Top: Artesmesia Powis Castle
2nd row Nandina domestica, Salvia Caradonna, Budlja
Bottom: Cistus
We have chosen some plants preferring hot dry situations those that have have fared best with the lack of moisture.These are plants we would usually suggest for warm south facing aspects in well drained soils. Many of these originate from warmer climates and that is no surprise. Establishing where a plant originates from will help tremendously in guiding you as to where it may thrive best in your garden, though I sometimes find the conditions a plant will tolerate are not always what you may expect. A rose that may survive a shadier position may thrive rampantly in a sunnier position. A plant found in the tundra may possibly excel in easier milder conditions.
Plants that handle drought best often have adaptations to the foliage characteristics such as reflective silver leaves, fine foliage, small hairs on the leaf or succulent foliage. Sedums and sempervirens are prime succulent examples. The fine silvery leaves of lavender, the tiny leaves of thyme the hairy leaves of cistus have all adapted for heat. Shade loving plants are the opposite and tend to have large leaves so they can catch more light. Think of a hosta or a brunera.
Shrubs For Drier Positions:
Abelia
Artemisia Powis Castle
Berberis Admiration
Berberis Orange Rocket
Buddleja Alternifolia
Buddleja Buzz
Buxus
Calistemon
Callicarpa Bodinieri
Caryopteris Dark Knight
Caryopteris Heavenly Blue
Ceanothus Concha
Ceanothus Italian Blue
Ceanothus Pugets Blue
Ceanothus Trewithen Blue
Ceanothus Yankee Blue
Ceratostigma Plumbaginoides
Choisya Aztec Pearl
Cistus Corbariensis
Cistus Purpureus
Cistus Silver Pink
Convolvulus Cneorum
Cotoneaster Horizontalis
Cytisus Battandieri
Elaeagnus ebbingei
Euonymus Atlantus
Euonymus Europaeus Red Cascade
Genista Lydia
Halimiocistus
Hypericum
Lavender augustifolia
Lavender Hidcote
Lavender Munstead
Ligustrum
Myrtle
Nandina domestica
Parahebe Snowcap
Philadelphus
Phormium
Rosmarinus
Santolina
Teucrium
Perennials For Drier Positions:
Achillea
Alyssum
Anthemis
Armeria
Aubrieta
Centranthus
Cosmos
Dianthus
Echinacea
Echinacea Magnus
Echinacea Pica Belle
Echinacea White Swan
Echinops
Eryngium
Erysimum
Euphorbia
Filipendula
Gaillardia Kobold
Gaura
Gypsophila
Helichrysum
Heliopsis
Hyssopus
Iberis
Iris Germanica
Lamium
Liriope
Lupinus
Lychnis
Nepeta
Origanum
Osteospermum
Papaver
Perovskia
Phlomis
Phlox
Phygelius
Salvia (inc sage)
Sedium
Sempervivums
Stachys
Thymus
Tyrellia
Verbena
Veronica
