Call them what you will, water misers or dry tolerant, recent conditions mean gardeners are seeking out drought-hardy plants. And these survivors aren’t all spiky cacti and straggly shrubs. Many of them are as beautiful as they are tough, and they have other advantages, too. Maintenance demands are often low with very little required in the way of fertilising, and pruning is often just an annual tidy-up. So get to know our top 10 hardy heroes.

1 Teucrium species
With attractive foliage and charming flowers, this is the ideal plant where tolerance of very hot, dry conditions is required.
Flowers: Blues, pinks and mauves. Timing varies with the species.
Requirements: Full sun in well-drained soil.
Form: Varieties from groundcovers to shrubs, all typically quite dense and bushy.
Size: Up to 2.5m, depending on the variety.
Zones: Varieties to suit all.

2 Euphorbia characias sp. wulfenii
Include this stunning plant for its charming bluey-green foliage and fascinating flower heads.
Flowers: Chartreuse blooms appear from late winter to spring.
Requirements: Full sun in soil that provides good drainage.
Form: Multi-stemmed shrub with a rounded shape.
Size: To 1m.
Zones: 1 and 3-8.

3 Crassula ovata
Often called the Jade tree, use this hardy plant for its foliage appeal and dainty flowering display in winter. Great in pots, too.
Flowers: Clusters of small pinky-white star-shaped flowers in winter.
Requirements: Full sun but tolerates a bit of shade. Needs free-draining soil.
Form: Shrubby, dense and bushy.
Size: Generally only up to 1m, but certain forms up to 2.5m.
Zones: 1 and 3-8.

4 Ophiopogon species (mondo grass)
Perhaps one of the most useful garden toughies. Use the different varieties for everything from groundcovers to border plantings. Look out for the black and giant variegated varieties to add real interest to your design.
Flowers: Small, white-to-violet flowers in summer, which are not often noticed in the foliage.
Requirements: Prefers good soil but adaptable to most types in full sun through to heavy shade.
Form: Runners form new clumps of grassy foliage.
Size: From 5-50cm, depending on variety.
Zones: 2-7.

5 Cotyledon species
These succulents tolerate very dry conditions. Look for varieties such as ‘Silver Waves’, which has undulating dusty-silver leaves.
Flowers: Tall spikes carrying small flowers in reds, oranges and greens may been seen in autumn.
Requirements: Full sun to part shade in free-draining soil.
Form: From groundcover-like forms to small shrubs.
Size: Species and varieties from 5cm to more than 1m.
Zones: Varieties for most zones, including sheltered areas of 2.

6 Euonymus japonicus varieties
Add this plant to the mix when you want year-round colourful foliage impact. The mid-sized forms are excellent for hedging, too.
Flowers: Not a feature, they’re grown for their striking variegated foliage.
Requirements: Full sun to part shade. Well mulched, good quality, free-draining soil.
Form: Dense shrubs that tolerate clipping well.
Size: Variegated forms usually smaller than 2m.
Zones: 2-7.

7 Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’
With foliage like this who needs flowers? If you want dramatic impact, plant one of these near-black beauties in your garden. Also look for ‘Schwartzkopf’ or ‘Atropurpurea’.
Flowers: Bears large cone-shaped spikes of small yellow flowers.
Requirements: Will tolerate a certain amount of shade but best leaf colour is maintained in full sun. Needs free-draining soil.
Form: Open branching shrub with rosettes of foliage on branch ends.
Size: Up to 1m.
Zones: All zones and protected areas in 2.

8 Mahonia lomariifolia
A great all-rounder, this plant has an unusual form, beautiful foliage and stunning flowers and berries. 
Flowers: Large spikes of small yellow flowers in winter.
Requirements: Sun to shade in good quality soil. Needs reliable moisture when young (see Create your own water misers, opposite), and mulch well when established.
Form: Forms clumps of bamboo-like canes with heads of foliage at the crown. The leaves are spiky.
Size: To 3m.
Zones: 2-6.

9 Echium
Include when you want a gorgeous flowering feature plant with silvery foliage.
Flowers: Huge flower spikes, up to 50cm long, covered in tiny purple flowers from late winter.
Requirements: Very free-draining soil in a sunny spot. They virtually thrive on neglect.
Form: Loose multi-stemmed shrub.
Size: Up to 1.5m.
Zones: 3-8 and sheltered areas of 2.

10 Kniphofia cultivars
Dramatic, often flame-coloured blooms are this plant’s claim to fame. Enjoy their spectacular flowering display and handsome, strappy foliage.
Flowers: Vibrant spikes of oranges and yellows generally appear in late spring.
Requirements: Full sun with free-draining soil. Keep well mulched, particularly during flowering.
Form: Clump forming with strappy grass-like foliage.
Size: Leaves usually under 1m long.
Zones: 2-7.

Create your own water misers
Just because a plant isn’t classed as drought hardy doesn’t mean it can’t survive dry spells. Follow a few simple steps and you’ll find many of your plants will keep on smiling through tough times.

• Watering: Apply water slowly, allowing it to penetrate deeply, particularly when establishing new plants. This encourages plants to become deep rooted.
• Soil treatments: When planting, improve soil with composts and add pre-soaked water crystals. For established plants, make small holes around the foliage drip-line and drop in water crystals. And, apply liquid or granular soil-wetters at the recommended intervals and rates.
• Mulch: The single best way to give your plants the edge in dry times is by mulching them. Mulch when soil is damp, but first broadcast a granulated soil-wetter. Spread mulch to at least 50mm thick and, if possible, water well after spreading.