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)
Rosmarinus officinalis 'Barbecue'
Barbecue Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis 'Miss Jessopp's Upright'
Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis 'Roman Beauty'
Rosemary
Salvia greggii 'Alba'
Autumn sage, Texas sage
Salvia greggii 'Desert Blaze'
Autumn sage, Texas sage
Salvia officinalis 'Kew Gold'
Common sage, Kitchen sage, Garden sage
Salvia officinalis 'Purpurascens Variegata'
Variegated purple sage, Common sage, Kitchen sage, Garden sage
Salvia x jamensis
James' hybrid sage
Scabiosa 'Blackberry Fool'
Scabious
Scabiosa 'Fama Blue'
Pincushion flower, Scabious, Mourning bride
Scabiosa atropurpurea 'Ace of Spades'
Mournful widow, Sweet scabious, Egyptian rose
Scabiosa caucasica 'Blausiegel'
Caucasian scabious, Pincushion flower
Scilla mischtschenkoana 'Tubergeniana'
Muczenko's squill
Sedum 'Birthday Party'
Stonecrop
Sedum 'Class Act'
Stonecrop
Sedum Herbstfreude Group 'Elsie's Gold'
Elsie's Gold stonecrop
Senecio cineraria
Silver cineraria, Sea ragwort, Silver groundsel
Stachys byzantina 'Silky Fleece'
Lambs tongue, Lambs tails, Woolly ears
Stachys macrantha
Big betony, Big sage
Taxus baccata 'Elegantissima'
English yew, Common yew, Golden English yew
Tellima grandiflora 'Delphine'
Alaska fringecup
Tellima grandiflora Odorata Group
Alaska fringecup
Thymus citriodorus (ambig.)
Lemon thyme
Tradescantia Andersoniana Group 'Red Grape'
Spiderwort
Veronica austriaca subsp. teucrium 'Kapitan'
Large speedwell, Austrian speedwell, Teucrium like speedwell
Veronica longifolia 'Blauer Sommer'
Long leaf veronica, Beach speedwell
Veronica prostrata 'Nana'
Rockery speedwell, Harebell speedwell, Prostrate speedwell
Veronica spicata 'Erika'
Blue willow herb, Spiked speedwell
Veronica spicata 'Icicle'
Blue willow herb, Spiked speedwell
Veronica spicata subsp. incana 'Silver Carpet'
Silver speedwell
Viburnum tinus 'Ladybird'
Scented laurustinus
Viburnum tinus 'Lucidum Variegatum'
Laurustinus
Viburnum tinus 'Macrophyllum'
Laurustinus
Vinca minor 'Josefine'
Lesser periwinkle, Lesser creeping myrtle, Common perwinkle
Vinca minor 'Panta'
Lesser periwinkle, Lesser creeping myrtle, Common perwinkle
Vinca minor 'Verino'
Lesser periwinkle, Lesser creeping myrtle, Common perwinkle