The Pyracantha, Elaeagnus and Yucca have glossy foliage which reduces moisture loss through the leaf surface. Small waxy leaves such as those on the Genista are also adapted to reduce moisture loss. The Yucca also has thick and slightly fleshy foliage which can store moisture in the plant to help sustain it during periods of drought.
The Salvia forms a ground cover which helps protect the soil surface from erosion and moisture loss associated with bare earth. Covering exposed bare soil will also reduce the ability of unwanted plants seeding into bare patches.
Additional organic mulching, preferably with homemade compost, can improve soil moisture retention and weed suppression. Mulches should be spread when the soil is already moist, to help trap some of that moisture before it dries out in summer.
1 - Pyracantha ‘Saphyr Rouge’ is an evergreen shrub with glossy, narrow leaves, spiny shoots and clusters of white flowers in early summer, followed by orange-red berries.
2 - Verbena bonariensis is a tall herbaceous perennial with strong branching stems bearing airy clusters of small, bright purple flowers from summer to autumn.
3 - Elaeagnus × submacrophylla ‘Limelight’ is an evergreen shrub with spiny brown shoots bearing bright yellow leaves narrowly edged with dark green. Small, fragrant white flowers are produced in autumn.
4 - Yucca flaccida 'Golden Sword' is an evergreen with rosettes of drooping sword-like leaves, which are green with a broad pale yellow stripe down the centre. Spikes of creamy white, bell-shaped flowers are produced in mid- to late summer on tall stems.
5 - Genista ‘Porlock’ is a semi-evergreen, medium-sized shrub with green stems and small leaves, which becomes covered in fragrant, bright yellow flowers in spring.
6 - Salvia ‘Nachtvlinder’ is a semi-evergreen sub-shrub, with small, aromatic, green leaves. Dark maroon-purple flowers in loose terminal clusters, are borne over a long period from late spring to autumn.