Expert tips

Drought-tolerant plants

These are mostly perennials and none of them get watered, says Robyn Toomath.

• Gaura lindheimeri – “I love the billowing habit with butterfly-like flowers on long stems. You chop it back after each round of flowering and it quickly produces a new crop.”

• Cineraria ‘Silver Dust’ – foliage looks great no matter the weather and the bees love the flowers.

• Grevillea – “I have two spreading forms and one tree. These South African plants love dry weather and always look healthy.”

• Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) will grow anywhere, says Robyn.

• Senecio talinoides has to be regularly chopped back. “I also remove the flowers which are ugly and attract aphids.”

• White alyssum – “I plant it for the scent and the bright white contrast. The coloured versions aren’t drought hardy.”

• Agaves are great for filling in big spaces and are almost unkillable. “You have to take them out with a chainsaw from time to time.”

• Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’ provide a whacky purple contrast.

• Sedum nussbaumerianum go a fantastic bright yellow in sunshine.

• Echeverias come in a big range and “are probably the least problematic of succulents,” Robyn adds.

• Aloes – “But don’t plant torch aloes as they’re impossible to weed and are invasive. I like some of the sculptural ones like polyphylla.”

• Robyn also uses flaxes, hebes, proteas, bromeliads, verbena and clivias, none of which require watering. “Grasses aren’t as drought tolerant as I had thought.”

• Rosemary and star jasmine have a place in this garden “but they require quite a bit of work to keep them under control”.