Alan Titchmarsh’s best drought-tolerant plants — barely need maintenance

If your backyard borders are vulnerable to drying out in the course of the summer months, it could be worthwhile switching from standard bedding plants to drought-tolerant varieties that flourish in sunny spots. These resilient plants hail from areas the place water is proscribed, having tailored over millennia to deal with parched soil as soon as established.

As gardening professional Alan Titchmarsh advises, “Remember, with all these plants, as well as enjoying sunshine, the soil is well-drained.” In a YouTube video on his channel, Gardening With Alan Titchmarsh, he revealed his prime seven drought-tolerant plants, stating: “Like all gardeners I’m always looking for ways to preserve water or use less water in my garden and one way to do it is by including plants that can survive in drier conditions.”

Whatever plants you select, the key to success is correct institution, so make sure you water new additions generously and frequently all through their first season.

Catmint ‘Purrsian Blue’

Blooming from summer time by to autumn, this gorgeous catmint is completely suited to dry, well-drained borders. Its misty blue flowers attract pollinators and create a sublime show within the backyard.

It additionally has a beautiful perfume, and felines adore it — therefore the title. Whilst catmints could droop after they attain peak, Alan observes that is merely managed by staking, so present full solar or partial shade, and trim again following the preliminary flowering to keep up compact progress and steady blooms.

With correct consideration, you’ll be able to take pleasure in a hassle-free season of color within the exact situations the place extra water-demanding perennials fail.

Stipa tenuifolia (Ponytail grass)

A fragile, movement-creating grass reaching roughly 75cm, Stipa tenuifolia proves remarkably drought-tolerant as soon as established and very best for positioning on the entrance or center of a border. The slender, thread-like blades complement vibrant color schemes.

Alan suggests, “Use these as little buffers in between brighter coloured plants.” It’s easy to propagate by dividing a pot into three or 4 sections.

“Plant it and water it in well, and you’ll end up with a little forest. It seeds itself gently and it’s just wonderfully elegant in every way,” the gardening professional acknowledged.

Position ponytail grass in full solar with well-draining soil, water completely at planting. When initially planting them, present beneficiant watering and proceed till they change into established. Once their roots are established, they will tolerate drier situations.

Cistus pulverulentus

A compact, semi-evergreen rose that reaches round 50cm in peak, Cistus ‘Sunset’ creates low, tidy mounds excellent for small gardens and drought-prone borders. They seem unremarkable throughout winter however in late spring and summer time they burst into vibrant pink flowers.

The tender, leafy foliage signifies sturdy drought resistance – Alan’s recommendation: “Hairy leaf plants are generally a fairly good bet for dry, drought-ridden conditions”- and for easy summer time color in difficult areas.

He suggests, “If you have a long, narrow drought-ridden border, plant it entirely with cystases and from the beginning to the end of summer, you’ll really enjoy these flowers.”

Simply present it with ample daylight, glorious drainage and a lightweight trim after blooming to keep up these compact mounds.

Eryngium ‘Magical White Lagoon’

With prickly, holly-like leaves and radiant white to blue, thistle-like heads, Eryngium ‘Magical White Lagoon’ reaches roughly 50cm and thrives in sizzling, dry, sunny borders.

Also known as sea holly, the plant has thick roots that search out deep moisture, making them very best for a sizzling, dry backyard border.

Alan dubs them “firework plants” attributable to their starburst buds showing in mid to late summer time. They additionally make hanging lower and dried preparations – merely cling the stems the wrong way up in a well-ventilated room for an intriguing midwinter bouquet.

Sedum ‘Sunsparkler Plum Dazzled’

This hardy, evergreen succulent-often nicknamed an ice plant as a result of its leaves stay cool even on heat days-proves its price with plum-tinged, barely grey-backed foliage and “lovely clusters of starry pink flowers towards the end of summer”.

Providing color from July by August and September till the primary frosts, Alan explains this plant thrives in sunny spots with sharp drainage in borders or containers, delivering glorious late nectar for pollinators. The drought-resistant plant withstands warmth due to fleshy, sap-rich foliage that cushions temperature fluctuations, and supplies construction exactly when early borders fade.

Agapanthus ‘Ever Sapphire’

Developed for endurance, ‘Ever Sapphire’ blooms repeatedly all through summer time as a substitute of manufacturing a single flush and, with correct drainage, proves a reliable container or border possibility in cooler areas.

The strap-like foliage frames hanging heads which will seem in white, however as Alan notes, “For me, true blue is the colour of agapanthus,” and these look notably “handsome” in a considerable terracotta pot the place roots can bake.

During institution, present this hardy selection full solar, a gritty compost, and constant watering. Moderate feeding allows the plant to change into barely rootbound to boost flowering efficiency in warmth and drought.

Helianthemum ‘The Bride’

Evergreen and compact, Helianthemum, generally often known as the rock rose, spreads elegantly throughout rocks or borders the very entrance of beds, seldom exceeding 9 to 12 inches in peak.

This compact plant extends two to 3 toes extensive for glorious floor cowl that flowers from late spring all through summer time. Its tidy progress behavior and abundance of straightforward, sun-loving blossoms (white in ‘The Bride’, although rock roses additionally seem in yellow, pink and orange) make it a drought backyard staple.

Position it within the warmest, most well-drained places, trim calmly following the preliminary flowering to encourage further blooms, and mix with gravel, silvery foliage and compact succulents for a vibrant, Mediterranean really feel.