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)
Nepeta nepetella
Lesser catmint
Osteospermum 'Bloemhoff Belle'
African daisy
Osteospermum 'Bodegas Pink'
African daisy
Osteospermum 'Cannington John'
African daisy
Osteospermum 'Giles Gilbey'
African daisy
Osteospermum 'Sunny Asti'
African daisy
Osteospermum 'Sunny Carlos'
African daisy
Osteospermum 'Sunny Victoria'
African daisy
Papaver 'Blood Red'
Oriental poppy
Papaver 'Carneum'
Oriental poppy
Papaver 'John Metcalf'
Oriental poppy
Papaver 'Kleine Tanzerin'
Oriental poppy
Papaver 'Ruffled Patty'
Oriental poppy
Papaver 'Watermelon'
Oriental poppy
Papaver orientale 'Sturmfackel'
Oriental poppy
Pelargonium 'Pinki PInks'
Tender geranium
Pennisetum 'Fairy Tails'
Fountain grass
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln Gold'
Fountain grass
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Red Head'
Fountain grass, Swamp foxtail grass, Chinese pennisetum, Chikara shiba
Penstemon 'Beech Park'
Beard tongue
Penstemon 'Elgar Enigma'
Beard tongue
Penstemon 'Elgar Firefly'
Beard tongue
Penstemon 'Elgar Nimrod'
Beard tongue
Penstemon 'Margery Fish'
Beard tongue
Penstemon 'Peace'
Beard tongue
Penstemon 'Purple Passion'
Beard tongue
Penstemon 'Raspberry Ripple'
Beard tongue
Penstemon barbatus 'Jingle Bells'
Bearded penstemon, Beardlip penstemon, Common beardtongue
Penstemon fruticosus var. scouleri 'Albus'
Shrubby penstemon, Woody penstemon, Slender woody penstemon
Penstemon heterophyllus
Foothills beard tongue
Penstemon richardsonii
Cut-leaved beard tongue
Photinia 'Super Red'
Christmas berry
Photinia glabra 'Variegata'
Japanese photinia, Christmas berry
Photinia x fraseri 'Carré Rouge'
Red square Photinia
Pinus mugo 'Gnom'
Mountain pine, Swiss mountain pine
Pinus mugo 'Hesse'
Mountain pine, Swiss mountain pine
Pinus mugo 'Mops'
Mountain pine, Swiss mountain pine
Pinus nigra 'Globosa'
Austrian pine, Black pine
Pinus parviflora 'Kobe'
Japanese white pine
Pinus pinea 'Silver Crest'
Stone pine, Umbrella pine
Pinus strobus 'Densa'
Weymouth pine, Eastern white pine, Deal pine
Potentilla fruticosa 'Bo-Peep'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Goldstar'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Longacre Variety'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Orangeade'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla neumanniana
Spring cinquefoil, Tabernaemontanus cinquefoil
Quercus ilex
Holm oak, Evergreen oak, Holly leaved oak
Rosa 'White Grootendorst'
Rugosa rose