A selection of plants for a very dry garden, all the time. I’ve already written this article about plants that require little watering. But these plants are suitable for a garden that still receives water at least half the year.
Unfortunately, I realize that this article isn’t enough for many french southern gardens that haven’t received a drop of rain even this winter.
So I went looking for those arid-land plants and California-style gardens, because Mediterranean plants are now well suited to the whole Atlantic seaboard. But what to plant where it rains so little?
Cultivating beautiful gardens in near-desert conditions
Waterless gardens, once considered a necessity in arid regions like California, are now becoming a worldwide trend. With growing awareness of the importance of water conservation and environmental sustainability, more and more gardeners are turning to gardening methods that require little or no additional water once the plants are established. These gardens, often inspired by semi-arid and desert landscapes, as well as being beautiful, offer a host of ecological and practical benefits.
Advantages of Waterless Gardens
Waterless gardens offer several significant advantages:
- Water conservation: By reducing or eliminating the need for irrigation, these gardens help conserve water, a precious resource in many parts of the world.
- Low maintenance: Once established, waterless gardens generally require less maintenance than traditional or English gardens. This means less time spent on watering and, above all, weeding.
- Resilience: Plants adapted to arid conditions are often resistant to disease, pests and climatic fluctuations, making them robust choices for sustainability-minded gardeners. Care should be taken to choose plants that can withstand punctual sub-zero temperatures.
- Unique aesthetics: Waterless gardens offer a natural, wild aesthetic, often evoking semi-arid and desert landscapes, with a unique palette of colors and textures.
11 Plants for a Dry Garden
Here’s a selection of 10 plants that thrive in dry gardens with very little watering. These plants withstand winter humidity and also grow in Brittany.
1 – Lavender
With its silvery leaves and fragrant flowers, lavender is a must for dry gardens. It feeds flying insects.
2 – Yucca
Yuccas are hardy, hardy plants that add verticality to dry gardens. Their large white flowers are magnificent. They also thrive where it rains. I pulled out the ones in my Breton garden because they were becoming invasive. And I don’t really like their sharp leaves. But it’s likely that in an arid environment, it will spread out a little less. And if you give it enough time to grow, it becomes a tree.
3 – Sage
Sage is a versatile plant that thrives in dry climates. Their flowers attract pollinators and add a splash of color to the garden.
There are many varieties. Most of them tolerate drought well and even appreciate sunny exposures. Some varieties, however, prefer cool soil and half-shade exposure. So be sure to ask when you buy. You can also ask your neighbors for some cuttings (offshoots) with roots. Cuttings without roots are more difficult to take.
4 – Silver wormwood (Artemisia)
These plants with their fine, silvery foliage are perfect for adding texture and color to dry gardens. They are also appreciated for their aromatic fragrance.
5 – Penstemon
Penstemons offer a variety of bright colors and flower shapes. They attract insects and butterflies and thrive in dry conditions. They also grow well in wetter conditions.
6 – Agastache
These perennials produce spikes of colorful, aromatic flowers that attract bees and butterflies. They are also drought-resistant and easy to grow.
7 – Arbutus
Arbutus is an evergreen shrub that produces edible berries and delicate flowers. It tolerates drought well and looks good in the garden all year round.
8 – The great sedum
Sedums are easy-to-grow succulents that add color and texture to dry gardens. Their attractive flowers also attract pollinators. Most are easy to propagate.
9 – Small sedums
Small Sedums are often already present in the garden. Simply multiply them and plant them where nothing else grows. They quickly cover unsightly low walls and colonize steps.
10 – The cordyline
Cordyline grows well by the sea. With its ability to thrive in conditions of low humidity and poor soil, this ornamental plant offers beautiful aesthetics with its elegant leaves colored green or red. Its evergreen foliage adds an exotic touch to the landscape while requiring little water, making it a practical choice for drought-prone regions. As well as adding texture and verticality, cordyline can also attract birds and insects, contributing to the ecological balance of the dry garden.
It is easy to propagate from seed.
11 – Sempervivum
Also known as houseleeks, Sempervivums form dense rosettes of fleshy leaves. They are very drought-resistant and can be used to create interesting patterns in a dry garden. In wetter areas, they need good drainage.
9 succulents suitable for growing in a dry garden
Here’s a list of plants that can’t stand being planted in the ground in Brittany, unless you make a big effort to drain them. These plants are easy to find in garden centers or with your neighbors.
12 – Agave
These impressive-looking succulents add an architectural touch to dry gardens. Their fleshy, pointed leaves store water, making them perfect for arid climates.
13 – Echeveria
With their attractive rosettes and fleshy leaves, Echeverias add a touch of color and texture to a dry garden. They’re also easy to grow in pots, but some varieties are sensitive to cold. So you may need to test them first outdoors in pots to see how they stand up to winter.
14 – Crassula
These succulents are appreciated for their diversity of shapes and textures. They are drought-tolerant and can add a touch of visual interest to any dry garden. Some form bushes, while others are creeping.
15 – Aloe
Aloes are succulent plants known for their medicinal properties and aesthetic appeal. They thrive in hot, dry climates and are often grown for their fleshy leaves and clustered flowers.
16 – American Agave
This is a large agave species with spiny leaves and an imposing silhouette. It can be an impressive focal point in a dry garden and requires little maintenance once established.
17 – Cacti and succulents
With their ability to store water in their fleshy tissues, cacti are iconic choices for dry gardens. Their variety of shapes and sizes offers unique visual interest.
18 – Opuntia
The Opuntia category includes many plants we commonly call cacti. Perhaps the best known and most widespread is the prickly pear. This beautiful snowshoe cactus produces colorful flowers and edible fruit. This cactus is highly resistant to drought and adds an exotic touch to a dry garden. It is not resistant to humidity in full soil in Brittany.
19 – Kalanchoe
These succulents are prized for their thick leaves and bright flowers. They thrive in dry, sunny conditions and are ideal for adding color to a dry garden.
20 – Aeonium arboreum (Aeonium)
This succulent plant forms rosettes of fleshy leaves on branched stems. It also produces clusters of yellow flowers that add color to the garden. It is native to the Canary Islands, but adapts well to Mediterranean climates.
5 rarest succulents from Californian gardens
I found this site, à l’ombre des figuiers, which offers a good selection of plants suited to Mediterranean and dry gardens (free, unsponsored link).
21 – Ferocactus
These robust cacti are known for their spectacular spines and architectural forms. They are native to the desert regions of North America.
22 – Dyckia
Belonging to the Bromeliaceae family, Dyckias are hardy succulents with rosettes of spiny leaves. They also produce bright flowers that attract pollinators.
23 – Euphorbia tirucalli
This shrubby succulent has slender, vertical stems that resemble branches. It is often used as an ornamental plant in Californian gardens for its unique shape and drought tolerance.
24 – Pachypodium lamerei (Pachypodium)
This succulent shrub has a thick trunk and lance-shaped leaves. Native to Madagascar, it is often grown as a houseplant in Mediterranean climates, but can also thrive in dry gardens.
25 – Senecio mandraliscae (Blue Senecio)
This succulent plant has cylindrical, fleshy leaves of a distinctive blue-grey. It forms dense mats and is ideal for ground cover in dry, sunny gardens.
These rarer succulents add a touch of exoticism and diversity to dry gardens, while being well adapted to arid, sunny conditions.
Exemples of Dry gardens
If you’d like to see some Californian garden designs, I recommend Debra Lee Baldwin’s site. It’s full of photos and advice.
