Drought tolerant herbaceous plants for dry sandy soil & sunny exposed locations

There are a number of tough sun loving and draught tolerant herbaceous and flowering plants that will tolerate hot dry conditions and free draining sandy soils. Plants can conserve moisture with tough silver or grey foliage as well as having water retaining thick fleshy leaves. Many of these plants are classified as succulent plants. Such adaptations allow the plant to tolerate hot drought spells as well as prolonged dry soil conditions, especially in tough exposed or coastal locations in full sun. Many of these plants also manage to produce an impressive display of flowers during the summer and autumn months.

The mixing of tough grasses amongst drifts of drought tolerant herbaceous plants and succulents can provide a very contemporary look to a garden as well as future proof our gardens from the onset of global warming, which may well bring ever hotter and dryer summer conditions. Such plants are also useful for areas that might be considered as problem areas such as a hot dry bank with poor free draining soil or for planting in containers in exposed full sun – such as roof garden planting.