With some conditioning of the soil and careful watering, there is a considerable range of plants that can tolerate dry conditions once they are established.

• Plant any silver leaved, less hardy, sun lovers in April so they establish their roots well before winter arrives
• Try to plant small specimens so that they get used to their growing environment gradually as they develop
• Adding organic matter to the soil before planting can help to improve both water availability and drainage, but do not add fertiliser, as this can encourage too much lush growth which may flop in summer, require extra watering, and be affected by frost in the winter
• Use mulches to retain moisture in the soil

Many drought tolerant plants have silver or grey-green leaves, their light leaf colour reflecting the harsh rays of the sun. Some have a coating of fine hairs on their leaves or stems, helping to trap moisture around the plant tissues.

Below is a selection of plants with good drought-tolerant properties.

Trees

Acacia dealbata (mimosa) AGM: Height 15-30m (50-100ft); spread 15m (50ft)
Cercis siliquastrum (Judas tree) AGM: Height and spread 10m (30ft)
Crataegus monogyna –

A native plant is one that originated or arrived naturally in a particular place without human involvement. In the British Isles, native plants are those that were here during the last ice age or have arrived unaided since.

Gardeners often use the word variety when referring to a specific plant, but the correct botanical term is 'cultivar'. Whichever word you use, it means a distinctive plant or plants, given a specific cultivar name and usually bred to enhance certain characteristics, such as flower or fruit size, colour, flavour or fragrance, plant size, hardiness, disease resistance, etc. Additionally, it is worth knowing that, botanically, variety has another meaning - it refers to a naturally-occurring distinct plant that only has slight differences in its looks. For example, Malva alcea var. fastigiata differs from typical plants by having an upright habit.

Cultivar

Conifers

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (Lawson cypress): Height and spread variable according to cultivar
Cupressus arizonica var. glabra: 10-15m x 4-5m (30-50ft x 12-15ft)
Juniperus, including: Juniperus communis ‘Green Carpet’ AGM – Cultivar of Native to GB and Ireland -Height and spread variable according to species and cultivar
Pinus, including Pinus sylvestris – Native to GB: Height and spread variable according to species and cultivar
Taxus baccata AGM – Native to GB and Ireland

Palms

Cordyline australis AGM: 3-10m x 1-4m (10-30ft x 3-13ft)
Trachycarpus fortunei AGM: (20m x 2.5m (70ft x 8ft)

Small shrubs

Artemisia maritim ‘Coca-Cola’ – Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland
Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ AGM: 60cm x 90cm (2ft x 3ft)
Helianthemum nummularium ‘Wisley Pink’ – Cultivar of Native to GB and Ireland
Halimium: Height and spread variable according to cultivar
Veronica: Height and spread variable according to cultivar
Lavandula (lavender): Height and spread variable according to cultivar
Nandina domestica (sacred bamboo) AGM: 2m x 1.5m (6ft x 5ft)
Ozothamnus ledifolius AGM: 1m x 1m (3ft x 3ft)
Potentilla fruticosa ‘Primrose Beauty’ AGM - Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland
Ruscus aculeatus – Native to GB
Salvia atriplicifolia ‘Blue Spire’ AGM: 1.2m x 1m (4ft x 3ft)
Santolina chamaecyparissus AGM: 50cm x 50cm (20in x 3ft)
Thymus serpyllum ‘Pink Chintz’ AGM – Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland
Vinca minor – Native to GB and Ireland - Archaeophyte

Medium-large shrubs

Abelia × grandiflora AGM: 3m x 4m (10ft x 12ft)
Arbutus unedo AGM: 8m x 8m (25ft x 25ft). Native to Ireland 
Callistemon citrinus: Height and spread variable according to cultivar
Cytisus scoparius - Native to GB and Ireland
Elaeagnus angustifolia AGM: 6m x 6m (20ft x 20ft)
Olearia macrodonta AGM: 6m x 5m (20ft x 15ft)
Ozothamnus rosmarinifolius  ‘Silver Jubilee’ AGM: 2-3m x 1.5m (6-10ft x 5ft)
Viburnum lantana – Native to GB
Vitex agnus-castus: 2-8m x 2-8m (6-25ft x 6-25ft)

Climbers

Campsis: 10m (30ft)
Eccremocarpus scaber AGM: 3-5m (10-15ft)
Hedera helix ‘Glacier’ AGM - Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland 
Hedera helix ‘Goldchild’ AGM – Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland 
Jasminum officinale: 12m (40ft)
Passiflora caerulea (e.g. ‘Constance Elliott’ AGM): 10m (30ft)
Solanum crispum: 6m (20ft)

Perennials

Armeria maritima – Native to GB and Ireland
Artemisia absinthium – Native to GB and Ireland - archaeophyte 
Baptisia australis AGM: 1.5m x 60cm (5ft x 2ft)
Bergenia: 30-60cm (1-2ft) x 45-60cm (18in-2ft)
Euphorbia: Height and spread variable according to cultivar
Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae AGM – Variety of native to GB
Euphorbia amygdaloides ‘Purpurea’ – Cultivar of native to GB 
Eryngium: Height and spread variable according to cultivar
Echinops: Height and spread variable according to cultivar
Heuchera: Height and spread variable according to cultivar
Hylotelephium telephium (Atropurpureum Group) 'Purple Emperor' AGM – Cultivar of native to GB
Iris foetidissima AGM – Native to GB
Nepeta cataria – Native to GB and Ireland - Archaeophyte 
Osteospermum jucundum AGM: Height 10-50cm (4-20in) Spread 50-90cm (20in-3ft)
Verbena including V. rigida AGM and V. bonariensis AGM: Height and spread variable according to cultivar
Verbena officinalis ‘Bampton’ – Native to GB and Ireland – Archaeophyte
Veronica spicata – Native to GB and Ireland

Grasses

Briza media: Native to GB and Ireland
Cortaderia selloana: 2.5 -3m x 1.5m (8-10ft x 5ft)
Melica uniflora f. albida: AGM - Native to GB and Ireland
Panicum virgatum: 1m x 75cm (3ft x 30in)
Pennisetum alopecuroides: 0.6-1.5 x 0.6-1.2m (2-5ft x 2-4ft)
Stipa gigantea: AGM 2.5m x 1.2m (8ft x 4ft)
Pennisetum rubrum

Containers and borders

Alonsoa
Amaranthus
Arctotis
Argyranthemum
Bidens
Brachyscome
Calendula officinalis (pot marigold)
Cerinthe major
Convolvulus sabatius
Cosmos bipinnatus
Eschscholzia californica (Californian poppy)
Felicia
Gazania
Gomphrena globosa
Helianthus (sunflower)
Helichrysum petiolare
Heliotropium
Helipterum roseum (syn. Rhodanthe chlorocephala subsp. rosea)
Ipomoea purpurea
Lantana camara
Lavandula multifida, L. dentata
Limnanthes douglasii
Limonium sinuatum ‘Forever Gold’
Mesembryanthemum
Mirabilis jalapa
Nicotiana
Nigella damascena
Osteospermum
Papaver rhoeas: Native to GB and Ireland - Archaeophyte
Papaver somniferum: Native to GB and Ireland – Archaeophyte
Pelargonium
Plectranthus
Portulaca grandiflora
Senecio maritima
Silybum marianum: Native to GB and Ireland - Archaeophyte
Tithonia rotundifolia
Tropaeolum majus
Verbena
Zaluzianskya ovata (night phlox)

Half-hardy succulents

Aeonium
Aloe
Delosperma cooperi
Drosanthemum
Lampranthus
Sedum acre ‘Aureum’ – Cultivar of native to GB and Ireland 

Hanging basket plants

Bidens
Brachyscome
Convolvulus sabatius
Diascia
Felicia
Nemesia
Pelargonium - trailing and zonal
Tropaeolum majus
Verbena

Links

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