Drought tolerant shrubs
We’ve hand-picked a selection of stand-out shrubs that will thrive even in scorching, dry heat with little or no rainfall. Usually native to dry regions such as the Mediterranean, these resistant shrubs are perfect for gardens on sandy soil that experience unabating direct sunlight all through the day. Hebes are a popular drought resistant shrub with a compact growth habit, shiny oval leaves and distinctive spikes of blue, purple or white flowers produced all summer long. Low-growing hebe plants are well-suited to the rockery or ground cover while taller varieties work well in the shrubbery or mixed border. Buddleia plants, aka butterfly bushes, are also lovers of dry shade and will reward you with long, arching stems, an open growth habit and fabulous long flower spikes in shades of whites, blues, purples and yellows. Lavender is perhaps the most archetypal drought resistant plant with its narrow, silvery-grey aromatic foliage and instantly recognisable scent. Lavender plants produce their fragrant flowers on long, upright stems and don’t mind being cut back fairly hard after flowering to maintain a compact, bushy growth habit. You can use the filters on the right to further refine your search for shrubs with different soil acidity preferences, eventual height and spread and more.