It's not a pretty picture in the UK right now: the plant life in many green spaces, affected by drought, has been reduced to mere straw, while riverbeds lay partially empty, their parched ground cracked and dry.
It is, undoubtedly, a depressing state of affairs – but also one we may have to get used to, as climate experts expect our summers only to get hotter and drier. Yet an ever-increased risk of drought doesn't mean our gardens – and parks, for that matter – have to look as bleak as they do this year.
There's admittedly not much that can be done to save a lawn: grass needs plenty of water and will inevitably turn brittle and brown without it. But vibrant beds and borders needn't be sacrificed, provided we choose plants that can cope with hotter, drier conditions.
Against this backdrop, some advice from beloved horticulturist and broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh feels newly relevant: planting colourful, drought-resistant gardening favourite shrubby salvias.
Last year, the YouTube channel Grow For It, which shares full episodes of popular British gardening shows, resurfaced a segment from a 2022 episode of Love Your Weekend With Alan Titchmarsh.
In it, Alan discussed drought-resistant planting with acclaimed garden designer and RHS judge Manoj Maldé. Four years on, their advice feels more pertinent – and useful – than ever.
"Actually, Mediterranean drought-resistant planting doesn't just mean silver foliage and little bits of green foliage," Manoj tells Alan in the video, gesturing towards the reds, yellows and purples of the potted plants surrounding them.
"You can have a really colourful garden that is drought-resistant."
The pair discuss a number of beautiful plants suited to hot, dry conditions, but one recommendation stands out: shrubby salvias.
In the clip, Alan highlights them as one of the best choices for reliable colour during hot, dry spells. They're loved by pollinators, available in a huge variety of shades and, crucially, are much tougher than many may assume.
"We used to think that they were quite tender and nowadays, they come through most winters in most parts of the country," Alan explains.
As winters become wetter and milder, shrubby salvias can be an increasingly useful choice for UK gardens, returning year after year with little effort.
One particularly striking variety is the crimson-red Salvia 'Royal Bumble', a popular cultivar with Mexican sage species in its parentage.
"They're really, really hardy and they can take a good chop as well and they'll come back," Manoj adds. "So they're a brilliant plant to have in the garden."
Wanda Sachs is the Multiplatform Writer for Country Living and House Beautiful, exploring the latest in gardening, wildlife and sustainable living alongside interiors and property. She is particularly interested in human-interest stories, the intersection of design and pop culture, and the evolving relationship between urban and rural life. Previously, she served as Associate Editor at The Berliner in Berlin, where she reported on culture and fashion. Wanda studied English and German at the Goethe University Frankfurt and Exeter University.
