Leaf adaptations allow plants to withstand heat and drought well. The hairy foliage of the Geranium and the thick leathery leaves of the Olearia and Ceanothus reduce water loss from the foliage.

Several of these plants will also attract vital pollinators to your garden, helping to improve biodiversity.

The Bistorta and Ajuga form groundcover, which suppresses weed growth and helps to cover the soil. Keeping ground covered reduces soil erosion and the loss of water from the soil surface by evaporation. Using an organic mulch, preferably homemade compost, while the plants establish can help to provide the same benefits. Avoid spreading bagged potting compost on beds and borders.

1 - Ceanothus ‘Puget Blue’ 

2- Weigela ‘Floribunda Variegata’ (v)

3 - Olearia macrodonta

4 - Hibiscus syriacus ‘Oiseau Bleu’ 

5 - Pittosporum ‘Garnetti’ (v)

6 - Bistorta affinis ‘Superba’

7 - Ajuga reptans ‘Catlin’s Giant’

8 - Symphiotrichum ‘Little Carlow’ (_cordifolium_hybrid) 

9 - Geranium ‘Orion’  

2 - Weigela ‘Florida Variegata’ (v) is compact medium-sized deciduous shrub with mid-green leaves edged in creamy white, and clusters of funnel-shaped, light pink flowers in early summer.

3 - Olearia macrodonta is an evergreen shrub with spiny-toothed, grey-green leaves, white-felted on the underside, and clusters of small, fragrant, white daisy flowers in summer.

4 - Hibiscus syriacus ‘Oiseau Bleu’ is a medium-sized, upright deciduous shrub with lobed dark green leaves. Violet-blue single flowers with maroon centres are produced in late summer and autumn.  

5 - Pittosporum ‘Garnettii’ (v) is a dense, bushy, medium-sized evergreen shrub, with rounded grey-green leaves narrowly edged with cream and sometimes tinged pink in winter. Clusters of small, deep purple flowers appear from late spring into early summer.

6 - Bistorta affinis ‘Superba’ is a low growing semi-evergreen perennial forming a wide mat, with dark green leaves and short spikes of small, pale pink flowers that deepen to crimson with age held above the foliage.

7 - Ajuga reptans ‘Catlins Giant’ is a semi-evergreen perennial forming a mat of large, glossy purple-brown leaves, with short spikes of blue flowers in late spring and early summer.

8 - Symphyotrichum ‘Little Carlow’ (_cordifolium_hybrid) is a herbaceous perennial producing substantial clumps of mid-green, toothed, heart-shaped leaves, and abundant violet-blue, yellow-centred, daisy-like flowers from early autumn. 

9 - Geranium ‘Orion’ is a spreading perennial, ideal for groundcover, with deeply lobed mid-green leaves. Masses of large, cup-shaped, lavender-blue flowers with purple veins, a white centre and almost round, overlapping petals are produced over a long period during summer.