Drought Tolerant Plants

What drought tolerant actually means

Every plant here carries our Drought Tolerant flag, which means it holds its looks through a dry summer once the roots are down, not that you can plant it and walk away. Water deeply twice a week through the first summer, then taper off. The quieter requirement is drainage. Most waterwise plants come from sandy or rocky country, and far more are killed by wet winter feet than dry weather. On heavy clay, mound beds 200mm to 300mm high before planting.

Choosing drought tolerant plants for your climate and style

For the Mediterranean look that suits Perth, Adelaide and inland gardens, build around olives, cypress and herbs. The Kalamata Olive reaches 6m unpruned but holds happily at 3m to 4m with one annual prune, and our olive tree range runs from compact fruiters to narrow columns. Mediterranean Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens 'Glauca') makes a 10m blue grey column. French Lavender (Lavandula dentata) flowers most of the year in mild climates, though it only takes light frost, while Tuscan Blue Rosemary is fully frost hardy.

The native route is just as waterwise and better for wildlife. Coastal Rosemary 'Jervis Gem' makes a 90cm dome, Lomandra 'Lime Tuff' a fine leaved 50cm tussock, and Kings Park Special Bottlebrush a fast 4m screen with red brushes the birds work over. The Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea glauca) is the slow sculptural one, adding only a centimetre or two of trunk a year. Our Australian native range holds hundreds more. In frost free coastal and inland gardens, succulents and cacti like Blue Chalk Sticks give colour on almost no water.

Spacing for cover without crowding

• Groundcovers. Blue Chalk Sticks at 40cm centres for a dense blue carpet; No Mow Grass at 30cm for quick lawn coverage.
• Borders and low hedges. French Lavender and Tuscan Blue Rosemary at 60cm apart, 'Jervis Gem' and 'Lime Tuff' at 50cm.
• Screens and trees. Kings Park Special at 1.5m for a dense screen, Kalamata olives at 3m for a grove, Mediterranean Cypress at 1.5m for a formal line.

Care in the first two summers

Deep, infrequent water beats a daily sprinkle, because it pushes roots down where the moisture lasts. Mulch 75mm deep with gravel for succulents and Mediterranean plants, or coarse organic mulch for natives, and keep it clear of stems. Feed lightly in spring, using a low phosphorus native fertiliser for banksias and other natives. Trim lavender, rosemary and westringia straight after flowering so they stay dense rather than woody.

Common questions

Do drought tolerant plants still need watering?

Yes, while they establish. Give deep soakings through the first summer, then most manage on rainfall in all but the harshest spells. Anything in a pot is the exception and always needs regular water.

Which plants handle frost as well as drought?

Olives, rosemary, westringia, lomandras and grass trees are all frost hardy, so they suit Canberra, the Adelaide Hills and inland gardens. French Lavender and Blue Chalk Sticks take light frost only, so give them a warm wall in cold districts.

Can drought tolerant plants grow in pots?

Most of the smaller ones thrive in pots, provided the mix drains sharply and the pot has open holes. A pot dries out far faster than garden soil, so even tough plants need summer water once or twice a week.

How do larger trees arrive?

Everything is delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and no minimum order. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.