A gardening enthusiast has revealed five drought-tolerant plants that have survived in his garden this summer. The record-breaking summer temperatures in recent months have been bad news for many gardeners. Content creator @Ryandowsell, better known on TikTok as Ryan’s English Garden, has suffered from the same problem. As he revealed in a recent video, not all of his plants have survived the hot weather. But several plants in his garden made it through July, and some are flowering beautifully.
Five plants that proved drought-tolerant
Sharing the news with followers, he posted an update titled: "Five plants that have proved they are drought-tolerant." In the video, Ryan said: "These are the plants that have survived the hottest, driest July ever recorded in my English garden and the plants that haven't. One perennial that isn't just surviving, but it's actually flowering beautifully is Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm'. This plant looks great at the front of a flower border, and it comes back every year."
"Another plant flowering beautifully right now is the perennial sweet pea, which can handle heat and drought much better than the annual varieties. Verbena bonariensis is a super drought-tolerant perennial, perfect for the back of a flower border and it's loved by pollinators."
"Now this one really surprised me. This is Lythrum salicaria 'Blush'. It produces beautiful pink flower spikes, and it prefers damp soil. But it's handled the heatwaves and the drought really well."
"And finally, Coreopsis 'Solar Jewel' is perfect if you have a sunny, dry garden. This beautiful perennial is covered in golden daisies, and it comes back every year."
Plants that cannot handle hot, dry summers
He continued: "And these are the plants that cannot handle hot, dry summers. Mophead hydrangeas are one of the biggest casualties of a hot, dry summer. Hydrangeas love consistent water, and without it, the flowers fade, and the leaves fall off the plant."
"Heleniums also prefer a damp soil, and right now they should be covered in beautiful golden daisies, but they just can't handle the hot, dry conditions. And finally, Astilbes are not drought-tolerant at all. My Astilbe did flower beautifully, but has since gone to plant heaven."
Viewer questions and advice
The video delighted viewers, and several social media users shared questions for Ryan. For instance, someone asked: "What do you do with the small plants you have grown over winter? Are they left outside or in a cold frame ect? Thanks."
Ryan replied: "Any small plants will be happier in a cold frame or greenhouse over winter to protect them from the cold and rain, then they’ll put on lots of new growth in spring and will be ready for planting out in the garden."
Another comment said: "My Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' in a pot needs lots of watering." He answered: "Perennials in pots will never have the same drought tolerance as perennials in the ground because their roots are restricted. I water my pots almost every day in this heat."
