
Campanula garganica 'Blue Diamond'
Adriatic bellflower, Dalmation bellflower, Gargano bellflower
Campanula garganica 'Dickson's Gold'
Adriatic bellflower, Dalmation bellflower, Gargano bellflower
Campanula glomerata
Clustered bellflower, Danesblood bellflower
Campanula glomerata 'Bellefleur White'
Clustered bellflower, Danesblood bellflower
Campanula glomerata 'Caroline'
Clustered bellflower, Danesblood bellflower
Campanula glomerata 'Freya'
Clustered bellflower, Danesblood bellflower
Campanula glomerata 'Genti Blue'
Clustered bellflower
Campanula glomerata 'Genti Twisterbell'
Clustered bellflower
Campanula glomerata 'Genti White'
Clustered bellflower, Danesblood bellflower
Campanula glomerata 'Joan Elliott'
Clustered bellflower, Danesblood bellflower
Campanula glomerata 'Purple Pixie'
Clustered bellflower, Danesblood bellflower
Campanula glomerata var. acaulis
Clustered bellflower, Danesblood bellflower
Campanula glomerata var. alba
Clustered bellflower, Danesblood bellflower
Campanula latiloba
Olympic bellflower
Campanula latiloba
Olympic bellflower
Campanula latiloba 'Hidcote Amethyst'
Olympic bellflower
Campanula latiloba 'Highcliffe Variety'
Olympic bellflower
Campanula portenschlagiana 'Resholt's Variety'
Dalmation bellflower, Wall harebell
Carex testacea Limeshine = 'Wilshine'
Orange New Zealand sedge
Ceanothus 'Blue Sapphire'
California lilac
Ceanothus 'Burkwoodii'
California lilac, Redroot
Ceanothus 'Concha'
California lilac, Redroot
Ceanothus 'Delight'
California lilac, Redroot
Ceanothus 'Ken Taylor'
California lilac, Redroot
Ceanothus 'Lemon and Lime'
California lilac, Redroot
Ceanothus 'Tilden Park'
California lilac, Redroot
Ceanothus gloriosus 'Emily Brown'
Point Reyes ceanothus
Ceanothus griseus var. horizontalis 'Silver Surprise'
Carmel ceanothus, Yankee point ceanothus
Ceanothus impressus
Santa Barbara Ceanothus
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus 'Millerton Point'
White blue blossom
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus 'Mystery Blue'
Blue blossom, Blue brush
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus El Dorado = 'Perado'
California lilac
Centranthus ruber
Red valerian, Setwall, Jupiter's beard, Drunken sailor, Pretty betsy, Foxes' beard
Centranthus ruber 'Albus'
Red valerian, Setwall, Jupiter's beard, Drunken sailor, Pretty betsy, Foxes' beard
Centranthus ruber var. coccineus
Red valerian, Setwall, Jupiter's beard, Drunken sailor, Pretty betsy, Foxes' beard
Ceratostigma griffithii
Burmese plumbago
Ceratostigma willmottianum Desert Skies = 'Palmgold'
Chinese plumbago, Leadwort
Ceratostigma willmottianum Forest Blue = 'Lice'
Chinese plumbago, Leadwort
Cercis Eternal Flame = 'Nc2016-2'
Eastern redbud
Cercis griffithii Blue Lagoon = 'Rafmar1'
Redbud
Chaenomeles 'Orange Star'
Flowering quince
Chaenomeles Madame Butterfly = 'Whitice'
Flowering quince