Borders bursting with colour, and pots overflowing against a lush, green lawn, but, alas, not this year. Many plants have been affected by the drought and left looking like straw, while lawns are decidedly dry and parched.
However, there are a few plants that have thrived in the heat in my garden.
Lysimachia clethroides holds dense heads of tiny white flowers on top of sturdy stems that don’t need staking. White is a scarce colour in August, so these are welcome set against their fresh green leaves. It’s a runner, but a welcome one in a damp border. It’s happy in full sun, but needs a gravel mulch to help it survive heat.
Agapanthus ‘Midnight Star’ starts flowering in July and reaches its peak in August. The foliage is always healthy and it’s robust even in the windiest sites and despite it’s African origins, this vigorous, hardy plant can survive temperatures of -15 degrees.
Penstemons are known for their long-flowering season and popularity with bees. They are late summer bloomers with a wide range of colours and the flowers look very similar to a foxglove.
They do best in well-drained, slightly alkaline soil and will even grow in soils that are mostly sand and gravel. Planting them in raised beds or sloped areas will help them survive wet conditions. I grow mine in pots and they are extremely drought-resistant. One word of warning: do not cut back old growth until the end of April, this is needed to protect the plant from frost.
Author: Jonny
Author of Gardening Life!