Top 30 drought tolerant plants in ordinary soils 2026

Plants thriving in drought and heatwave, as reported by you

Perhaps I’m going to have to begrudgingly rethink my stance on roses…

In the last week of July 2026 I ran a simple online survey asking gardeners which plants are thriving in this year’s heatwave and drought conditions. I requested people only include plants grown in ordinary existing soils (not pots), were established and had not been watered this year.

Top 30 plants thriving this year in ordinary soils without water across the UK by number of responses

Many salvia are totally hardy, even with winter wet, but some aren’t, such as this ‘Californian Sunset’ making it a genera worth more investigation

Quite often people named cultivars or species and this could lead to twenty different names or cultivars that could be grouped together roughly into one entry, such as roses, Rosa spp. Please note that within each of these groupings occasionally people reported they struggled, this was used as a negative score to down rank them. Caution must be taken to still individually research cultivars or species within these groups and choose those noted to be drought tolerant because some won’t be. For instance, many achillea are very drought tolerant - especially the species - but some cultivars are not as tolerant. Many roses are drought tolerant but some aren’t. Some cultivars will be more drought tolerant than others.

1. Rosa spp. (roses)

2. Lavandula spp. (lavender)

3. Echinops spp. (globe thistle)

4. Salvia rosmarinus (rosemary)

5. Salvia spp. (salvias including culinary sage)

6. Origanum vulgare (oregano)

7. Verbena bonariensis

8. Achillea spp. (yarrow)

9. Hylotelephium spp. (sedum)

10. Euphorbia spp.

11. Foeniculum vulgare (herb fennel)

12. Stachys byzantina

13. Lonicera spp. (climbing honeysuckles)

14. Hedera helix (ivy)

15. Eryngium spp. (sea holly)

16. Agapanthus spp.

17. Alcea rosea (hollyhock)

18. Asters (various)

19. Nepeta spp. (cat mints)

20. Salvia yangii

21. Buddleja spp.

22. Verbascum spp. (mulleins)

23. Fatsia japonica

24. Crocosmia spp.

25. Geranium spp.

26. Nepeta × faassenii ‘Walker’s Low’

27. Knautia macedonica

28. Euonymus spp.

29. Erigeron karvinskianus

30. Ferns (particularly native evergreen Dryopteris and Polystichum)

Drier south/east

Top 30 plants thriving this year in ordinary soils without water across the drier south/east by number of responses

Trusty old lavender

This list is perhaps the most telling as these are plants thriving in the most heatwave and drought hit areas.

1. Rosa spp.

2. Lavandula spp.

3. Salvia rosmarinus

4. Salvia spp.

5. Echinops spp.

6. Verbena bonariensis

7. Lonicera spp.

8. Ferns (particularly native evergreen Dryopteris and Polystichum species)

9. Stachys byzantina

10. Geranium spp.

11. Origanum vulgare

12. Buddleja spp.

13. Hylotelephium spp.

14. Achillea spp.

15. Crocosmia spp.

16. Clematis spp.

17. Nepeta spp.

18. Hedera helix

19. Salvia yangii

20. Erigeron karvinskianus

21. Euonymus spp.

22. Sambucus nigra

23. Euphorbia spp.

24. Alcea rosea

25. Asters (various taxa)

26. Foeniculum vulgare

27. Fatsia japonica

28. Eryngium spp.

29. Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’

30. Verbascum spp.

I’ve long pointed out that some ferns are much more drought tolerant than people would assume and it’s good to see them so high even in the drier regions of the UK.

Wetter north/west

Top 30 plants thriving this year in ordinary soils without water across the wetter north/west by number of responses

Geranium surprised me, though thinking about it, I’m not sure why as there are cultivars for all conditions

1. Rosa spp.

2. Echinops spp.

3. Lavandula spp.

4. Salvia rosmarinus

5. Geranium spp.

6. Origanum vulgare

7. Euphorbia spp.

8. Hylotelephium spp.

9. Salvia spp.

10. Foeniculum vulgare

11. Agapanthus spp.

12. Paeonia spp.

13. Geranium ‘Rozanne’

14. Achillea spp.

15. Eryngium spp.

16. Phlomis russeliana

17. Knautia macedonica

18. Nepeta × faassenii ‘Walker’s Low’

19. Ferns (various)

20. Verbena bonariensis

21. Helichrysum italicum

22. Allium spp.

23. Penstemon spp.

24. Verbascum spp.

25. Iris spp.

26. Hedera helix

27. Alchemilla mollis

28. Acanthus spp.

29. Crocosmia spp.

30. Stachys byzantina

It’s worth noting that the north and north west of Britain is suffering from heat and to a lesser degree, low rainfall, but it is not facing the same drought and heatwave as down south or east this year yet.

Woody trees, shrubs and climbers thriving in the drier south/east

Hawthorn back in May when soils were drying but still with some moisture

My gut feel is that woody species, especially trees, are underrepresented in this survey. That needs further research. Especially as I see one of the big solutions to a warmed climate being drought tolerant shade and organic matter giving large trees. For instance, the likes of oak and London plane should be mentioned, among others - obviously they are too large for most gardens explaining why they aren’t I guess!

1. Rosa spp.

2. Lavandula spp.

3. Salvia rosmarinus (rosemary)

4. Buddleja spp.

5. Hedera helix

6. Clematis spp.

7. Euonymus spp.

8. Lonicera spp. (climbing honeysuckles)

9. Salvia yangii

10. Ilex spp.

11. Crataegus monogyna

12. Jasminum spp.

13. Sambucus nigra

14. Fatsia japonica

15. Hebe spp.

16. Hypericum spp.

17. Philadelphus spp.

18. Pyracantha spp.

19. Rubus spp.

20. Betula spp.

21. Malus spp.

22. Pittosporum spp.

23. Viburnum spp.

24. Corylus avellana (hazel)

25. Laurus nobilis

Full list of all plants said to be thriving in the drier south/east

One of the most useful things I thought I could do is share the full list of plants respondents said were ‘thriving’ in this year’s most heatwave hit areas. This is unedited and allows you to draw your own conclusions. All in ordinary soils without watering. When I see this full list and how you all heard the call for help and responded like this, it lifts my spirit and gives me hope.

• A bell shaped clematis

• a smallish maple

• Acacia dealbata.

• Acer japonicum

• Acer Orange Dream

• Acer palmatum dissectum x 3

• Achillea ‘Terracotta’

• Achillea Credo

• Achillea Milifolium

• Achillea Milifolium

• Achillea spp.

• Achillea spp.

• Achillea spp.

• Achillea spp.

• Achillea spp.

• Achillea spp.

• Achillea spp.

• Agapanthus (sorry don’t know variety)

• Agapanthus (unknown but blue hardy variety!)

• Agapanthus (various)

• Agapanthus spp.

• Agapanthus spp.

• Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’

• Agastache ‘navajo sunset’

• alchemia mollis

• Alchemilla mollis

• Alchemilla mollis

• aliums

• alkanet

• all peonies (herbaceous

• all pittisporum varieties

• All roses

• all Roses

• all the roses

• all varieties of Hemerocallis tried

• Allium Lavender Bubbles

• Allium Millenium

• Allium sphaerocephalon

• Allium sphaerocephalon

• Allium Summer Beauty

• Alliums

• Amenanthele lessoniana

• Amsonia Blue Ice

• Anaphalis margaritacea (pearly everlasting)

• Anemanthe lessoniana

• anemanthele lessoniana

• Anemanthele lessoniana

• angelica archangelica

• Anisodontea El Rayo

• Anthemis tinctoria ‘E.C. Buxton’

• Apple (scrumptious)

• Arbutus unendo.

• Armeria ‘Abbey Deep Rose’

• Artichokes (globe

• Ash

• Ash tree

• Aster ‘monch’

• Aster ageratoides Ezo Murasaki

• Aster amellus

• Aster Little Carlow

• Asters

• Astrantia major

• athyrium niponicum

• Balotta pseudodictamnus

• Baptisia Lemon Meringue

• bay

• Bay

• Bay tree

• Bearded Iris

• bearded iris

• bearded irises a bit crispy but ok

• beech (hedge)

• Beech hedge

• Berberis

• berberis

• Berberis

• Bergenia

• Bergenia various

• black elder (sambucus)

• blackberry

• Blackberry

• Blackcurrant

• Blackcurrant salvia

• Blackthorn

• blackthorn (sloe)

• Borage

• Box

• Brachyglottis

• Brunerra Jack frost

• Brunnera Alexanders Great

• Brunnera Jack Frost

• buddleia

• Buddleia

• Buddleia

• buddleia

• buddleia

• buddleia

• Buddleia davidii

• buddleija

• Buddleja

• Buddleja Butterfly candy little white

• Buddleja davidii ‘Blue Horizon’

• Buddlieja davidii ‘Black Knight’

• Budleia

• buxus

• Buxus

• Calamagrostis brachytricha

• Calamagrostis Karl Foerster

• calamagrostis Karl foerster

• Calamagrostis Karl Foerster

• Calamagrostis Karl Forster

• California poppies

• California Poppies

• Californian Poppy ‘Orange King’

• Callistemmon.

• Camellia

• camellia (30+ years old)

• Camellias

• cannas

• Cardoon

• Cardoon

• Cardoon

• cardoons

• Cardunculus

• Carex morrowi ‘Ice Dance’

• Carex pendula

• Carex pendula/ pendulous sedge

• Caryopteris ‘blueblossom’

• caryopteris clandonensis

• Ceanothus ‘Skylark’

• Centaurea scabiosa

• Centranthus ruber

• Centranthus ruber

• centranthus ruber (seeding quickly but very happy)

• Centranthus ruber/alba

• Cephalaria gigantea

• Ceratostigma

• Ceratostigma plumbaginioides

• Ceratostigma willmottianum

• Cestrum parquii

• Chaemerops Humilis.

• Cherry tree

• Chilean glory flower

• Chocolate Vine (akebia quinata)

• Choisya ‘Aztec Pearl’

• choisya ternata

• Choisya ternata

• Choysia ternata ‘Sundance’

• cistus

• Clary Sage

• Clematis

• Clematis

• Clematis Advent bells

• Clematis Etoile Violette

• clematis Montana

• clematis tangutica

• Clematis: Betty Corning

• Clematis: sweet summer love

• climbing

• climbing honeysuckle

• Climbing hydrangea

• climbing hydrangea

• Climbing rose generous gardener (DA)

• Climbing rose Malvern hills

• comfrey

• Comfrey

• Comfrey (creeping wild type)

• Common Elder

• common holly

• common mallow

• common rosemary

• Common sage

• common yarrow

• conifers (fairly slow growing ones)

• Continus Royal Purple

• Convolvulus sabatius

• coreopsis lanceolata

• cornflower

• Corylus avellana ‘Fuscorubra’

• Cotinus [not sure which]

• Cotinus Golden Spirit (or similar)

• Cotinus Royal Purple

• Cotinus Royal Purple

• cotoneaster

• cotoneaster

• Cotoneaster franchetii

• Cotoneaster oriacus [possibly: a tree

• Cotton lavender

• cow parsley.

• Crocosmia

• crocosmia

• Crocosmia

• crocosmia

• Crocosmia

• crocosmia

• Crocosmia ‘lucifer’

• crocosmia (unknown orange variety)

• Crocosmia Lucifer

• crososmia

• Curry plant

• Cytisus

• Cytisus scoparius

• dahlias . Coping well - hosta

• damson

• Dandelion

• Daphne

• daucus

• Daucus carota

• Daucus carota

• day lilies

• Day lily

• Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldbaum‘

• Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldbaum’

• Deutzia

• Deutzia

• Deutzia (sorry not sure which one)

• Dianthus

• Dianthus carthusianorum

• Dianthus Carthusianorum

• Dianthus carthusianorum

• Diascea

• Digitalis purpurea

• Dill ‘Mammoth’

• Dipsacus fullonum

• Dogwood

• Dogwoods - midwinter fire

• Dogwoods and a dark purple one

• Dogwoods Ani’s orange

• echinacea

• Echinacea Fatal Attraction

• Echinacea Pallida Hula Dancer

• Echinops

• Echinops

• echinops

• Echinops

• Echinops

• Echinops

• Echinops

• echinops

• Echinops ritro

• Echinops ritro

• Echinops ritro

• Echinops Ritro V. Blue.

• Echinops Taplow Blue

• Echinops. Fargesia rufa Itoh poenie. Aloe striatula

• Echium

• Echium vulgare

• edelweiss

• Elaeagnus ebbingei Gilt Edge

• elaeagnus x ebbingei

• elder

• Elder (black leaf)

• Elder Black lace

• Elder ivy comfrey green alkanet rosemary tutsan yew

• Elephants ears - bergenia

• Emily Brontë

• English lavender

• English lavender

• English lavender (Hidcote)

• Epediums various

• Epilobium

• Erica cinerea ‘Katinka’

• erigernon

• erigernon kravinskus. All coping well

• Erigeron

• erigeron

• Erigeron

• Erigeron karvinskianus

• Erigeron karvinskianus

• Erigeron karvinskianus

• Erigeron karvinskianus

• Erigeron karvinskianus

• Erigeron karvinskianus

• Erigeron karvinskianus

• Erigeron karvinskianus

• Eryngium

• eryngium ‘big blue’

• Eryngium bourgatii ‘Picos Amethyst’

• Eryngium bourgattii

• Eryngium Giganteum ‘Miss Willmott’s Ghost’

• Eryngium Jos Eikling

• Eryngium variifolium

• Erysium ‘bowles mauve’

• Erysium Bowles Mauve

• Escallonia

• Eschscholzia ‘Orange king’

• Euonymous

• Euonymus - various

• euonymus (various)

• euonymus emerald

• Euonymus fortunei

• Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald

• Euonymus fortunei ‘Silver Queen’

• euonymus japonicus

• Euonymus macrophylla

• Euphorbia caracias

• Euphorbia characias

• Euphorbia characias

• Euphorbia Characias Wulfenii

• Euphorbia Fens Ruby

• Euphorbia mellifera

• Euphorbia Miners Merlot

• Euphorbia palustris

• Euphorbia robbiae

• euphorbia Robbiae

• Euphorbia segueriana

• Euphorbia Silver ?

• euphorbias (various)

• evening primrose

• evening primrose

• evergreen jasmine

• fancy poppy

• Fatsia

• fatsia

• Fatsia Japonica

• Fatsia japonica

• fatsia japonica

• Fennel

• Fennel

• fennel

• Fern ? (Large)

• festuca glauca

• Field Maple

• Field Scabious Small Scabious wild marjoram roses philadelphus tansy echinops ivy harebell sedum musk mallow knapweed elder sage thyme

• fig brown turkey

• fig trees (brown turkey

• fleabane

• Foeniculum vulgare

• Foeniculum vulgare ‘Purpureum’

• Forsythia

• foxglove

• Fuchsia

• Fushia

• Galium oderatum

• Galium odoratum

• Garden roses

• Gaura

• Gaura

• gaura ‘white sparkler’

• Gaura lindheimeri

• Gaura whirling butterflies

• Gaura whirling butterflies

• Gaura whirling butterflies

• Geranium ‘Heidi Jane’

• Geranium himalayense ‘Gravetye’

• Geranium Macrorrhizum

• Geranium macrorrhizzum

• Geranium Mrs Kendall Clarke

• Geranium psylostemon Catherine Deneuve

• Geranium Rozanne

• Geranium Rozanne

• Geranium rozanne

• Geranium St Ola

• Geranium x magnificum

• Geraniums (cranesbill) - various varieties

• Geraniums hardy

• Geraniums Rozanne and dreamland- less happy in sunnier positions. All the roses again. Trachelospermum. Erigeron again

• Geraniums- all hardy geraniums

• Gertrude Jekyll

• Geum marmalade

• geum totally tangerine

• Giant Echium

• gigantea

• Gillenia Trifoliata

• Gingko biloba

• Gladioli

• Globe Artichoke I leave this to do its own thing. Currently flowering and teaming with bees.

• Globe thistle

• Gold’

• golden rod

• Gorse

• Grasses

• Grasses: Molinia caerulea ‘Dauerstrahl’

• Green alkanet

• Green Herb fennel - leaves have gone brown but flowering well and standing tall

• Guara

• Guara Whirling Butterflies

• Guelder rose

• Hakonechloa macra ‘Mediovariegata’

• Hardy fuchsia (variety unknown)

• Hardy geraniums

• hawthorn

• hawthorn

• Hawthorn hedge

• hazel - loads of nuts to come

• hazel trees (curly

• Hebe

• Hebe - grey green leaves

• Hebe ? (small)

• Hebe ‘donna britta’

• Hebe Sutherlandii

• Hedera helix

• Hedera helix (west facing)

• Hedges- purple beech

• Helenium

• helianthemum

• Helianthus annus

• helianthus lemon queen

• Helianthus Lemon Queen

• Helichrysum italicum

• Helichrysum italicum subsp microphyllum

• Helicotrichon sempervirens

• Hellebore Single slate

• Hellebores - various

• Helleborus foetidus

• Hemerocallis

• hemerocallis

• Hemorocallis lilioasphodelus

• Herb fennel

• Herb fennel

• Hesperis

• heuchara

• heuchara ( except for scorching)

• Heuchera sanguinea

• Heuchera Walnut

• Heucheras - midnight rose

• Himalayan honeysuckle - wilting a bit but still green and flowering well. Blackbirds are loving the fruit!

• himalayan silver birch

• Hogweed

• Holly

• holly

• holly hock

• Hollyhock

• Hollyhock

• hollyhocks

• Hollyhocks

• Hollyhocks

• hollyhocks

• Hollyhocks

• Honeysuckle

• Honeysuckle

• Honeysuckle

• honeysuckle

• honeysuckle

• Hornbeam

• Horsetail (unfortunately)

• hostas (various)

• hot biscuits amaranth

• Houttuynia cordata

• Hydrangea likely Annabelle

• Hydrangea petiolaris

• Hydrangea petiolaris (west facing)

• Hydrangia (variety unknown

• Hylotelephium matrona

• Hylotelephium Matrona

• Hylotelephium spectabile

• Hylotelephium spectabile

• Hylotelephium x mottramianum ‘Herbstfreude’

• Hylotelephiums

• hypericum

• Hypericum

• hypericum

• Hypericum hidcote

• Hypericum perforatum

• Hypericum x inodorum

• Hyssop

• ilex shrubs

• Indian Bean tree

• Inula

• iris

• Iris siberica

• itoh

• ivy

• Ivy

• Ivy

• Ivy

• japanese acer

• Japanese anemone

• Japanese anemone

• Japanese anemone

• Japanese anemone

• Japanese anemone

• Japanese Anemones

• Japanese Aralia

• Japanese Honeysuckle.

• Japanese quince

• Jasmine

• Jasmine

• Jasmine ‘Clotted Cream’

• Jasmine (a pink one

• Jasmine Clotted Cream

• jasminium

• Jasminum officinale ‘Devon Cream’

• Jerusalem artichoke

• Jerusalem artichoke (grrr)

• Jerusalem)

• knapweed

• Knautia arvensis

• Knautia Macedonia

• Knautia Macedonica

• Kniphofia

• Kniphofia

• kniphofia

• Kniphofia ‘Pyromania Orange Blaze’

• kniphofia (unknown yellow variety)

• korean chrysanthemums

• Ladies bedstraw

• Lambs ears

• Laurel

• Laurel hedge

• Laurus nobilis angustifolia

• Lavandula

• lavandula

• Lavandula ‘Munstead’

• Lavandula angustifolia ‘Ashdown Forest’

• Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’

• Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’

• Lavandula hidcote

• Lavandula intermedia ‘Grosso’

• Lavandula x intermedia ‘Old English’

• Lavateria ‘Barnsley Baby’

• Lavender

• Lavender

• Lavender

• Lavender

• lavender

• lavender

• Lavender

• Lavender

• Lavender - various including London pink

• lavender (english)

• lavender hidcote

• Lavender Hidcote

• Lavender intermedia Grosso/Phenomenal

• lemon balm

• Lemon balm

• lemon balm

• lemon balm

• lemon balm

• Leucanthemum Becky

• Leucanthemum vulgare

• leucantheum

• leycesteria formosa

• Libertia chilensis (survived 3 winters so far in thick clay)

• Libertia Grandiflora

• Lilac

• Lilac (white)

• Lilies

• Linaria

• Linaria purpurea

• Linaria Vulgaris

• Little Miss Figgy)

• Lobelia tupa

• Lonicera Hall’s prolific

• Lonicera x 4 types

• lost the name: small purple bloom

• lupin

• Lychnis Coronia

• Lythrum salicaria Robert

• Magnolia ‘Susan’

• Magnolia grandiflora

• Magnolia stellata

• magnolia susan

• mahonia

• Mahonia x media

• mallow

• malus

• malus red sentinel

• Malus sylvestris ‘Evereste’

• Margherita comune

• Marjoram

• marjoram

• Marjoram

• Marjoram

• Mature Silver Birch

• Medlar

• Melica altissima ‘Alba’

• Melica Ciliata

• mexican fleabane

• michaelmas daisies

• Mint

• mint

• Miscanthus

• miscanthus

• miscanthus malepartus

• Miscanthus sinesis

• mock orange

• mock orange

• Monarda menthofolia

• Monbretia

• Morello cherry

• Muehlunbeckia complexa

• mullein

• multiple hedychium varieties

• musk mallow

• Nandina

• Nandina domestica

• Nandina domestica

• Nepeeta Walkers Low

• Nepeta

• Nepeta

• nepeta

• nepeta

• nepeta

• Nepeta mussini

• Nepeta racemosa

• nepeta racemosa

• Nepeta racemosa ‘Walkers Low’

• Nepeta walkers low

• Nepeta Walkers Low

• nepeta wild marjoram

• Nerine

• Nerium oleander

• New Zealand flax

• Nicotiana ‘sensation’ (supposedly annual/tender perrenial that has survived not too harsh winter)

• nigella

• Nigella

• oaks

• Oenothera lindheimeri

• Olive

• Olive

• Olive tree

• Olive tree

• Onites vulgare

• oregano

• Oregano

• oregano

• Oregano ‘rosenkuppel’. - exceptional at front of border

• Oregon Thornless blackberry

• Origanum

• Origanum laevigatum ‘Herrenhausen’

• Origanum laevigatum ‘Herrenhausen’

• Origanum laevigatum ‘Hopleys’

• Origanum Thumbles

• Origanum vulgare

• Origanum vulgare

• Origanum vulgare ‘Compactum’

• ornamental cherry (prunus serums). Ivy. Clematis (not sure which one - climber with small purple flowers with white stamen).

• ornamental grasses

• ox eye daisy

• ox-eye daisies

• Oxeye Daisy

• oxeye daisy

• Pampas grass

• Panicum Nothwind

• Passion flower

• Passion Flower

• Passion Flower (Passiflora?)

• Paul’s American Pillar

• Pear tree (unknown type

• pears

• Penissetum((dark flowered). All are possibly a bit shorter this year

• pennisetum

• Pennisetum orientable ‘shogun’

• penstemon

• Penstemon fruticosa ‘garnet’

• penstemon- no variety names

• Peony

• peony (several different varieties)

• perennial cornflower

• Perennial cornflower

• perovskia

• Perovskia

• Perovskia ‘Blue Spire’

• Perovskia ‘Blue Spire’

• Perovskia Little Spire

• Persicaria ‘fat domino’

• Persicaria firetail - a bit wilted and small but flowering OK

• pheasant grass

• Pheasant’s tail grass

• philadelphus

• philadelphus

• phillyrea

• Phlomis ‘Le Sud’ (P. fruticosa x longifolia)

• Phlomis russeliana - a bit smaller than usual and leaves a little droopy

• Phlomis russeliana (but not other kinds of Phlomis!)

• Phlomis russelliana

• Phlox Mount Fuji

• Photinia red robin

• photinia red Robin

• Phylostachis bamboo.

• Physocarpus diablo

• physocarpus opulifolius

• Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diable D’Or’

• Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Lady in Red’

• physocarpus purpurea

• Pink snowberry

• Pink Valerian

• Pittasporum hedge

• pittosporum

• Pittosporum - green leaved

• Pittosporum ‘gold ball’

• Pittosporum Tom Thumb

• Pittosporum variegated

• Plants in border:

• Plum ‘Czar’

• Plumbago auriculata

• Poa labillardierei

• Ponytail grass

• Portuguese laurel

• Potatoes

• Potentilla

• Potentilla Fructosa

• Potentilla fruticosa ‘Primrose Beauty’

• Potentilla fruticosa Abbotswood

• privet

• Prunus avium ‘Sunburst’

• Pulmonaria

• Pulmonaria officinalis

• purple palace

• Pyracantha

• pyracantha

• pyracantha

• Ragwort

• Ragwort

• Ragwort in wild patch

• ragwort.

• rambling

• Rambling Rector

• rambling roses

• raspberries

• Raspberry

• raspberry

• Raspberry

• Red currant

• Red currant

• Red leaved Acer (don’t know it’s name)

• Red orach

• Red valerian

• red varieties) silver birch

• Rhubarb

• rhubarb

• Rhubarb

• Rhubarb:

• Rick hyssop

• rogersia

• Rosa ‘Absolutely Fabulous’

• Rosa ‘Buff Beauty’

• Rosa ‘Chandos Beauty’

• Rosa ‘Munstead Wood’ [I read somewhere that David Austin have discontinued this as it’s vulnerable to drought

• Rosa ‘Princess Alexandra of Kent

• Rosa ‘Rambling Rector’

• Rosa ‘Summertime’

• Rosa ‘You’re Beautiful’

• Rosa “Albertine’

• Rosa bonica

• Rosa Compassion

• Rosa Gertrude jekyll

• Rosa Girlguiding UK centenary

• Rosa moyesii ‘Geranium’

• Rosa new dawn

• Rosa Noble Anthony

• Rosa Olivia Rose Austin

• Rosa Rhapsody in blue

• Rosa souvenir du dr jamain

• rose

• rose

• Rose (tea rose)

• Rose Campion

• Rose City of York

• rosemarinus

• Rosemary

• Rosemary

• rosemary

• Rosemary

• Rosemary

• Rosemary

• Rosemary

• rosemary

• Rosemary

• rosemary

• Rosemary

• Rosemary

• Rosemary

• Rosemary

• Rosemary

• rosemary

• Rosemary ‘Miss Jessops Upright’

• roses

• Roses

• Roses

• Roses

• roses (shrub

• roses (various)

• Roses: Crown Princess Margareta

• Roses: Pilgrim

• Rosmarinus Miss Jesspos Upright

• rowan olympic flame

• Rowan tree

• Rowan tree

• Rudbeckia

• Rudbeckia

• rudbeckia

• Rudbeckia ‘goldsturm’

• Rudbeckia fulgida Deamii

• Rudbeckia Henry Eilers

• Russian sage

• Russian sage

• Sage

• sage

• sage

• Sage

• Salix Kilmarnock

• salvia

• Salvia

• Salvia ‘Amethyst lips’

• Salvia ‘black

• salvia ‘hot lips’

• Salvia ‘nachtvlinder’

• Salvia ‘Nachtvlinder’

• Salvia ‘Phyllis fancy’

• Salvia ‘Red Rumble’

• salvia (hot lips)

• Salvia Amistad

• Salvia blue spire

• Salvia Caradonna

• Salvia clotted cream

• salvia hot lips

• Salvia Nachtvlinder

• Salvia Nachtvlinder

• salvia nachtvlinder

• Salvia nemerosa Chardonnay

• Salvia nemorosa ‘Amethyst’

• salvia nemorosa caradonna

• salvia officianles

• salvia officianles

• Salvia officinalis Icterina

• Salvia perovskia

• Salvia rosmarinus ‘Green Ginger’

• Salvia rosmarinus (unknown variety)

• salvia royal bumble

• Salvia Royal Bumble

• Salvia sweet lips

• salvia Sylestris rose queen

• salvia Sylestris rose queen

• salvia x jamensis

• Salvia x jamensis ‘Nachtvlinder’

• Salvia x sylvestris ‘Sky Blue Marvel’

• Salvias (don’t know cultivars)

• Salvias (various including hot lips and amethyst lips).

• Salvias: several including Hotlips

• Sambucus ‘Black lace’

• Sambucus black lace

• Sanguisorba Burr Blanc

• Sanguisorba canadensis ‘lilac squirrel’

• Sanguisorba Tanna

• Sanguisorba White Tanna

• Santolina chamaecyparissus

• Santolina chamaecyparissus

• sarcocca

• Sarcococca

• Scabiosa

• scabiosa o

• sea holly

• Sea holly

• sedum

• sedum

• Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’/

• sedum (large pink flowerheads)

• Sedum Herbstfreude

• Sedum Herbstfreude A. Joy

• sedum spectabile

• sedum spectabile

• Sedum stonecrop type

• sedums

• sedums are coping but not growing

• self heal

• self seeded cosmos

• self seeded verbena b

• Sesleria autumnalis

• Sesleria autumnalis

• Seven Sisters

• Shasta daisy

• Shasta daisy Shropshire Lad

• shrub roses

• shrub roses - rhapsody in blue

• shrubby salvia with large pink flowers

• Silene conoraria

• silver birch

• Silver birch

• Sisrynchium striatum

• Sisyrinchium californicum

• Sisyrinchium striatum

• Small Scabious

• Smoke bush

• Spindle

• spiraea

• Spiraea billiardii

• spiraea is an unsung hero during droughts!...I have 4 different varieties and all are bulletproof

• Spiraea Japonica white gold

• Spiraea pink ice

• Spiraea Warburton’s plumtastic

• Stachy byzantium

• Stachys

• stachys Byzantia

• Stachys byzantina

• Stachys byzantina

• stachys byzantina

• Stachys byzantina

• stachys byzantina silver carpet

• stachys byzantina silver carpet

• Stachys Byzantium

• Stachys Hummelo

• Stachys hummelo

• stinking iris

• Stipa gigantea

• Stipa gigantea

• Stipa tenuisima

• Stipa tenuissima

• Stipa tenuissima

• Stipa tenuissima and Erigeron thriving in a more well drained area

• Stock

• strawberry plants (fruiting kind

• Succisa pratensis

• summer fruiting raspberry (can’t remember which variety)

• summer jasnine

• Swamp Lily/Crinum powellii

• Symphyotrichum‘Little Carlow’ large healthy plant even though it was only planted this spring

• Tall Privet hedges

• tayberry

• Teasel

• Teasel

• teasel

• Teasels

• Teasels

• Tetrapanex rex

• Tetrapanex rex

• Teucrium hircanicum

• Teucrium lucidrys

• Teucrium Lucidrys

• Teucrium x lucidrys

• Thalictrum flavum glaucum

• the lark ascending

• Thriving - roses (various)

• Thuja plicata ‘4ever Goldy’

• Thyme

• thyme

• Thymes - various

• toad flax

• Torquay palm

• Trachelospermum jasminoides

• Trachleospernum

• Tracholospermum jasminoides

• Trachycarpus fortunei

• tree lilies

• tree peonies

• Trees: Goat willow

• Trees: medlar

• Trifolium pratense

• twisted hazel

• Twisted hazel

• twisted willow (coppiced)

• Valeriana officinalis

• various Eryngiums

• various roses

• Various roses!

• Verbascum

• verbascum (mullein)

• Verbascum bomyciferum Arctic Summer

• Verbascum Sixteen Candles

• Verbena

• Verbena bampton

• Verbena Bampton

• Verbena bonararis

• Verbena bonariensis

• Verbena bonariensis

• verbena bonariensis

• Verbena Bonariensis

• Verbena Bonariensis

• Verbena bonariensis

• Verbena Bonariensis

• Verbena bonariensis

• verbena bonariensis

• Verbena bonariensis

• Verbena bonariensis - positively thriving with masses of seedlings too

• verbena bonariensis lollipop

• verbena bonariensis lollipop

• Viburnum opulus opulus

• viburnum tinus

• Viburnum tinus

• Vicia sativa

• Vinca minor

• Virginia creeper (the best coper of all)

• Wall germanda

• Wall Germander

• Wayfaring tree

• Weigela

• Weigela (not sure which one)

• white clover!

• white flowers

• wild achillea

• Wild carrot

• Wild carrot

• wild daisy

• Wild hawthorn

• Wild Rocket

• wild thyme

• winter honeysuckle

• wisteria

• Wisteria

• Wisteria sinensis

• Wisteria sinensis

• Wollerton Old Hall

• Woodruff

• yarrow

• Yarrow

• yew

• Zantedeschia aethiopica ‘Crowborough’

Methodology

I had 103 responses of which 90 were used, discounting 13 that were watered or from outside the UK. 76 from England, 8 from Wales, 6 from Scotland - it would have been nice to have an equal split to offer country specific advice and also to have data from countries across Europe and elsewhere. Unfortunately this survey was limited by numbers of people responding but in terms of growing is still helpful.

90 is a reasonable sample that has produced useful results and although my survey is limited and imperfect it has proven that on a larger scale this kind of survey has value. My recommendation would be to run a similar survey to many more gardeners and also perhaps a second survey or category specifically among a network of professionals (gardeners, ecologists, farmers). I’m interested in collaborating with others to make a larger survey happen.

That said, this survey shows there is a large number of plants that can thrive, let alone survive, in regular soils during some of the toughest heat and drought the UK has faced so far. There will be many more plants not included in this list to draw on, discoverable with a bigger sample of people and gardens.

I’ve grouped some plants reported into genera or species, especially across regions and soil, which suggests a high likelihood of drought tolerance within those. Equally, by asking which plants were suffering I could counterbalance some entries giving a fairer result. E.g. Hydrangea were reported by a few people as thriving but by far more as suffering, allowing me to remove it from the drought tolerant thriving list.

Due to the size of the sample I thought it was best to split results roughly into ‘Drier south/east’ (54 responses) and ‘Wetter west/north’ (36 responses). This could be taken further with more accuracy but it does offer a useful list of plants that were mentioned a lot of times for both areas. I think it is useful to compare the two to spot drought tolerant plants on both lists, this gives drier regions an idea of drought tolerant plants that can also tolerate wet winters in ordinary soil. Even with climate change southern and eastern winters will usually have less rainfall than the north and west.

Limitations of this survey

Areas of exposed ground on our allotment in West Yorkshire

As mentioned, the sample size is reasonable but much more could be learnt with even more responses. With many more people from all regions of the UK, area specific advice could be given and better advice for soil types and planting conditions (full sun, part shade, full shade).

One of the big question marks I noticed is that people have focussed on perennials and small shrubs more and less on larger woody plants, such as trees and climbers. For that reason I have pulled out a dedicated list to spotlight trees, large shrubs and climbers. As these plants are likely to be drought tolerant, I can only think something around my wording of ‘thriving’ led to woody plants being overlooked. I.e. perhaps peoples’ idea of thriving means factors such as flowers, which many trees don’t have right now.

A self selected survey where people see a link and choose to fill it in captures responses from people keener to take part. I shared it on my Wild Way newsletter and social media where it was shared by a number of people to their networks.

In this instance, I suspect that probably worked in our favour as it will have attracted keen gardeners generally with a good amount of experience with plants. Who will likely have been good at identifying reasons for plant success and failure linking it to drought and heat.

That said, it is an open survey and people could report a suffering plant that could be so for other reasons such as disease. Because the focus is on thriving plants, I personally think this is less of an issue. And I suspect most people who took part will understand what drought stress looks like.

Thank yous

Thank you to everyone who shared or took part anonymously and named below: Shirley Judd, Lesley, Jo, Paul Fletcher, Anthea, Jo, Emma, Rachel Gibson, Lauren, Elizabeth Ellis, Natasha Stewart, Lisa Taylor-Pugh, Linda Bruce, Sean Smith, Mel Driver, Kevin Evans, Rosalynde Grum, Sara Saunders, Barbara, Peter Cool, Joanne McCudden, Donna Brooks , Carole Kirk, Susan Kay-Attwood, June Girvin, Gale Pryor, Claire Pepper, Anna Ballard, Lynne, Daniel Tusting, Kate Gibbs, Noel Kingsbury, Helen, Charlotte Filcek, Alex, Ruth Hirst, Anne Pickering, Linda Wood-Thomas, Sue Davies, Jane, Kate Main, Heather Graham, Jo Cryer, Trudi Brown, Lorna Devenish, Mandy Gordon, Martin Allen, Sarah Brown, Shirley Broughton, Louise Branch, Martin Gilmour, Liz Maidment, Anne Bell, Hilary May, Emma Price, Barbara Anning.

Final thoughts

I suppose the main thing that stands out for me is that the findings in this survey generally fit my existing knowledge of drought tolerant plants - what do you think? All of these genera groupings hide a wide variety of cultivars with a big mix of colours, shapes and textures for gardeners to choose from. And there will be many more species out there to discover that will cope with a changed climate, even in 50+ years, that could grow in ordinary soils. It reinforces my thinking that we need to focus more on exploring and testing plants in heatwaves in ordinary soils with some urgency - and we can all contribute our observations in surveys like this.