15 Drought Resistant Plants in the UK for the Master Gardener

With the climate changing, globally and in the UK, comes the need for adopting a different approach, regarding resource preservation, sustainable food production or renewable energy generation. And gardening, be it for food growing or to create an aesthetic environment for ourselves, is no exception. 

British people, especially in the South, are purchasing drought resistant plants, which can withstand the longer and hotter summers the country experiences every five to ten years.

So, if you want:

• To understand the different xeriscaping techniques to make your green plot water-wise,
• To find examples of drought-resistant plants for your garden.

Then you’ve come to the right place!

According to researchers from the Historic Droughts Project, without understanding the history of drought and water scarcity during past periods in the UK, we cannot develop improved water resource management solutions to help us handle drought better in the future. 

On that note, learning how to garden in dry, hot weather conditions is one water-conserving contribution, which many of us can make in view of the inevitable changes that our environment suffers and their adverse effects on our lives.

How to spot drought symptoms in plants

How plants handle dry periods varies from species to species. But here are a few general signs you should look out for.

• Soft and limp blossoms. Water-depleted plants show clear signs of drought when the blossoms, top leaves and the upper part of the stem become soft and limp. Sometimes the leaves will have turned yellow or brown at the edges and the flowers will have shrivelled up.
• Stunted vegetation growth. A persistent lack of adequate water will stunt both weeds and plants.
• The small size of the fruit. Fruit-bearing trees and shrubs would produce tiny fruit if there is insufficient water. If you notice these water-deprivation signs, then your garden needs supplemental irrigation.

Drought resistant plants for your garden

Whether you fancy having a go at container gardening and plant some pretty xeriscaping plants, be it cacti, succulents, ornamental grasses or meadow-type plants, or you’re keen on turning your entire garden into a water-smart landscaping masterpiece, check out our list of plant varieties which will thrive in a hot and dry climate:

Drought resistant grass

Blue fescue

Fountain grass

Pampas grass

Drought resistant shrubs

Lavender

Rockrose

Daisy bush

Drought resistant climbers

Passionflower

Jasmine

Trumpet vine

Drought resistant flowers

Poppy

Verbena

Californian fuchsia

Drought resistant succulents

Roseum

Snake plant

Crown of thorns

How to make your garden drought-resistant

Just investing in drought resistant plants is not enough. What you need to do is gradually build a thriving but low-maintenance and drought-tolerant garden. For that, you need to pay attention to a few key components.

Soil considerations

Well-nourished soil gives plants the best chance to develop their root system and grow strong and vigorous. However, a lot of plant species that are tolerant of dry conditions are less demanding, in terms of their nutrient needs. 

Still, ensure that you cultivate new flower beds and the areas around established shrubs and perennials by digging the soil well. Then, lightly add an organic fertiliser of your choice, be it homemade garden compost, manure or some other natural product that you can find at your local garden centre.

Plants selection

Even if you’re not quite the horticulturalist you wished to be and you only have basic knowledge of different plant varieties, you can still learn how to recognise drought-tolerant species before you read the label.

Sun-loving plants that cope well in arid regions have common water-preservation characteristics, even if they differ in their appearance, including:

• Thin, small, needle-resembling leaves – leaves with a small surface control water evaporation better;
• Inwards-facing leaves – their surface is less exposed to the elements;
• Hairy or leathery leaves – both types of leaves prevent water loss;
• Waxy or succulent leaves – again, these features improve water retention;
• Light-coloured leaves – they reflect light better and thus, keep the leaves cool;
• Deep roots – help the plant access water from deep below the soil surface.

Planting tips

Now to the planting. To create your water-smart landscape, follow these important strategic tips to succeed:

• Choose plant varieties that match the soil type. Identify the soil type and select plants that are suited to these conditions;
• Group similar plants together. It makes sense to plant varieties with the same watering and sun-exposure needs;
• Plant Mediterranean plants in the spring. Some sun-loving plant species will fail to “settle in” your garden if planted in Autumn before the cold weather sets in;
• Start your garden with young plants. Small, young plants have a better chance to adapt to their environment than if you tried to work with older and bigger plants;
• Provide regular care during plant establishment. Drought resistant plants still need regular watering until they establish their root system.

Water-savvy tips

Immediately after planting, you can improve the soil’s water retention by adding mulch around your plants, such as bark or gravel. Also, ensure you keep on top of weeds by removing them manually or by using some natural weed killing techniques. After all, you want the little water that there is during droughts to sustain your beautiful plants, not unwanted weeds. 

Also, during dry periods and hosepipe ban conditions, you can resort to alternative water resources. So, even if you’ve used up your rainwater supplies, you can employ the so-called greywater solution but only as a short-term measure against drought.

Greywater is a collective term for any household type of used water – the rinse cycles of your dishwasher or washing machine, or your bath and shower water. Don’t worry if the water contains mild detergents, as the soil has the capacity to filter them out. 

Naturally, avoid irrigating edible crops with greywater to prevent contamination. And finally, do not reuse household water if it has been stored for longer than 24 hours to avoid the onset of bacteria growth on your precious plants.

Lawn care

Lawns are generally hardy when it comes to withstanding hot and arid conditions. Even if it turns a bit yellow or brown in the summer season, your lawn has the capability to recover completely in the rainy Autumn months. Still, there are several things that you can do to avoid summer drought stress damage to your lawn. 

Some of the key tips you can take away are:

• Keep your lawn slightly longer to encourage water retention;
• Do not treat your lawn with herbicides which may burn the grass;
• Avoid feeding your lawn with chemical fertilisers during a drought, as they may damage it;
• Ask your kids and visitors to stay away from the grass – heavy traffic compacts the soil and reduces water absorption and air circulation.

Hardscape changes

Many “drought-loving” gardens have no lawn areas at all. So, you may also want to consider turning parts of your grassed area into a trendy, drought-tolerant hardscaping feature by replacing it with gravel and potted plants. Making a gravel garden is actually not as hard as you think. And regarding its maintenance in heatwave conditions, you’ll have a much easier time than if you had to take care of a lawn.

So here you have it, our guide to drought-resistant gardening, which may come handy if you live in an area with low rainfall. Or find it useful in the future when we may see more extreme weather conditions of heat and drought. And if you ever need more professional guidance on your garden needs or expert garden maintenance assistance, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

Do you need help with your garden?

Is your garden in a desperate need of professional maintenance? Lawn mowing, weeding, bush and tree trimming are all tasks that take time and effort. If you don’t have the time, or if you simply don’t want to do the tedious tasks, you can always get in touch with the professional gardeners from Fantastic Services!

Takeaways

• Investing in drought resistant plants would make your garden low maintenance and keep it in good shape during droughty times;
• There are a number of drought resistant plants you could choose from, be it grasses, shrubs, flowers, climbers, succulents and cacti;
• Switching to drought resistant plants doesn’t mean you don’t have to care for your garden anymore. Never stop learning about each plant and how you can bring it to its best shape.

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Header image source: Shutterstock/ By Terrie L. Zeller

• Last update: May 28, 2020

Posted in Plants in the UK