Every garden will benefit from drought tolerant plants, but especially gardens with dry, chalky soil, or those that face south. And if we have another summer heatwave, you'll be glad you planted up some of these varieties: your garden will look nicer, and you'll still be providing pollinators with food during extreme weather.
When you've chosen the drought tolerant plants you like from our list, find out how to prepare your garden for a heatwave. Then head to our sourcebook of top garden retailers for all your gardening needs.
1. Russian sage
Best place to buy drought tolerant plants
This gorgeous variety of sage grows tall and is full of silvery purple flowers in late summer. The perennial makes a great addition to tall borders and dies back during winter.
Maintenance: Cut back in March to promote a bushier growth; mulch after pruning.
Soil type: Well-drained, poor to moderately fertile.
Where to plant: Full sun.
Find more low-maintenance garden plants in our guide.
2. Geranium sanguineum var. striatum
This variety of native geranium is a drought tolerant plant, like many native geranium species. The pretty veined flowers add plenty of interest to borders or rock gardens.
Maintenance: Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering period.
Soil type: Fertile, well-drained soil.
Where to plant: In full sun or partial shade.
3. Sea holly
Sea holly is a wonderful drought-tolerant plant for adding texture to your planting scheme; its spiky blooms are distinctive and bold. Flowers in July and August.
Maintenance: Lift and divide large colonies in spring.
Soil type: Dry, well-drained, poor to moderately fertile soil.
Where to plant: Full sun.
Find more pretty purple plants for your garden in our guide.
4. Gaura
This delightfully delicate drought tolerant perennial has slender, wispy stems, with a haze of white flowers appearing every May through to September. A great addition to natural-looking planting schemes.
Maintenance: Cut back and lift and divide large colonies in spring.
Soil type: Fertile, well-drained soil.
Where to plant: Full sun.
5. Sedum
Sedum are fascinating plants with fleshy leaves and a variety of shapes and textures. They make excellent container and window box plants, and don't need much care.
Maintenance: Avoid overwatering, especially during active growth in spring.
Soil type: Moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil.
Where to plant: Full sun.
Find more ideas for container gardening in small spaces.
6. Dierama
This graceful, wispy plant, commonly known as 'Angel's Fishing Rod', is surprisingly resilient. The stems are slender but tough, making it suitable for windy spots. Once established, this plant does well with little water. Flowers throughout summer.
Maintenance: Water well while growing.
Soil type: Humus-rich, well-drained soil.
Where to plant: Full sun.
7. Lavender
A gardeners' favourite for millennia, lavender is an unfussy, useful perennial that is bee friendly, pet friendly, and one of the best plants for health. And it will happily go without water for a little while during the summer.
Maintenance: Cut back when finished flowering; prune gently in spring, avoiding cutting into old growth.
Soil type: Moderately fertile, well-drained soil.
Where to plant: Full sun.