Could you please provide a list of drought-resistant plants suitable for Irish gardens? My own garden has suffered very badly this summer, especially as a result of the dreaded hosepipe ban. N Evans, Dublin
While this is a question that’s naturally high in many people’s minds at present, it’s important to remind ourselves that less than six months ago some of the country’s gardens were under water because of severe winter flooding. So just as last winter’s sustained wet weather doesn’t make it advisable that we concentrate on water-loving species for our gardens, equally it’s not necessarily a good idea to concentrate on drought-resistant plants based on the hot, dry weather experienced this summer.
Instead, much like earthworms, the great majority of plants prefer a middle ground where the soil is neither baked to a crisp nor badly waterlogged.
That said, some are more resilient than others in coping with the increasing climate extremes that we’re experiencing. Many of these are deep-rooted species or have evolved to develop coping mechanisms that help them to survive.
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Many people would point to native Irish species in this regard, although there’s a valid argument that as Ireland’s climate changes, the suitability of its native species for Irish gardens will be equivalently impacted. Others point to sand gardens as the solution to both winter flooding and summer heatwaves, but again there’s a valid argument that these too come at an environmental cost, due to both the need to import huge quantities of suitable sand into a garden and the potential cost for garden wildlife. Just consider, for example, those consequences for earthworm populations.
Instead, my suggestion would be to concentrate on soil health, especially in terms of making it humus-rich and suitable for the complex interconnected web of micro-organisms necessary to supporting a resilient soil structure that can then cope far better with both flooding and drought.
If your garden is a very hot, exposed one, also consider creating areas of shade by planting hedges, trees and shrubs. In those areas that remain naturally hot and sunny – for example, a south-facing border – concentrate on species whose natural habitats in the wild echo the same kind of growing conditions.
Examples suitable for a hot, sunny border and a free-draining soil include eryngium, Euphorbia wulfenii, Californian poppy (Eschscholzia californica), Mexican fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus), Scabiosa ochroleuca, Verbena bonariensis, gaura, agapanthus, sedum, nepeta, lavender, stipa, santolina, cistus and helianthemum.
Finally, don’t forget the usefulness of water butts and other more sophisticated water harvesting schemes, which are worth their weight in gold in a summer like this one.
