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Drought Resistant Plants

Aldetha

Published on August 17th 2018

5

by Helen_Allsebrook. All rights reserved

With this summer being predicted to last into late autumn you may be looking at your garden and thinking it might be time to invest in some plants that are a little more drought resistant.

What makes some plants more tolerant to drought conditions?

Waxy leaves mean that they do not transpirate water so quickly.
Silver foliage plants have adapted for bright light.
Deep-rooted to collect additional water.

Some plants have leaf, stem and root structures that promote or have low rates of "evapotranspiration", which is the movement of water through a plant.

Here are a few of the best drought-tolerant plants for UK gardens

Cape Agapanthus
Agapanthus africanus

A close up of some blue Agapanthus campanulatus flowers in a flower garden

Bell Agapanthus
Agapanthus campanulatus

A close up of some Alchemilla mollis leaves and yellow flowers

Lady's Mantle
Alchemilla mollis

A close up of the silvery-green foliage of Artemisia schmidtiana 'Nana' dwarf Schmidt wormwood

Dwarf Schmidt Wormwood
Artemisia schmidtiana 'Nana'

Wormwood
Artemisia absinthium

Wormwood 'Powis Castle'
Artemisia 'Powis Castle'

A close up of a pink Cistus incanus flower

Hoary Rock-Rose
Cistus × incanus

A close up of two white Cistus monspeliensis flowers with yellow stamens

Montpelier Rock Rose
Cistus monspeliensis

A close up of a pink purple Cistus albidus flower

White-Leaved Rock Rose
Cistus albidus

Cabbage Palm
Cordyline australis

Cabbage Palm
Cordyline spp.

Spurge
Euphorbia spp.

Euphorbia polychroma 'Purpurea'
Euphorbia polychroma 'Purpurea'

Greater Red-Hot Poker
Kniphofia x praecox

A close up of some white Lavandula x intermedia 'Edelweiss' flowers

Lavender 'Edelweiss'
Lavandula × intermedia 'Edelweiss'

English Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia

English Lavender 'Ellagance Sky'
Lavandula angustifolia 'Ellagance Sky'

A group of purple Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote' flowers in a garden

English Lavender 'Hidcote'
Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote'

A close up of a pink Hylotelephium spectabile flower on a plant

Sedum 'Brilliant'
Hylotelephium spectabile (Brilliant Group) 'Brilliant'

Angel's Fishing Rod
Dierama pulcherrimum

A close up of a Osteospermum 'Pink Whirls' flower

African daisy 'Pink Whirls'
Osteospermum 'Pink Whirls'

If you are growing any other plants that have performed well during this heat wave do let us know. Happy Gardening!

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