Flower power and Mediterranean silvers best for drought-tolerant gardens

17:07:20 26th July 2010

Individuals have to be selective in their chance of plants if they are to benefit from impressive looking gardens in times of drought.

Writing for the Daily Mail, Nigel Colborn highlights that the ideal dry garden is made up by a mix of Mediterranean silvers and "flower power".

He indicated that herbs including rosemary, sage and thyme are all more than capable of flourishing without rain and may already be present in some gardens.

Meanwhile, Californian poppies are good for happy colours including orange and yellow.

Mr Colborn added in the publication: "The ubiquitous Verbena bonariensis produces drifts of tiny purple blossoms on slender stems. Butterflies go bonkers for it.

"Truly wild, intensely blue cornflowers will also self-seed every year, adjusting their size according to how much rain we've had."

Furthermore, gardeners may want to make early plans for the autumn and winter by planting drought-tolerant bulbs including crocuses that will be ready to flower in the coming months.

Verbena bonariensis is native to tropical South America and is known to flourish in countries including Columbia, Brazil and Chile.