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)
Lavandula stoechas subsp. stoechas 'Purple Wings'
French lavender, Butterfly lavender
Lonicera ligustrina var. yunnanensis 'Maigrun'
Shining honeysuckle, Boxleaf honeysuckle
Lonicera x brownii
Scarlet trumpet honeysuckle, Brown's hybrid honeysuckle
Nepeta x faassenii 'Kit Cat'
Blue catmint, Faassen's nepeta, Mauve catmint
Panicum virgatum 'Squaw'
Red switch grass
Potentilla fruticosa 'Red Ace'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa Danny Boy = 'Lissdan'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Rosa rugosa
Rugosa rose, Ramanas rose, Japanese rose, Turkestan rose, Hedgehog rose
Solanum laxum
Potato vine, Jasmine nightshade
Abies concolor 'Violacea Prostrate'
Colorado fir, White fir, Colorado white fir, Rocky Mountain white fir
Acanthus spinosus Spinosissimus Group
Spiny bear's breeches, Oyster plant
Achillea 'Apricot Beauty'
Ornamental yarrow
Achillea 'Bloodstone'
Ornamental yarrow
Achillea 'McVities'
Ornamental yarrow
Achillea millefolium 'Colorado'
Bloodwort, Woundwort, Nosebleed, Thousand leaved yarrow, Sanguinary, Carpenter's weed
Achillea sibirica
Siberian yarrow
Agapanthus 'Flower of Love'
African lily, Love flowers
Ajuga reptans 'Arctic Fox'
Common bugle, Carpet bugle, Sicklewort, Carpenter's herb
Ajuga reptans 'John Pierpoint'
Common bugle, Carpet bugle, Sicklewort, Carpenter's herb
Allium schubertii
Schubert's garlic
Allium senescens
German garlic, Mountain garlic
Anemone blanda 'Radar'
Grecian windflower, Greek anemone
Aquilegia 'Dwarf Fairyland'
Columbine, Granny's bonnet
Aquilegia 'Swan Blue and White'
Columbine
Aquilegia 'Swan White'
Columbine
Aquilegia 'Swan Yellow'
Columbine, Swan columbine
Aquilegia vulgaris 'Adelaide Addison'
Common columbine, Granny's bonnet
Aquilegia vulgaris 'Clementine Red'
Columbine, Clementine columbine
Aquilegia vulgaris 'Winky Pink-White'
Columbine, Clementine columbine
Arctotis Opera™ Series
African Daisy
Arctotis x hybrida 'Apricot'
African daisy, Hybrid African daisy
Arctotis x hybrida 'Champagne'
African daisy, Hybrid African daisy
Arctotis x hybrida 'Mahogany'
African daisy, Hybrid African daisy
Argyranthemum 'Yellow Australian'
Marguerite, Paris daisy
Aucuba japonica 'Pepperspot'
Spotted laurel, Japanese aucuba
Aucuba japonica f. longifolia
Spotted laurel, Japanese aucuba
Aucuba japonica f. longifolia 'Salicifolia'
Spotted laurel, Japanese aucuba
Aucuba omeiensis
Japanese laurel
Bergenia 'Bach'
Pigsqueak, Megasea
Bergenia 'Bartok'
Pigsqueak, Megasea
Bergenia 'HerbstBlute'
Pigsqueak, Megasea
Bergenia 'Pinneberg'
Pigsqueak, Megasea
Bergenia cordifolia 'Rose'
Heartleaf bergenia, Pigsqueak
Betula pendula 'Fastigiata'
European white birch, Silver birch, Warty birch, Fastigiate common birch
Brachyglottis rotundifolia
Muttonbird scrub
Buddleja davidii 'Buzz Black'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush
Buddleja davidii 'Panache'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush
Buddleja davidii Buzz Violet = 'Tobudviole'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush