Why Choose Drought-Tolerant Perennials?

As soon as the first heatwave arrives, many plants in my garden start to droop – even with regular watering. Yet there are some hardy perennial champions that keep their cool no matter how hot and dry it gets. These plants are not only heat- and drought-tolerant, but also incredibly low-maintenance, often resisting pests, diseases, and even winter frost.

Here are eight of my favourite long-blooming perennials for full sun – perfect for low-water gardens, rockeries, and sunny borders.

1. Catmint (Nepeta cataria)

catmint

From May through late summer, catmint produces masses of blue to violet flower spikes. Loved by pollinators and delightfully aromatic, it’s both beautiful and tough. Catmint is a top choice for gardeners seeking long-blooming perennials for full sun – pairing beautifully with salvia or lavender.

2. Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) – A Lawn Alternative

steingarten anlegen

Also called creeping thyme, this aromatic perennial can be used as a walkable groundcover. With its delicate scent and bee-friendly flowers, wild thyme is ideal for sunny patios, rock gardens, and borders. Many gardeners now use it as a drought-tolerant lawn substitute – a water-saving alternative that looks and smells delightful.

3. Garden Stonecrop (Sedum)

Not the showiest plant, but one of the toughest. With fleshy, water-storing leaves and late-summer blooms, sedum requires virtually no care. Even during the record heat of 2018, mine thrived without a single watering. Perfect for sunny, sandy soils, and a good partner for autumn-flowering perennials like asters.

4. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

catmint

Once prized as a medicinal herb, yarrow remains a gardener’s favourite for its resilience. It stays green when lawns have turned brown and blooms happily in hot, dry weather. Though its flowers are often understated, it’s an excellent choice for wildflower-style plantings and pairs well with coneflowers or ornamental grasses.

5. Leopard’s Bane (Doronicum)

Leopard’s Bane (Doronicum)

Flowering in early spring, leopard’s bane brings a sunny splash of yellow before many other plants are awake. Hardy, drought-tolerant, and frost-resistant, it thrives in both sun and partial shade, making it a versatile perennial for cottage and natural gardens.

6. Ice Plant (Delosperma)

Ice Plant

A native of South Africa, the ice plant produces vibrant blooms for months. Its succulent foliage helps it withstand extreme heat and prolonged drought. While not winter-hardy in most of the UK, it thrives in containers or sheltered rock gardens. In colder areas, overwinter indoors.

7. Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina)

Soft as velvet and adored by children, lamb’s ear is known for its fuzzy, silver-grey foliage that protects it from drying out. This perennial thrives in full sun, shrugs off drought, and spreads slowly to form an attractive groundcover. A must-have for family-friendly and low-maintenance gardens, and an excellent alternative to phlox or echinacea.

8. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)

Russian Sage

Also known as blue spire, Russian sage offers airy clouds of violet-blue flowers above silvery foliage. Exceptionally heat- and drought-tolerant, it thrives in poor soils and needs minimal maintenance. A stunning alternative to lavender, especially in pollinator-friendly gardens.

Honourable Mentions

Other drought-tolerant stars include salvia, alliums, lavender, and maiden pink (Dianthus deltoides). These plants also require little water once established and keep your garden colourful through the hottest months.

Tips for Success with Heat- and Drought-Tolerant Perennials

  • Plant in well-drained soil.
  • Water deeply but infrequently to encourage strong root systems.
  • Avoid overwatering – even drought-tolerant plants can become “spoiled” and dependent on extra moisture.
  • Group plants with similar water needs together.

Final thought: By choosing heat-loving, long-blooming perennials for full sun, such as catmint, salvia, and Russian sage, you can create a vibrant garden that thrives in summer heat, attracts pollinators, and saves water – all while reducing maintenance.

MM