Heatwaves and choosing the right plants Bath and Bristol.

As the climate increasingly warms up, causing more frequent heat waves and droughts, we have to ask ourselves what in our garden can tolerate these sorts of conditions. Many of what I would call the traditional cottage garden plants do not withstand these huge increases in heat and lack of water. We also have the other issue of wetter winters causing some of the drought-tolerant plants like lavender to rot, leading to silvering and dieback on the plant itself.

Choosing the right plants for a changing environment is a huge issue for UK gardens moving forward. I tend to look at plants that survive in gravel as a good gauge of what can withstand these huge shifts in temperature and lack of water. The use of salvias, be it herbaceous perennial types like 'Nemorosa', 'Amistad', or 'African Skies', all provide great interest and a long flowering period in a border, and the drought tolerance of these is excellent.

Other herbaceous perennials to consider for a sunny border:

Scabious ochroleuca

Veronicastrum virginicum 'Fascination' and 'Album'

Oenothera lindheimeri

Heleniums

Rudbeckia

Agastache 'Firebird'

Anemone 'Wild Swan' (not invasive like Anemone hupehensis)

Echinaceas, lots to choose from, earlier ones like 'Pallida' or later ones like 'White Swan' and 'Purpurea'

Hylotelephium

Veronicastrum virginicum 'Album'

This is only a brief summary of plants that work in a summer drought-tolerant setting.

Importantly, we need to consider the effects climate change will have on our lives and our landscapes, adapting to what is now an increasing worry for us as individuals and the world as a collective.