Whether you live in a particularly dry part of the country or not, climate change and water restrictions can have a significant impact on our backyards.
It’s for this reason that many people are turning to Australian native plants as a solution. Unlike English or European flora, Australian natives can handle our harsh, dry climate—making them a great choice for those wanting a low-maintenance and sustainable garden.
To help you find the right drought tolerant plant (a low water plant) for your garden, we’ve asked Phillip Withers of Phillip Withers Landscape Design to share his top picks for plants that can adapt to survive off rainfall alone.
These sturdy, hard-to-kill plants don’t need much water or TLC, but still provide impact and a lush, green feel to any garden.
5 drought tolerant plants to consider for your garden
1. Cushion bush (Leucophyta brownii)
Prefers: full sun, all soil types, freely drained soil.
Water: Once established 1-2 times per week but will require water daily or every second day when maturing.
Benefits: Perfect for coastal sites as its wind & salt resistant.
Top tip: hates wet feet.
Extra: Flowers in summer, great in floral arrangements.
2. Australian Pig Face (Carpobrotus rossii)
Prefers: full sun, all soil types, freely drained soil.
Water: Can rely on rainwater alone once established. Once a week when establishing.
Benefits: Grows naturally in coastal areas, handles salt well. Perfect for covering areas of gradient (erosion control).
Top tip: Propagated easily by cuttings.
Extra: insect attracting and edible.
3. Silver banksia (Banksia marginata)
Prefers: full sun dry, well-drained soil.
Water: daily when establishing, once a week when established.
Benefits: coastal tolerant, drought tolerant.
Extra: bird attracting, cut flower great in floral arrangements.
4. Black paperbark (Melaleuca lancelota)
Prefers: Full sun to part shade.
Water: Daily to every second day when establishing, will rely on rainfall alone once established.
Benefits: Grows naturally in coastal areas so it’s wind-resistant, salt-resistant and drought-tolerant.
Top tip: Because of their form they make great natural playgrounds and provide suitable shelter for native wildlife.
5. Grass tree (Xanthorrhoea)
Prefers: Full sun to part shade, most soils types, freely drainable soil.
Water: Will rely on rainwater alone.
Benefits: They make great feature planting, butterfly and insect attracting.
Top tip: Can suffer from mealybug and scale when overwatered.
Extra: Flower from autumn to summer with a striking inflorescence.
The difference between drought tolerant and drought resistant plants
On your search for plants that don’t require a lot of water, you may come across the terms drought tolerant and drought resistant.
Even if you don’t live in an area that experiences droughts, these terms can help you decide on the plants most suitable for your garden.
Drought tolerant is used to describe plants that do require regular water but not a lot of it. Drought resistant, on the other hand, can go long periods of time without any water at all. These plants include desert varieties like succulents and cacti.
Read more:
- The best air purifying plants
- How to give your plants just the right amount of water
- 20 things your landscaper won’t tell you
- How to grow your own herb garden
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
