As the UK endures sweltering conditions, gardeners are seeking ways to drought-proof their outdoor spaces. Alan Titchmarsh has shared his five favourite drought-resistant plants for a low-maintenance garden.
Met Office outlook
August is forecast to be unsettled with thunderstorms, but overall rainfall is likely below average. The Met Office predicts: "Temperatures will probably be above normal and some spells of hot weather and heatwaves are possible, especially in the south." The pattern looks set to persist, with all 10 of the UK's hottest years recorded since 2002 and only one of the five warmest years outside the last decade.
Alan Titchmarsh's top five drought-resistant plants
1. Cistus Pulverulentus Sunset
"This one has to figure," Alan says on his YouTube channel, holding a compact evergreen shrub with magenta-pink flowers. "Now Cistus is a shrub which is semi-evergreen. It's fairly low. It tends to make low mounds and in that respect, it's really useful - particularly in small gardens." Individual blooms are fleeting but rapidly replaced. Its hairy leaves help retain moisture: "Hairy-leaved plants are generally a fairly good bet for dry drought-ridden conditions," he adds.
2. Helianthemum - The Bride
Known as the "rock rose," Helianthemum's Latin name translates to "sunflower." "Again, it's evergreen," says Titchmarsh. "It's much, much lower. It scrambles over rocks on a rock garden ... or it will just be a really good border edger." It thrives in dry, rocky conditions with well-drained soil.
3. Sedum Sunsparkler Plum Dazzled
All Sedums are known as "ice plants" for their characteristically cold leaves. "A lovely thing for a sensory garden, and for school children, too," Titchmarsh notes. The plum-coloured foliage is followed by "lovely clusters of starry pink flowers towards the end of summer." The plant flowers from July through to frost, and its fleshy leaves insulate it: "Why does it feel cold to the touch? There's lots of sap in there, lots of fleshy growth, and rather like insulation in your loft... this depth of tissue on the plant stops it reacting too quickly to a rise in temperature."
4. Eryngium Magical White
Sea Holly (Eryngium) does well in warm, hot, dry borders. "They have really thick roots and those thick roots are capable of drilling down and finding moisture where they need them," explains Titchmarsh. The tall stems bear silvery-white, thimble-shaped blooms that can be dried for winter arrangements.
5. Agapanthus - Ever Sapphire
Hardier varieties of agapanthus now flower for longer over summer. "There are lots of agapanthas," says Titchmarsh. "They used to be quite tender. Hardier ones have been bred now." The trumpet-shaped mid-blue blooms are iconic, but note they can be toxic if consumed. He stresses that all drought-resistant plants must be properly established: "All of these plants are drought resistant because they tend to come from countries and areas where water is in short supply. They've accustomed themselves over the millennia to being able to grow in dry soil once they're established. I can't emphasise that enough. Don't think, 'Oh, it's drought-resistant. Plant it in dry dust. It'll be fine.' It won't be fine until its roots are down."
