Throughout north and central New Zealand, December to February are the driest months of the year. However, due to a lack of rainfall in March and April 2020, some regions were getting ready to face some of their worst droughts on record.

Even in spring, which typically sees plenty of rainfall, farmers in South Canterbury and North Otago were putting their heads together to develop drought management strategies. It’s looking dire for some regions, and even homeowners are having to think outside the square when it comes to what they plant.

If New Zealand continues to see drought conditions in the lead-up to summer and beyond, it’s worth making a plan of attack for your gardens in the months and years to come. The more thought you put into drought-tolerant or resistant plants, the hardier your garden will be to tackle whatever mother nature throws at it.

Succulents

Have you ever wondered why succulents have been sky-rocketing in popularity in recent years? Not only are they beautiful, but they thrive on neglect. In fact, give them too much love, and you are more likely to kill them.

Succulents come in several different varieties and tend to thrive in areas where many other plants wouldn’t. They love the sun and don’t tend to have too many wants or needs. All you need to do is plant them in free-draining soil in the sun, then forget about them. They’ll take care of themselves.

Rosemary

If you want your plants to be both hardy and delicious, then rosemary ticks those boxes. This herb looks great, smells divine, and is even a friend to the bees. What’s more, it’s hardy and doesn’t need a helping hand to survive.

So, whether you’re a neglectful plant parent or you want something to handle drought conditions, rosemary can be the answer. It’s also incredibly versatile. You can plant it in pots to keep it under control, use it as a garden border, or even create a form of hedging from it.

When the time comes to whip up a lamb or chicken roast, you can pop out to the garden for a sprig of rosemary without too much disruption to its growth.

All you need to do to grow rosemary is plant it in full sun within free-draining soil. Mix some sheep pellets and compost into the soil and water deeply for around a week until the plant settles. You can then let the neglect set in with minimal concern.

Libertia

If you are on the hunt for an easy-care plant that takes up a lot of space, looks great, and tolerates drought conditions, then it’s time to buy libertia. This beautiful plant is endemic to Aotearoa and looks stunning at any time of the year.

It’s also incredibly easy to plant and maintain. Plant it in full sun, in free-draining soil. You can then mix sheep pellets and compost into your topsoil and water it for a few weeks until it appears to be well-established.

Thyme

What could be better than an aromatic plant that wants you to leave it alone? Thyme is a delicious addition to cheese, tea, lentils, omelettes, poultry, and more. Yet, it’s also an aesthetically pleasing plant to add to your garden that thrives in drought conditions.

The bees love it as much as you will, and you can use it as a groundcover plant to stop you from having to weed the gardens so much. Of course, if gardening isn’t your thing, you can always hire someone to take care of that task.

Thyme loves full sun, compost, and a few sheep pellets for good measure. It also gets a good start to life if you water it deeply for a week while it gets settled into its new environment.

Agapanthus

Even though drought conditions can lead to your most vibrant flowers dying off, that won’t be the case with agapanthus. This flower is that hardy that it has earned an official weed status.

People love them for holding up sandy banks and for adding vibrancy to an area that struggles to keep other plants alive. You can buy blue, white, purple, green, and yellow varieties from various nurseries across the country.

Flaxes and Grasses

Drought-tolerant plants tend to go hand-in-hand with busy homeowners. The more self-sufficient and low maintenance the plant is, the more desirable it can be for people who don’t want to do a lot of gardening. That’s why several flax and grass varieties are flying off the shelves.

Not only do many of them withstand the drought conditions mother nature throws at us, but neglect, as well. Some of the most popular flaxes and grasses include carex, libertia, and chionochloa. Talk to your local gardening expert about the best variety for your unique climate and soil type.

Making it Through the Droughts

Drought conditions hit farmers hard, but a lack of water can wreak havoc on urban environments, as well. Water restrictions mean you aren’t often able to water your garden, and the sky isn’t doing it for free, either.

Fortunately, with a few simple plant additions, your gardens can end up being relatively self-sufficient. Whether drought conditions last a short while or a long time, you can rely on these plants above to handle the jandal.

Not sure where to begin? Get in touch with lawn care and gardening experts who can point you in the direction of the best drought-tolerant plants available.