Modern
Hot and Dry Garden
Before global warming, hot and dry gardens were rare. But as our climate becomes increasingly erratic, with periods of drought (alternating with floods), all of us have to be prepared to cope with drought conditions at some time in our gardens.
The secret of this kind of gardening is to work with the conditions and use plants that thrive naturally, without too much help. There is no point in planting a perennial that needs plenty of moisture and then wringing your hands when it doesn't survive. A simple rule of thumb for dry conditions is that grey-leaved plants do well, as do fleshy plants - ones that naturally retain a lot of moisture (like cactus do in a desert). Small-leaved plants like rosemary and thyme also do well.
There is no one garden style that works with this kind of situation, although it lends itself to a contemporary setting. Grey-leaved plants in particular often have architectural qualities that benefit from good hard landscaping. Don't bother with grass - instead concentrate your efforts on borders.
To get an idea of what can be achieved with a hot, dry site take a trip to Beth Chatto's garden in Essex. A garden designer famous for transforming a dry site, her fabulous garden full of drought-resistant plants is enough to inspire anyone. See The Beth Chatto Gardens website for more information.
Sedums also do well in dry soil. Their fat leaves store water when they can, which enables them to survive droughts. Their foliage is attractive all through the growing season, and their flowers - either pink or greenish white - flower right through to October.
Grey-leaved plants also do well. Plants like Stachys Byzantine Silver Carpet (otherwise known as Lamb's Ears), Artemesia Powis Castle and the delightful shrub Teucriam Fruticans are protected from the hot sun by the matt of little hairs on their leaves. Plus many Mediterranean herbs do well . the salvias (including sage), marjoram and thymes.
For a range of euphorbias, sedums and grey-leaved plants, visit Crocus.
Add colour to any borders with Alliums or Verbascums. Alliums are ornamental onions whose bulbs produce long arching stems topped with fabulous pom-poms in various shades of lilac, purple and pink. Verbascums are biennials and will set seed each year. Be careful not to let them take over though. Try the fabulous grey-leaved variety Mont Blanc, which has flowers of the purest white. Available from Manor Nursery.
There is no one garden style that works with this kind of situation, although it lends itself to a contemporary setting. Grey-leaved plants in particular often have architectural qualities that benefit from good hard landscaping. Don't bother with grass - instead concentrate your efforts on borders.
To get an idea of what can be achieved with a hot, dry site take a trip to Beth Chatto's garden in Essex. A garden designer famous for transforming a dry site, her fabulous garden full of drought-resistant plants is enough to inspire anyone. See The Beth Chatto Gardens website for more information.
Perfect Plants for Parched Places
Euphorbias are a marvellous group of plants that thrive in these conditions. There are many varieties, but perhaps the most famous and most impressive is Euphorbia Wulfenii. The dark green leaves, topped by lime green flowers, give colour from early spring right through to autumn.Sedums also do well in dry soil. Their fat leaves store water when they can, which enables them to survive droughts. Their foliage is attractive all through the growing season, and their flowers - either pink or greenish white - flower right through to October.
Grey-leaved plants also do well. Plants like Stachys Byzantine Silver Carpet (otherwise known as Lamb's Ears), Artemesia Powis Castle and the delightful shrub Teucriam Fruticans are protected from the hot sun by the matt of little hairs on their leaves. Plus many Mediterranean herbs do well . the salvias (including sage), marjoram and thymes.
For a range of euphorbias, sedums and grey-leaved plants, visit Crocus.
Architectural Planting
Eryngium bourgatii, or Sea Holly, is a fantastic plant for hot, dry soil, as is Echinops, a beautiful thistle-like plant with metallic silvery leaves and flowers. The magnificent Cardoon Cynara Cardunculus will also grow spectacularly well and can reach a height of eight feet (2.4 metres) and four feet (1.2 metres) across.Add colour to any borders with Alliums or Verbascums. Alliums are ornamental onions whose bulbs produce long arching stems topped with fabulous pom-poms in various shades of lilac, purple and pink. Verbascums are biennials and will set seed each year. Be careful not to let them take over though. Try the fabulous grey-leaved variety Mont Blanc, which has flowers of the purest white. Available from Manor Nursery.
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