Bloomline Irrigation

Planting

Drought-tolerant plants for UK gardens.

Dry-summer planting is not a compromise. These are the plants that look better on thin soil and light watering than they ever do pampered — chosen for UK conditions, including wet winters, which kill more Mediterranean plants than heat ever does.

What "drought-tolerant" really means

No plant is drought-proof from day one. Tolerance comes from deep roots, fleshy leaves, silver foliage or a naturally short growing season. Most need one full season of proper watering to establish.

Wet winters are the real test

A plant that survives a Greek summer can rot in a British winter. Every entry here tolerates damp, cool soil for months, or needs the sharp drainage that a raised bed or gravel mulch provides.

Pair with a dripline for year one

A pressure-compensated dripline delivers slow, root-level water while roots are finding their depth. Once plants are established, many can be switched off for good.

  • Lavender

    Shrub

    Lavandula angustifolia

    Needs sharp drainage. Hates winter wet more than summer drought.

    Full sun · 60cm

  • Russian sage

    Shrub

    Salvia yangii

    Silver stems, late colour, thrives on neglect.

    Full sun · 1.2m

  • Sea holly

    Perennial

    Eryngium

    Deep tap root finds its own water. Do not move it once settled.

    Full sun · 80cm

  • Verbena bonariensis

    Perennial

    Verbena bonariensis

    Self-seeds gently, flowers into November, bees adore it.

    Full sun · 1.8m

  • Rosemary

    Herb

    Salvia rosmarinus

    Evergreen, edible, and happier dry than damp.

    Full sun · 1m

  • Thyme

    Herb

    Thymus

    Perfect for gravel, edges and cracks in paving.

    Full sun · 15cm

  • Stipa tenuissima

    Grass

    Nassella tenuissima

    Movement all summer. Comb out dead growth in spring.

    Full sun · 60cm

  • Achillea

    Perennial

    Achillea millefolium

    Flat flower heads that hold shape when dried on the plant.

    Full sun · 70cm

  • Echinacea

    Perennial

    Echinacea purpurea

    Establish with a first-season dripline, then it copes alone.

    Full sun · 90cm

  • Sedum / Hylotelephium

    Perennial

    Hylotelephium spectabile

    Succulent leaves store water. Late nectar for butterflies.

    Full sun · 50cm

  • Cistus

    Shrub

    Cistus

    Mediterranean rock rose. Tissue-paper flowers, tough as boots.

    Full sun · 1m

  • Euphorbia

    Perennial

    Euphorbia characias

    Architectural year-round. Wear gloves — sap irritates.

    Sun or part shade · 1.2m

  • Nepeta

    Perennial

    Nepeta faassenii

    Cut back after first flush for a second show in September.

    Full sun · 45cm

  • Phlomis

    Perennial

    Phlomis russeliana

    Seed heads stand all winter. Excellent ground cover.

    Full sun · 90cm

  • Santolina

    Shrub

    Santolina chamaecyparissus

    Silver mound. Clip annually or it goes leggy.

    Full sun · 50cm

  • Perovskia-style salvias

    Perennial

    Salvia nemorosa

    Long spires of violet. Deadhead for repeat flowering.

    Full sun · 60cm

  • California poppy

    Perennial

    Eschscholzia californica

    Sow direct into poor soil. Rich soil gives leaves, not flowers.

    Full sun · 30cm

  • Agapanthus

    Perennial

    Agapanthus

    Flowers best when roots are crowded and dry.

    Full sun · 80cm

  • Ceanothus

    Shrub

    Ceanothus

    Sheets of blue in May. Dislikes hard pruning.

    Full sun · 2m

  • Hebe

    Shrub

    Hebe

    Evergreen structure for coastal and exposed gardens.

    Sun or part shade · 1m

  • Festuca glauca

    Grass

    Festuca glauca

    Blue tufts. Replace every few years as clumps die out.

    Full sun · 30cm

  • Sage

    Herb

    Salvia officinalis

    Purple-leaved forms earn their place in an ornamental bed.

    Full sun · 60cm

  • Trachelospermum

    Climber

    Trachelospermum jasminoides

    Evergreen, scented. One dripline emitter at the base is plenty.

    Sun or part shade · 4m

  • Vitis / ornamental vine

    Climber

    Vitis coignetiae

    Enormous leaves, fierce autumn colour, deep-rooted once away.

    Full sun · 8m

  • Epimedium

    Perennial

    Epimedium

    Tough ground cover for dry shade under trees. Cut back old leaves in spring.

    Dry shade · 30cm

  • Geranium macrorrhizum

    Perennial

    Geranium macrorrhizum

    Scented foliage, pink flowers, spreads to form a weed-suppressing mat.

    Dry shade · 40cm

  • Japanese anemone

    Perennial

    Eriocapitella hupehensis

    Late summer flowers on sturdy stems. Copes with dry soil once established.

    Sun or part shade · 1.2m

  • Mexican fleabane

    Perennial

    Erigeron karvinskianus

    Daisies from May to November. Self-seeds into cracks and walls.

    Full sun · 25cm

  • Yarrow

    Perennial

    Achillea filipendulina

    Ferny foliage and bright plate-like flowers. Loves poor, well-drained soil.

    Full sun · 1m

  • Oregano

    Herb

    Origanum vulgare

    Edible, bee-friendly and happy in thin, stony soil.

    Full sun · 45cm

  • Butterfly bush

    Shrub

    Buddleja davidii

    Hard prune in March for long summer flower spikes.

    Full sun · 2.5m

  • Smoke bush

    Shrub

    Cotinus coggygria

    Purple-leaved forms glow in sun. Deep roots handle dry spells.

    Full sun · 3m

  • Blue fescue

    Grass

    Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue'

    Compact blue-grey tufts for edging and containers.

    Full sun · 25cm

  • Iris sibirica

    Perennial

    Iris sibirica

    Surprisingly drought-tolerant once established; copes with wet winters too.

    Sun or part shade · 80cm

  • Aster amellus

    Perennial

    Aster amellus

    Michaelmas daisy relative. Late nectar source, prefers poor soil.

    Full sun · 50cm

How to establish drought-tolerant plants

  1. Water deeply for the first season. A weekly soak beats daily sprinkles. It forces roots down and builds the very drought tolerance you bought the plant for.
  2. Mulch after watering. 5cm of compost, gravel or bark on damp soil halves evaporation and suppresses weeds that compete for water.
  3. Don't feed too much. Rich soil and high-nitrogen feeds produce soft, leafy growth that needs more water and flops in heat.
  4. Plant in autumn where possible. Cool, damp soil lets roots establish before the first dry summer hits.

Dry shade: the trickiest corner

Under trees and next to walls, shade plus dry root competition is harder than full sun. Use the Dry shade filter above for ground cover that can cope, and water new plantings with a dripline for their first year rather than relying on a can.

Work out your water needsSee how dripline works

Dripline: the cheapest insurance for a new border

A pressure-compensated dripline waters slowly at the root zone, so nothing evaporates and nothing runs off. Use it for the first growing season, then turn it off once plants are deep-rooted. Many of our customers keep it running on a timer and treat the border as permanently low-maintenance.

Design a systemOrder the £25 Flow Kit