10 Drought Resistant Shrubs for Gardens in Climate Change – Tree Finch

Longer periods of heat, erratic rainfall and increasingly drier soil: climate change poses new challenges to garden design. But don’t worry, there are many beautiful shrubs that resist drought well and at the same time enrich the garden with flowers, fruit and structure: true climate plants. Or for the comfortable gardeners among us: beautiful shrubs without watering! 🙂

We present to you 10 of the best drought-tolerant shrubs that grow well even in hot summers. You’ll also find a list of other recommended plants and drought-tolerant plants with restrictions.

1. Dogwood (Cornus mas) – herald of spring with delicious fruits

Dogwood is undeniably one of the most drought-resistant trees. It blooms in early spring with small golden yellow flowers, which represent a precious source of food for bees after the long winter. It later develops bright red edible fruits that not only provide food for birds, but are also edible for humans and can be made into jam or liqueur. In autumn there is also a beautiful yellow-orange autumn color! The dogwood reaches a height of up to 6 meters and can also be used as a hedge plant. We are self-confessed fans of this plant and have therefore dedicated a separate blog post to it: dogwood as expert advice for almost every garden.

Treatment: Extremely robust and undemanding. It tolerates drought very well and grows in both sun and partial shade.

Garden style and use: Ideal for natural gardens, flowering hedges and as a solitary shrub with added value.

2. Weissdorn

Hawthorn is not only extremely drought resistant, but is also a valuable nesting place for birds. Its white flowers attract bees in spring, while its bright red fruits provide food for numerous animals in autumn. With a growing height of up to 5 meters, it is ideal as a hedge plant or as a solitary tree.

Treatment: Very easy to care for, tolerates drought and heat very well, can be cut to shape or allowed to grow freely.

Garden style and use: Perfect for natural gardens, protective hedges or as a flowering tree in a sunny location.

3. Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) – The king of drought

Sea buckthorn is one of the hardiest shrubs around. It also thrives in sandy, nutrient-poor soil and requires minimal irrigation. Its orange fruits are not only eye-catching, but also rich in vitamins and edible. The shrub grows up to 4 meters high and over time forms dense thickets.

Treatment: It requires almost no care, grows in dry soil and loves full sun.

Garden style and use: Ideal for dry locations, coastal gardens or as a windbreak hedge. Also ideal as an accent in a modern garden.

4. Butterfly lilac (Buddleja davidii) – insect magnet with a long flowering period

This shrub adds color to the garden and is one of the best plants for butterflies. Its long fragrant flower spikes appear from July to September and attract numerous insects. The small butterfly lilac varieties only reach about 1.2 m in height and are therefore perfect for small gardens.

Treatment: Very resistant to drought, it grows even on poor soil. Annual pruning favors dense blooms.

Garden style and use: Ideal for natural gardens or as a single shrub, versatile in use thanks to its small size.

5. Firethorn (Pyracantha) – Evergreen protective shrub with bright berries

The Firethorn is extremely robust, drought-resistant and, with its dense, thorny branches, offers perfect protection for birds. The white flowers in spring are a source of nectar for bees, while the bright red berries provide a pop of color in autumn.

Treatment: Undemanding, resistant to heat and drought. It only needs occasional topiary.

Garden style and use: Perfect for hedges, trees for bird protection and as an evergreen privacy screen.

6. Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) – Easy to care for and colorful

Barberries are extremely hardy, drought-resistant shrubs characterized by intense autumn color and thorny branches. They grow up to 1.5 meters tall and bear small yellow flowers in spring, followed by red berries in autumn.

Treatment: Not very demanding, it tolerates cutting well and is ideal for sunny positions.

Garden style and use: Perfect for wild (low) hedges, as a low hedge or as a tree for bird protection.

7. Serviceberry (Amelanchier lamarckii) – flowers, fruits and autumn colours

The copper wild pear impresses with its white flowers in spring, edible berries in summer and brilliant autumn colour. Its flowers are rich in nectar and pollen, making it a popular shrub for bees and butterflies, while the fruits are a welcome source of food for birds. It reaches a height of 3 to 5 meters and tolerates longer periods of drought well.

Treatment: Undemanding, robust and very winter-hardy. Thrives in sun and partial shade.

Garden style and use: Ideal as a flowering or fruit tree in natural and modern gardens. It can also be grown as a small tree.

8. Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) – Wildflower shrub of ecological importance

The blackthorn is a particularly valuable shrub for natural gardens. It blooms profusely in spring with numerous white flowers appreciated by bees and other pollinators. Their thick, thorny branches offer birds an ideal nesting place and protect small mammals from predators.

Treatment: Very easy to clean and durable. It prefers sunny or semi-shaded positions and thrives excellently on dry soil.

Garden style and use: Perfect for wild hedges, privacy screens and as animal habitats.

9. Common Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) – Perfect for dry hedges

Common Privet is one of the best hedge plants around. It is extremely easy to cut and forms a dense green wall that continues to have leaves for a long time even in winter. Its creamy white flowers in summer constitute a precious pasture for bees.

Treatment: Drought resistant, easy to care for, tolerates cutting.

Garden style and use: Ideal as a hedge plant or structural tree in modern gardens.

10. Field maple (Acer campestre) – Robust shrubby tree that tolerates pruning

The field maple is an extremely hardy native shrub or small tree with dense branching and attractive lobed foliage. It grows relatively quickly and can be used well as a hedge plant because it tolerates regular pruning.

Treatment: Undemanding, it grows on almost all soils and thrives well in sun and partial shade.

Garden style and use: Particularly suitable for wild hedges, as a windbreak or as a structuring plant in larger gardens.

Other shrubs recommended for dry conditions:

• Wild roses (Rosa rugosa) – Very robust, bee-friendly and decorative dog rose – e.g. apple rose, dog rose/dog rose, beaver rose.
• Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) – Tolerates drought but grows best in moderate humidity.
• Teufelsstrauch (Physocarpus opulifolius) – Grows even in dry conditions, beautiful dark leaves
• Chinaschilf (Miscanthus sinensis) – It tolerates drought well if deeply rooted, but requires well-drained soil. There are several varieties that you can find among ornamental grasses.

Drought tolerant plants with restrictions:

• Hibiscus (Syrian hibiscus) – It tolerates drought and loves a sunny position, but requires deep, nutrient-rich soil.
• Gojibeere – It also grows in dry conditions, but only produces lush fruits with sufficient water.
• Red maple (Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’) – can survive periods of drought well, but suffers from full sun and dry winds, but is one of the shrubs for shady places.