12 drought tolerant plants that will also be happy if it rains!

Even if your summers are getting hotter and drier, you can still get the occasional wet summer. So if you're thinking about filling gaps in your garden with more drought tolerant plants, you also want them to be happy if it rains too. Last summer the UK had twice the normal rainfall and this summer was a record-breaking drought. Jane Beedle's garden that looked good in both summers, so here are the plants that survived both the dry and wet weather.
00:00 Welcome
00:54 Jane Beedle / janebbakes
01:27 The weather here - equates to a Zone 9 in winter, but usually with much milder summers
02:00 Should you water newly planted plants in their first summer?
02:17 How to plant plants
02:53 Larger, more mature shrubs will need watering
03:22 How to water trees
03:53 Start your planting design with your trees
04:02 Jane's best drought-resistant trees
05:40 Jane's top drought-resistant shrubs and perennials
09:41 Drought-resistant climber
10:52 Drought-resistant plants for pots
12:22 Other good drought-resistant plants
14:38 Dahlia 'Stephen Ryan'
15:58 Fill your garden with plants - it helps stop the soil drying out (Jane's theory!)
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[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

There are some really good plant suggestions from around the world in the comments below, thank you everyone - so do check them out. There are also some comments on invasive plants - almost any plant can be invasive if it's introduced to an environment where it does too well. It then out-competes the indigenous plants, which can affect the wildlife that live on those plants really badly. And yet the very same plant can be an asset to wildlife and the environment on its home territory. I've added some notes about which plants are invasive where, but they're not comprehensive, so I think it's really helpful to have reminders to check plants you buy for invasiveness where you are.

[@GardenDiscovery]

I live in California where we're constantly in drought. I rely heavily on salvias and I love how they're magnets for hummingbirds

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Salvias are wonderful, am hoping to do more on them soon.

[@feliciag5666]

I just planted salvias in California too. Glad to hear they attract hummingbirds.

[@MyFocusVaries]

I have 2 varieties of salvia and love them. They attract pollinators and look beautiful. They've looked great through Vancouver BC's dry summer this year, and survived our wet, wet winter.

[@GardenDiscovery]

Gophers and deer seem to leave salvias alone too

[@coloradotulips]

@@feliciag5666 The hummingbirds in my US Zone 5b garden ignore everything but my “Rockin’ Playing the Blues” Salvia from the Proven Winners brand.

[@hivicar]

Jane weighing in on watering debate wonderfully undiplomatic!

[@DownButNotOutYet]

Hello Alexandra, my goodness, if viewers would listen closely to Jane their gardens will be winners hands down. Her garden is jam packed with plants which is excellent as she said no soil visible and it really works fantastic. She is a darling person to chat to you were very blessed to listen to her, there are no airs and graces about her so down to earth. Yes Franco is so correct the plants he mentioned thrive excellently here in South Africa. We always joke and say Africa is not for sissies!! Well be that as it may, I love fine flowers but they are killers to maintain well. She has a lovely garden which can be enjoyed year round. Go well, and thanks for a beautiful garden chat. Kind regards, Elize.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@DownButNotOutYet]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Morning Alexander, I totally forgot, try to grow a Bougainvillea. I have one it goes dormant in winter presently it is flowering like balloons not much water great in big container. They come in beautiful colours. Give it a go much love go well and many blessings.

[@pamelacorsi]

All of my coneflowers, foxglove and daylilies looked beautiful this summer throughout the draught here in eastern Massachusetts. My gardens are also planted closely and they all receive a bit of shade during the day. Thank you for your excellent content. I look forward to it every week!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you and interested to hear your day lilies survived, mine have completely shrivelled, although possibly temporarily.

[@cq4804]

In the high desert SW zones 6-4 we've learned to plant cold, heat and draught tolerant plants for eons. Hardy Plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) is one of my favorite ground covers, it's stunning blue flowers in late summer, and foliage that is bright green in the spring, becoming a deep green in summer and in the fall the foliage is a beautiful bouquet of reds and purples, Iris do wonderfully in sun, draught, and heat, they almost demand it, Sedum Autumn Joy is a wonderful late summer plant , agastache would have to one of my favorite plants for pollinators, along with it's light and air foliage and beautiful varieties of flowers and it smells amazing, Salvia's are always welcome, lastly draught tolerant grasses always bring height and a feeling of airiness. Great video, thank you..

[@1Kent]

Jane's Garden is packed so full it creates its own micro-climate.

[@harrystevens5110]

my salvias have been incredible this year - when the roses and other flowering perennials stopped flowering because of the heat they came through. To think I used to dislike them and fine them boring, how I am eating my words now! Salvia Carradonna looked incredible despite being in super dry conditions, and also 'hot lips', 'joy', and 'pink lips' were also beautiful.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Salvias are wonderful, I agree.

[@colleensainsbury9022]

Hello from South Africa, Star Jasmine and Tulbaghia are both plants originating in our country and are staples in our hot, sunny summer gardens, but also love lots of rain. I do suggest planting many more of our lovely summer garden plants. I have a Romantic English style garden, but use our more heat and drought tolerant plants to achieve the effect.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Good idea - and I have now heard of someone planting tulbaghia in a bog garden so it is clearly a very adaptable plant!

[@viviennehayes2856]

I would love to see some photos!

[@imeldamayer-taylor2783]

What a beautiful garden . Salvia a favourite of mine too. A lovely guest and interviewer of course. Thank you . Greetings from Vienna Austria , zone 7 B.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you, and I'm hoping to do more on salvias later.

[@wiggiatlarge]

This has been such an exceptional year here in Norwich Norfolk with virtually no rain since the end of March and still no rain. Although retired I designed and built gardens in London and am a qualified agronomist, but we moved here eighteen months ago to an overgrown garden that had been sadly neglected, it ment the removal of much in the way of shrubs trees etc as they had become intertwinned. So after that and laying out new beds and getting in tons of free rotted horse manure, we started planting in early spring. Despite doing all that Beth Chatto taught me many many years ago with my first proper garden on unyielding Essex clay, it has made little diference, drip lines have been the only way that many plants have survived this year as so much could not get their roots down, many plants even such staples as Stachys have not moved since planting, I have even had to take out plants and re pot them or lose them such has been the struggle and the lawn disappeared months ago, even '76 did not start until June, this has been much longer, nature always has another surprise up its sleeve, and the rules go out of the window.

[@coolredkelpie]

Welcome to a taste of gardening in Western Australia. :)

[@adrabruzzese7610]

Thank you both. Jane's garden is stunning.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you1

[@juliabinford6500]

Lovely garden! It was clever to emphasize that drought tolerant doesn’t mean it can’t take rain. We have dry summers and plentiful rain the rest of the year here in the Pacific Northwest. I’m still learning how much to water in summer.

[@arthurlincoln9093]

Geranium phaem. Good in dry shade. Clumping blotched leaves, small dark purple flowers beloved by insects. Grows anywhere and recovers quickly with a drop of water after drought. A good doer.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Great choice!

[@lisadiane10001]

Hardy red Oleander, blue ground plumbago, euphobia caraccas and stone crop are my new favorites !

[@dunbardunelm3924]

Oleanders are a joy 😍💖

[@juliepardo7767]

Yes, yes to common sage...very drought tolerant! I've finally found a spot in my garden that my common sage will overwinter and bounce back in Spring perfectly(I'm in zone 6b, Ontario, Canada). I've had my sage "hedge" there for 3 seasons now and it is flourishing beautifully! The previously area I had it planted in, I found that even though it was in a full sun area, I wasn't paying attention to how icy the ground around it was getting in the winter, thus it died every year. I relocated it to a raised, slightly sloped, well draining, sunny area where the snow doesn't compact as heavy and Voilà! It has maintained it's mounding shape and foliage color beautifully and doesn't look lanky at all with this drought. Gorgeous garden Jane, thank you for sharing with us.

[@danathomas9763]

I garden in US zone 8b and find your plant choices spot on for our area, too. So enjoy your channel…Thank you for your content on the channel!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@Wingate8000]

Such a great video as I’ve been thinking about how I can bring more drought resistant plants into my garden. Jane’s garden is looking absolutely fantastic.

[@gillianrayson9736]

What a lovely garden...thank you for showing us.

[@gardengatesopen]

Awesome garden Jane!! I remember watching you on the Bake-Off too! You were Fantastic!! Your garden is equally impressive!!!

[@victorianladyone4362]

I felt like I was sitting with you soaking up the beauty of this wonderful garden and learning so much from the two of you in such a casual low key way. Many thanks. Keeping up with drought conditions here in Massachusetts has not been easy as I do have first year hydrangeas. I think and hope I've kept them going, will know better next year. Many thanks for all the wonderful garden tours and valuable tips.

[@franconianable]

Thanks again for the interesting and useful topic. Many of these plants always work well in dry US west coast. The south africans tulbaghia or society garlic and star jasmine especially. In fact most plants from our own region, Mexico, South Africa and the Mediterranean do very well.

[@hamburgveganc6284]

What an interesting talk with such a lovely companion. Being German- I could listen to both of you chatting and instantly I feel relaxed and interested at the time. Your English is kind of the most beautiful I’ve ever heard! ;-). Beside that- again a very helpful and inspiring plot! Thank you very much! :-).

[@SpanishEclectic]

Very timely video, Alexandra! Shade also makes a difference in how quickly containers dry out. Half of my garden is in shade in the late afternoon/early evening, the hottest part of the day here in S. CA. I layer smaller pots around the base of a tree or shrub in a large container, so any excess water runs into the larger one, and the small pots help retain the surface moisture. I also put hanging baskets or wall-mounted containers above another plant to 'recycle' the water. We have many new varieties of salvia/sage, including purple and variegated yellow/green leaf. I bought a pair of 2-gallon Mission olive trees two years ago, and planted each one in a huge resin planter, with plenty of perlite and compost mixed into the soil; they are both currently 7 ft tall, though skinny. I love having trees on my concrete patio. :)

[@thehorti-culturalists]

So glad 'Stephen Ryan' is proving a winner in all conditions!!!!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

He really is. First up to flower in the summer, last down with the frosts - he is unstoppable!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden 😁😁

[@debbieaustin2549]

Wow! I thoroughly enjoyed this video/interview. An amazing garden and lots of really useful information. Thank you so much for posting.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@LifeHomeandGardenwithAnaRica]

Lot's of information in this video and its very helpful!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@cecilegibbs3539]

Gardeners are so practical😂

[@Thor_Underdunk_Caballerial]

The quality of your videos has improved and they are a pleasure to view.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you for carrying on watching!

[@alisonwise3444]

Lovely video, love that garden! Here in southern New York, not far from Manhattan, we're also having a very dry summer, although restrictions on watering yet 🤞 Jane's advice about watering is very sound, in my experience. When I plant a new tree or large shrub, once a week I set up a hose on a very low drip near the roots and leave it there for 45 minutes or an hour the first summer, and if we're having a dry season like this one, I give them extra water the second summer as well. Plants in pots need water every day or every other day, although as we know, plants in a shadier location won't suffer as much as plants in a sunnier location. As it's been much hotter recently, I've found that plant tags that say full sun to part shade really mean part sun. Full sun has become very difficult for most things without a drip or sprinkler system. Good luck out there! Fingers crossed for a rainy fall 💚

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

The slow drip is great, I have also been trying something called a Tree Gator, which is a bag you fill with water and it slowly drips down. So far the tree seems very happy.

[@lisajelle714]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden The Tree Gator sounds interesting- I’ll have to check that out for a serviceberry we planted about a month ago! (Central Ohio 6A). Also wanted to chime in on the salvia gregii- I loved it here but it died in our winters (I tried it two different years). Wish it was a bit hardier, love the color and quantity of its blooms!

[@patriciareed3510]

This is a great idea but best to do early in the morning or after sunset because if the water heats up due to the sun beating on the hose with a slow drip it will become very hot.

[@alisonwise3444]

@@patriciareed3510 Yes, initially, but I've found that once it's flowing, it's cool as it's coming from the tap, which is how it comes out of the faucet in this area, I realize cold water isn't as cold in other places.

[@meridiefricker4156]

I leave cheap bangles (from the op’ shop) on every tap. When I leave a hose dribbling or a sprinkler running unattended, I put the bangle on my wrist as a reminder. I’m in a semi arid area (middle of Southern Australia) with an average annual rainfall of 322mm. Past years have been dryer, down to 9 or 10 inches of rainfall, “in the old money”.

[@suefindlay366]

I, too, use sage as a decorative plant and it really thrived during this summer without any watering. I would add that it has lovely blue flowers in summer which the bees absolutely love.

[@sharongeorge4096]

So nice to see Jane again, one of my favorite Bake Off contestants and a fabulous gardener ❤️

[@anneas8532]

🙋‍♀️What a life saver this is going to be Alexandra. It’s been such a trying time for gardeners, bees & butterflies. Have been wondering what to plant to replace all the plants I’ve lost this year, this is the perfect answer. 🌸🌸 Thank you indeed.👏👏

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@aalejardin]

Pack your garden with plants is an approach that has so many benefits! Thanks for another informative video. We have been in drought conditions in the Hudson Valley (New York) but fortunately no water restrictions in my town (yet). It does get tiring to spend most of one's gardening time dragging a sprinkler from one end of the garden to the other. I am trying to choose drought tolerant plants but I have a young garden so it still needs a lot of water to get established and to cover the ground. I give each bed a deep watering about once a week and that seems to have kept things going but many plants are not performing as well as they should. Pest pressure has increased due to the fact that the natural landscape is bone dry. Hoping for some rain soon!

[@SeaTurtle515]

I would love for you to go back to some of these amazing gardens you’ve shown us over the years during their pruning times, so we can see what they are pruning, their techniques and how much they are removing.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That's an interesting idea, I will look into it.

[@francesmclaren7881]

Thanks for another really helpful garden talk. Here in NZ I am enjoying growing a variety of salvias which are great for gap filling as well as drought. Today I going out to buy a sage plant!

[@joannc147]

As an American, I am always charmed by the British love of gardening. Oddly enough, I spend less time “tending” my gardens than I would in maintaining a green lawn. I’m delighted to see some of my favorite plants thriving in Kent! Here in North Carolina, we have very wet winter/spring weather followed by hot, humid summers with little rain. I don’t coddle my plants after the first few weeks! Great video….thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@Mrs.TJTaylor]

I’m in NC as well. I water my new plants for the first year. After that, they’re on their own. I can’t afford to water plants that won’t survive our climate.

[@JessClearwater]

Kent and Canberra are basically the same climate now 😅 Never fear, Canberra (and Bowral) are famous for their (cool-dry with blistering summer) gardens!! 🇦🇺

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

My brother in law lives near Melbourne and I am genuinely amazed to find that Melbourne and Kent have basically the same climate now!

[@annashiegl]

Beautiful garden, love the silvery contrasts, and inspired me to try some of those pink tulbaghia (spelling) next year. 😍

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Me, too! They're lovely.

[@dunbardunelm3924]

They are fabulous. I bought mine from Hardy's at Hampton Court 7(?) years ago now and it never stops flowering 😂🎊❤️

[@glen4075]

Lovely, thank you both for some great ideas 💡

[@laurenecarter246]

Zone 10a in Perth Western Australia. Our last summer was a scorcher with days on end of 44°c. I thought providing pots with saucers to help them through the day would be a good idea, but I ended up losing those plants due to their roots essentially being steam cooked. I'm prepared for this coming summer with 50% shade cloth and better plant choices like geraniums and salvias.

[@tanarehbein7768]

Loved this interview and the beautiful garden. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@melba135]

Very helpful. Beautiful garden too !

[@RoseMary-vs3io]

Such useful and informative content as per usual, and so lovely to hear from Jane, thank you Alexandra.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Our pleasure!

[@bluesky7226]

Verbena bonariensis comes back from the plant as well as seed in our zone 5 garden here in the Denver metro area. It is a short lived perennial, but lives our dry climate. Wonderful as always, Alexandra!

[@cactusgardener2060]

So many plants in this beautiful garden which we also use in the Middle Sonora zone in Arizona (about 5,000 feet. alkaline soil). Another salvia bush recommended is S. clevelandii, a native of California. Thanks for so many excellent discussions even when the area you are showing is so different from the deserts of Arizona.

[@plantsoverpills1643]

Crocosmia lucifer did very well as did beebalm, lavender does well in both rain and draught when planted in a sandy/stony soil, snap dragons are a dependable choice surprisingly over wintering in my 5B coastal zone.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Interesting, some people have said 'crocosmia', others have said it hadn't done well for them. But it's definitely worth trying.

[@helenaprat5426]

One of your best and most helpful videos. Thank you.

[@roberte1962]

East Anglia drought conditions this Summer I found Stachys byzantina, Heleniums, Amsonia, Teucerum, Brachyglottis easy to grow

[@cct2513]

Very helpful advice once again, I'm in New Mexico USA, We have been getting hotter and dryer too. Some advice, yes pay attention to Zones but what is more important now is the Heat Index for plants. I don't care how much water you give to a plant when your over 90-100 degrees, the plant can't handle the heat and if the wind is blow at that temperature it will dry out the leaves like your tea. I plant tender plants on the east side of my house and more heat tolerant plant in the back that get western sun. Pots are tough here as well. I might try more sedums and grasses in them this year. Thanks again for all these great shows.

[@cct2513]

Also If you can tell us if the garden is an East/West garden or if it runs more North to South that would be helpful too.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you, and that's an interesting point about East/West or North/South

[@maggiebrookes-buttwriter3230]

So useful, thank you! Rather consoling to hear it isn't just my dahlias which have completely failed.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I'm quite surprised as they originate from Mexico, but they really didn't enjoy the heat wave.

[@katiewilliams6591]

Another great watch with plenty of ideas and good suggestions of plants. Thank you Alexandra!!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@carolyncampbell6149]

Another lovely video and one I’m definitely going to revisit and take advice from. Thankyou both very much indeed.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@anneconoulty4722]

Love love love this, I cleared the lower back half of my garden in August and cannot wait to try out these suggestions.As usual the vlog is spot on. Thank u both

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

You are so welcome!

[@mauracurran3270]

Tulbagia sometimes called Society Garlic Is a gem. Our local council planted it on the centre bed on a roundabout it flowered for months.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I love tulbaghia, keep meaning to get some.

[@pennylivingston148]

I garden in 8a, coastal NC in the US. I adore Society Garlic. It blooms for me from the beginning of April (it's already started) to the beginning of November. I get 7 straight months of bloom and it is good in drought or rainy conditions.

[@rose2fame1]

Plumeria trees are drought tolerant. If I were going to purchase one for a garden in England I would purchase a dwarf variety like the one I have which is called plumeria Dwarf Watermelon. It has beautiful flowers that smell amazing and it grows 6 inches per year. Plant it in a pot, bring it to a warmer location if temps drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit in winter. Alexandra I’m in SoCal. This summer the temp is warmer than the past 7 yrs. It’s 90 at 6:30 am. Today is going to be a hot one.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That's a good choice. I hope your day was pleasantly hot, rather than exhaustingly hot.

[@valiumsurbanjungle2041]

Very interesting video thank you!! As we're used to drought and the summer heat here in Athens, I'd say these were some great recommendations indeed. Some of the plants I rarely need to worry about during the summer months here are Pandorea and Sterlitzia and they weren't phased out by the snow we got this winter either.

[@dotink]

I love my serviceberry bushes- easy, fast growers and the birds and chipmunks love the berries.

[@sarahmarti141]

Great video. Most of my plants in zone 10 have survived but have not really thrived this hot summer. 90 degrees for months and now a couple of weeks over 100. I’m grateful for agapanthus which always does well although the flowering time is so short. My rose bushes are looking awful right now. Indian Hawthorne is a common shrub here and can be pruned into ball shapes like the pittosporums Jane mentioned. Beautiful flowers at bloom time. I love anything chartreuse so I always have chartreuse coleus and chartreuse sweet potato vine in my pots on my shady patio. I also have a holly hedge which looks good in all conditions.

[@MyFocusVaries]

My calla lilies have done very well through this summer's heat. They're a South African plant, so I guess that makes sense. And they've survived our wet winters here in Vancouver BC. I have good drainage, so that helps, I'm sure.

[@pantaleologoluso9593]

Proteas should also be very resistant to drought

[@eaulaosolidaritea363]

What a delightful and useful video. Thank you both for the advice and a visit to Jane's beautiful garden. Feeling very inspired. Off to buy the pittosporum "Golf Ball", as all our box is France is blighted.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I'm sorry to hear that - all box blighted here too, although I still have some that's OK.

[@carollykins9475]

Just a suggestion, would love to have you add links to the plants that you talk about. It would make it so much easier for viewers to find the plants to do more research on.

[@missygilly9917]

I’m near Niagara Falls Canada, our summers are hot & humid as a result I’ve been planting more natives who will tolerate drought conditions (once established). I don’t water leaving them to Mother Nature, unless they appear to be suffering during longer drought periods. My garden includes native shrubs & trees (including Sumacs) that attract butterflies, humming birds, various birds who are here year round. I no longer use bird feeders as the plants/shrubs I plant feeds them & provides shelter. Love watching your program & watching other gardeners, thank you for sharing with us.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you. I'm thinking I should up my bird friendly planting as the feeders do attract pests, but I love watching the birds on them.

[@missygilly9917]

You’ll enjoy them on your plants too, just plant closer to your house or where you sit casually in your garden. At this time of the year, goldfinches are enjoying my echinacea, goldenrod, and lavender! Chickadees, Cardinals, woodpeckers are enjoying my Sumacs, as they do all winter as well for their seeds. I can watch from inside my kitchen window. Take care, I really enjoy watching your videos all year round!

[@slomo1716]

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL garden!! We've had a very dry summer, in zone 7, south of Baltimore Maryland USA, I water every day or every other day. Resulting in horrible year for tomatoes, cucumbers and my beans. I had a much better harvest of my bell peppers, but my FLOWERS exceeded all expectations. I had people driving by take pictures of my spring flowers, because of all the bulbs I planted the previous fall. There is always next year for my veggie gardens.

[@ASimpleTwistofFate101]

Thank you for all of your videos! Texas Trumpet-creeper vine is absolutely beautiful and it comes back year after year. It can take harsh winters and super hot, dry Texas summers.

[@1964may25]

Great video and great suggestions for plants in the comments here! I'll recommend one of our native shrubs here in Oklahoma: ninebark. They grow to be about 6 feet tall and wide. They come in several colors -- the wine-colored ones with their pale pink flowers in spring are my favorite. They take the worst of heat and drought and easily survive our winters that get down to -20 F.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Great suggestion, I love ninebark and have one with dark ruby leaves, it did get a little parched at the tips, but it has only been in for 2 summers so I think its roots are not yet fully established.

[@stephaniesharkey3538]

Great garden! Here in the southernUS , GA to b exact , once established my creeping fig has done wonderful in hot, wet or dry weather. I have it growing up a cement wall!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I think your hottest weather is hotter than ours, but your coldest is colder, so creeping fig sounds like a good choice.

[@sheilaquinn2087]

I garden in Madrid, and our climate is continental Mediterranean. Stipa tenuisima, achillea filipendula, crepe myrtle, catanache, coreopsis and gaillardia are all pretty drought tolerant. I planted a choisya this year and I'm amazed at how well it looks after one of the hottest summers on record. Loquats are also great trees, as are koelreuteria, celtis australis/ honeyberry, and the catalpa

[@pantaleologoluso9593]

Gaura, oleander, rosemary bouganville, dipladenia, creeping geranium, cactus, allium, mimosa, daisies,plumbago, lavenders, poppy,

[@donaldauguston9740]

I love her idea to pack your garden with as many plants as you can. I'm sick of weeding!!!!

[@davidwall951]

Having grown up in SoCal it seem like you could enjoy all the plants we used in strip malls and freeways 😉

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

We probably could.

[@tammyhoushour8070]

This garden is simply beautiful. 😃

[@rogermarsh9806]

When I plant trees or large bushes I always include pipes flattened at the lower end and with a few holes to let water soak low down and encourage the roots to grow down. Watering is a bit slow but it goes where it’s needed.

[@canuckviolet3322]

Interesting idea!

[@lulajohns1883]

Thank you Alexandra, great video. I have started using alot of native plants for our area for pollinators and hummingbirds. I believe many of these can withstand dry spells and or wet....or at least I am hoping

[@irairod5160]

I garden almost exclusively with natives (USA zone 7) and yes, they can withstand the out-of-the-ordinary seasons when it's "too wet" or "too dry". Also, as the ladies mentioned, I pack them densely and use groundcovers as "green mulch". I've been very successful with that and don't even have to weed much. What zone do you garden in? My hummingbirds love Lobelia cardinalis, Monarda (both didyma and fistulosa), Lonicera sempervirens, and Phlox paniculata, especially the nativar "Jeana".

[@lulajohns1883]

@@irairod5160 Hi Irai, I am in zone 4b. I have some of those. One of our local nurseries is starting to sell many native plants, which I am slowly picking up before winter. Thank you for the information, greatly appreciated

[@mitzi605]

Very fun!

[@ThreeRunHomer]

With your very mild weather, do people in the south of England grow crepe myrtles? It’s a tough as nails shrub/tree that blooms like mad (red, white or purple) all summer in full sun. Unfazed by drought or wet. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it on British garden videos but maybe I’m just not remembering. Crepe myrtles are frequently used in landscapes in the US southeast. They can grow to 25 feet tall, but there are very short dwarf varieties too and everything in between.

[@BeautifulOaks]

Indian blanket wildflowers are drought and heat tolerant in the U.S. They don’t mind a little water or rain. In the west, these plants seem to be perennial. The gophers, rabbits or squirrels don’t bother them. The finches and song birds adore the seed heads. So, I refrain from using them as cut flowers.

[@gwenwade6059]

In sunny dry Johannesburg. Just coming into our rainy season. Agapanthus. Margaret Roberts's lavender.l

[@Helen-mh8mq]

Great information!!My pincushion does great in lots of rain and very little rain!It got thru this summer like a rock star!I have 4 of them together and they look great.And the pollinators just love them.🌷

[@TheEmpressgoth]

I live in Texas. In need of other types of drought resistant plants thanks for sharing.

[@EdurtreG]

I think that Jane's gabions with her pavementscraps also give a lot of calm cool to the garden, besides the shade of the elder trees. I found that barkscraps on the bottom works wonders. I had to water every day since I have a potterygarden on pavement facing south. With the bark I can suffice with a soak every three days. The bark also brings back soillife! Every pot has an old plate or bowl underneath, which in autumm and winter is turned upside-down. Cowshit in the earth, as well in the pots as in the teeny-tiny municipal border which I also mulched with bark, is also helpfull because it not only furtilizes but also works on the structure of the soil. And cocopeat through the soil of the containers and pots. I only cut down in the beginning of april and leave dead plants which are mostly 1-year flowerings as much as possible so every insect has had their time to do their insecty-thing. The birdbaths (5 in total on two places with 500 metres in between,) and the cat/hedgehogdrinkplace, I refresh once, and with this heat twice, a day. Takes half an hour a day and I saved so many animals. You can also leave a bowl or two of fresh water outside, and make a hole in your fence for the hedgehogs: they will eat every snail they encounter.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

interesting, thank you!

[@EdurtreG]

@@TheMiddlesizedGardenprobably a bit too elaborate. Just so happy and wanting to share how much you can do even on a small scale living in the projects. The Aldi was a great help with affordable bark and biological soil and fertilizers. My tenacity started to warp fruit after several years: bees and flies of different sorts, one very loyal dragonfly, 3 hedgehogs that chose to live in/around my potterygarden and 4 different though common butterflies. Birds bathing and drinking just in front a busy busstop in front of my house. The tiny pond of 65 litres in my "backyard" - 3 x 2 metres max, mostly in shade - also works little wonders on small wildlife: thank you Joel 😉. Alexandra: I love your garden, even in drought. Ciao.

[@kittenkorleone2918]

I'm 60 and have never seen a summer as dry as this one in Southern New England. I have a small weather station and we received a half inch in almost 2 months from a usual 4.5" per month. My rudbekia, echinachea, budellia all looked perfect. My clematis, hosta, hibiscus and hydrangea all look awful in spite of me watering. I feel bad for several David Austins I put in last fall. They looked like they struggled. My advice for tree planting is to plant after a good rain or even in the rain! I put in a row of green giant arborvitae a 2 years ago and watered them well every week until the frost. This year they've topped out at over 15 feet without a single extra drop from me! It's all in the soil preparation and vigilant regular deep watering the first growing season for these. You won't be disappointed if you support them all during the first year. I see dead ones all over this region. Too bad.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I agree, trees do really need watering in their first season.

[@laetitialilly2347]

Can anyone recommend a channel that is THIS BRILLIANT but for KITCHEN/VEGETABLE garden?? 😊 I have learned SO MUCH thanks to Alexandra's channel when it comes to flowers, but I would also love to start a small kitchen garden and would love to hear your recommendations! 🥰 (Please no Huw's garden, I do not know why but it is simply too confusing for me 🙂 )

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you! And these are some gardening channels I know: Have you checked Liz Zorab at Byther Farm kzbin.info and Tanya at kzbin.info, also Seans Gardening World kzbin.info and Charles Dowding kzbin.info

[@laetitialilly2347]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden I have not! Thank you SO MUCH, dear Alexandra, your channel is THE BEST CHANNEL when it comes to garden content - everytime I learn something new while enjoying the visual aspect of your content, at the same time. Thank you, thank you! 🌷

[@susanarojo3906]

The gardening channel with James prigioni

[@vivekchowdhury2443]

Thanks for another informative video. What I take away from the video and comments below is that success will come with experimentation as everyone has their own microclimate and the same drought tolerant plant may not be suitable for all drought climates . Yes I agree with watering new plants to aid them through this years drought but as I am in the south of uk next year will probably be a damp one and well be discussing damp summers 😉

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Absolutely.

[@coloradotulips]

For gardeners needing plants tolerant of drought and wetness, Lycoris (spider lily) are viable options in my US Zone 5b and in Kent (comparable to US Zone 9, Alexandra mentioned) after getting established. Ninebark shrubs would be at the “warm” end of their range in US Zone 9. I couldn’t say whether either are permitted in England. Roses in my area are chosen for drought tolerance and go bananas when they get a wet spring and summer - Knock Out types are particularly good for me. Hundred degrees Fahrenheit? Zero? Knock Outs take it all. For the beautiful David Austin roses, it’s the Pat Austin rose that’s known as most drought tolerant in my area. Best of luck, Alexandra!

[@coloradotulips]

In full drought, I’ve read that a number of David Austin roses can survive on 6 gallons of water per week per shrub.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Great suggestions - roses have generally done really well for most people I know here in the drought. I have a ninebark and it looks a little fried at the tips but seems to be surviving. Spider lilies are available in the UK, but not widely, I think. They're very beautiful.

[@coolredkelpie]

At 15.43 where Jane starts talking about her theory on covering the ground by close planting as an alternative to mulching. Brilliant concept because you only have to walk under the green leaves of a shade tree to feel how much cooler the ground and general atmosphere is underneath. We've been experiencing record breaking summer heatwaves in Perth WA in recent years with a week's worth of temperatures in the high 30's to mid 40's. I've seen plants that normally cope quite well with our hot weather burnt to a crisp including Agonis flexuosa and my Bay tree. A plant that works quite well in my dry, hot conditions is Cineraria maritima - yellow flowers (Dusty Miller/Silver Ragwort) and I'm going to try Centaurea cineraria pink flowers. We might get a shower or two, if lucky, between November and March otherwise they may get a little bit of hand watering here and there.

[@isobelhill9940]

Great and topical, thanks! In our garden in SW London (clay soil, full sun), the cornus, cotinus coggygria, white beam and elderflower all did really well in the heat. Anemone, honeysuckle and some geraniums really struggled.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Interesting, yes, my cotinus perfectly happy, cornus seemed fine although they're in the shade and elderflower too. The Japanese anemones have very small flowers.

[@CeciliaPMiniatures]

That's very interesting and strange for me, my three Cornus struggled a great deal and in particular c. sibirica got a fungus that almost killed it, whereas the honeysuckle didn't seem to mind the drought a bit. But I have sand soil and the honeysuckle is in part shade.

[@1Thedairy]

She’s so right about watering young trees but I would say more often than once a week as my Betula died from lack of water. When I contacted the nursery they told me that they water theirs every day!

[@bethellingworth7814]

Tulbaghias are from southern Africa, violacea is from South Africa. Yours look gorgeous. Lovely program. Thanks.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@richardmuskett931]

This year , my slightly flowery veg patch has looked like the Sahara desert with rows of white plastic labels stuck in it....... or maybe " Death Valley " might be a better description . But I've had a smashing little 🌻 sunflower called " waooh " that has looked cool and nonchalant in the searing heat despite never being watered . It grows about 2ft / 60cm , has LOTS of flowers on each plant . If youre looking for a sunflower that will smile up at you from amongst brown , crispy , beans and brassicas..... this is it . Sutton seeds .

[@emmalavenham]

Also on our list - the allium hybrid Serendipity (or Millenium), veronica, vernonia, and a good native agastache and liatris for our native bees... NB Verbena is tough as nails, but can be invasive in some areas ...

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Great suggestions, and thank you re verbena. I'm not surprised, it's a pretty determined plant.

[@jamiepeterson4466]

Did you mean allium?

[@catintheuk]

I know this is a bit late to comment, but I wanted to add to the list. I live in the Dandenong Ranges in Australia where our winters and springs are very wet, however from midsummer to autumn it is very dry and quite hot. The hardest part of the garden faces west and has spots under giant cedars getting both shade and hot afternoon sun, where its particularly difficult to grow things. What has worked in these spots are: prostanthera (standard and variegated forms), indigofera australis, euphorbia Stygiana, echiums, cistus/rock rose (in the sunnier spots), plectranthus ecklonii. All very forgiving and adaptable plants for our changeable hills weather.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Great suggestions, thank you.

[@monikabarry6509]

Very interesting, thank you

[@kevinjamesparr552]

I have a rose to talk of. In my rose garden this one is heads above. Madam Legrass de Sant Germain . White cabbage rose in zone 5 , Now in 3rd year bush is 5 feet tall and aching in my border.Sweetest perfume yet . Undemanding determined treasure. Single flowering 5 weeks is the only trouble.In my gardens not a problem . Its light green fine leaves only adds to the foliage section. Here most summer days we reach 38c 45c. Rain falls often enough

[@amylouise9853]

In Sydney, dahlias are the only flowers I can grow in summer to survive the heat. Even flowers under heavy shade with a lot of water absolutely fry on days that my dahlias only wilt a little at midday. If we haven’t had rain for a week and it’s going to be 40 degrees I do water the dahlias but with the harsh conditions we can get in Sydney I have to do that for the whole garden including the orchard. I can vouch for the hardiness of star jasmine in both drought and flooding rains. It’s absolutely ubiquitous in NSW and is rather a thug plant here that will take over everything if left unpruned. We use it to climb up the brick columns to our verandah instead of ivy as it doesn’t have suckers and as a lovely sweet flower.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I do often love a thug, especially in difficult conditions. Dahlias are surprisingly resilient here in South East England, too, but if anywhere is even slightly colder and wetter (even just a couple of counties further North) then they become quite fussy.

[@katrinkatterman3069]

I live in NW Oregon, zone 8b, wet in winter, dry in summer. Asclepias has been fantastic this summer. So has Achillia.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Great suggestions.

[@tarahofkens]

This was fabulously helpful, thank you!!!

[@melissamybubbles6139]

Blue Gramma grass is pretty. It's native to Colorado. Catmint is planted in parking lot gardens in zone 5 because it's tough. Chives seem pretty tough in pots too.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Catmint is brilliant. So unfussy about anything.

[@capbin146]

Great very professional video. On point after this summer in Essex and torrential rain outside now 🤔