Heat-resilient flora prepared for a scorching, arid summer season ahead
In the scorching heat and scant rain of deserts and hot, dry climates, drought-resistant plants rule. These badass blooms can withstand prolonged periods of extreme heat, kicking it in full sun and thriving in peat-free compost-enriched well-drained soil or gravel beds. As the climate transforms, these robust plants guarantee borders burst with vibrant hues and sweet aromas all summer long, sans the need for water.
Plants for Poppin' Color
If you absolutely adore fiery shades, there's no shortage of drought-hardy poppies. Most are star performers in warm, well-drained soil, some even growing in shingle. California poppies (Eschscholzia californica 'Orange King') ignite your garden with a tangerine blaze, while Ladybird poppies (Papaver commutatum) and Paradise poppies (Papaver rhoeas 'Paradise') bring sizzling-red blooms to the table. Sow them in April and let the good times roll!
Summer also sees another striking red invasion: Linum grandiflorum 'Rubrum' (an easy, free-spirited annual flax that can be sown in April) and the fantastic perennial front-border contender, Potentilla 'Gibson's Scarlet', which can be planted in either the autumn or spring. If you're after deeper, bloodier reds, dot blood pink dianthuses (such as Dianthus cruentus) at any time of year. These show-offsucculent clusters of crimson flowers floating above grassy foliage, particularly amazing when interspersed among gravel.
When you crave a mighty contrast, cool lime greens – like the low-growing perennial Euphorbia myrsinites – champagne blues (such as larkspur Delphinium grandiflorum 'Blue Butterfly'), and fiery hot pinks (especially Lychnis coronaria) dance together in a fantasia of vibrant color amid the hallmarks of even the most parched summer seasons.
Structural Heft and Impact
To create a planting scheme that's cohesive and jaw-dropping, drought-tolerant plants with awe-inspiring size or form can serve as stunning accents. Sow biennial mulleins (such as Verbascum bombyciferum or V. olympicum) early in the year for heavenly 1 to 2-metre candles of sulfur-yellow flowers emerging from a rosette of furry grey leaves come the following year. 'Christo’s Yellow Lightning', a cultivar named in honor of an old, languid donkey named Lightning by late gardener Christopher Lloyd, is a must-have.
The cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) is another sensational addition to water-stingy borders or low-rainfall areas. It generates colossal plumes of lavender flowers atop a 2 to 2.5-metre display of silver leaves, plantable in the autumn or spring. Fennels, with bronze forms (such as Foeniculum vulgare 'Smoky') and the titanic towers of sunshine-yellow umbels (rent a space from Ferula communis) boast equal impact.
For spherical splendor, globe thistles (including Echinops ritro, which can be planted in the autumn) construct electric-blue globes in the sky, and there's a myriad of alliums to pick from, like the 2-metre leggy 'Summer Drummer' and the explosion-bombed football-sized Allium schubertii; both can be planted in the autumn. The ardent and whimsical Phlomoides tuberosa 'Amazone' (syn. Phlomis tuberosa 'Amazone') alights area rugs of tall stems adorned with lilac-pink blooms all the way up to 1.5 metres, maturable for autumn or spring installation. Allium, echinops, and phlomis regenerate into impressive seed-heads, adding structure and intrigue to your garden in autumn.
Scents Abound
Aromatic Mediterranean plants oftentimes are perfectly tolerant of drought and high temperatures. They fill the air with sweet perfumes on balmy days and include slow-growing evergreen shrubs (lavender, rosemary, cistus, and curry plant Helichrysum) that prefer planting in the early autumn or spring, and the fragrant pinks (such as 'Devon Wizard') that make excellent candidates for the front of a gravel border in spring, emitting their incredible clove aroma in sheltered sun.
If you've got space, don't back away from the intoxicating Australian mimosa (Acacia dealbata). After experiencing a mind-boggling transformation into a fluffy cloud of intoxicating yellow pom-pom flowers in late winter, it continues aroma-bombing into spring. It's a bit of a diva – preferring very well-drained neutral to acid soil in full sun and hating our colder regions – but with patience and the right site, it brings a drought-tolerant joy to your life.
Pollinator Delicacies
Nourish pollinators during heatwaves by planting nectar meccas that thrive in minimal moisture. Bees swarm to the honey-scented panicles of buddlejas (such as 'Royal Red') and the tall, airy flower clusters of purple top (Verbena bonariensis), which bloom in late summer and early autumn and can be installed in spring or early summer.
Butterflies revel in the sweet nectar of lavender (especially forms of Lavandula x intermedia, such as 'Sussex') or nepeta (for instance, 'Six Hills Giant'); both flaunt aromatic mounds of purple-blue in summer and look fabulous decorating a path. Bees also can't resist salvias, including the papery pastel spires of clary (Salvia sclarea). All of these bee bonanzas can be planted at any time of year, although early autumn or spring is preferable. On the other hand, both sea hollies (Eryngium) and border stonecrops (Hylotelephium) can be installed now, in early summer: both stand strong against drought, providing pollinators with sustenance in spring and early autumn, while also offering splendid seed-heads to grace the garden throughout the cold months.
For a low-maintenance, dry garden that effortlessly supports pollinators while providing color, structure, scent, and food, there's no shortage of drought-tolerant floral options to choose from. By incorporating this diverse assembly of flowering powerhouses, you create a harmonious oasis that thrives even amid the blazing heat and parched earth.
- To add vibrant hues and create an impact in a sustainable-living home and garden, plant California poppies (Eschscholzia californica 'Orange King'), Ladybird poppies (Papaver commutatum), and Paradise poppies (Papaver rhoeas 'Paradise') for fiery blooms in the spring.
- For a cool lime green, champagne blue, and fiery hot pink color palette, consider Euphorbia myrsinites, Delphinium grandiflorum 'Blue Butterfly', and Lychnis coronaria for their striking contrast.
- To construct a cohesive and jaw-dropping planting scheme, incorporate awe-inspiring size or form plants like Verbascum bombyciferum, Cynara cardunculus, Fennels, Echinops ritro, Allium schubertii, and Phlomoides tuberosa 'Amazone' for structural heft.
- Aromatic Mediterranean plants like lavender, rosemary, cistus, and curry plant Helichrysum fill the air with sweet perfumes and are perfect for drought-tolerant gardens.
- To support pollinators during heatwaves, plant buddlejas, Verbena bonariensis, lavender, nepeta, salvias, sea hollies, and border stonecrops, which thrive in minimal moisture and offer nectar meccas for pollinators.
