BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Podcast

Best plants for dry gardens: on tough, drought-tolerant plants that thrive

BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Podcast

Show Notes

RHS Hyde Hall curator Ian Le Gros shares his top plant picks for dry gardens, exposed sites and climate-resilient planting. Discover drought-tolerant favourites including euphorbias, eucalyptus, palms and evergreen shrubs that deliver year-round colour, structure and scent, even in tough conditions. Ian explains how these hardy plants thrive in wind, gravel and free-draining soils, while offering practical gardening advice for creating a beautiful low-maintenance garden. Whether you’re planning a Mediterranean-style border, updating a dry garden or searching for resilient plants that can cope with hotter summers, discover expert inspiration and planting ideas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More from BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Podcast

Oct 20, 2026

Join singer-songwriter Will Young in his two-acre garden as he explores creativity, nature and the patience required to let a landscape reveal itself. In this conversation Will shares how historic walls and unexpected discoveries have shaped his approach. He discusses designing with structure, reusing materials, welcoming wildlife and finding calm through connection with nature. This warm conversation celebrates gardens as places of reflection, reinvention and everyday magic for everyone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 17, 2026

Lift gladioli, outsmart weeds and turn autumn leaves into garden gold with Claire Vennis from BBC Gardeners’ World magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 12, 2026

World-renowned clematis breeder Raymond Evison CBE shares six decades of experience growing, breeding and championing these spectacular climbers. He explains why clematis are best thought of as climbing perennials, how to prune the three main groups, and why planting deeply can help plants recover from wilt or damage. Raymond also offers practical advice on growing clematis in pots, taking cuttings, layering, watering, choosing scented and wildlife-friendly varieties, and combining clematis with roses, shrubs and trees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 10, 2026

Grab your secateurs and your cosiest jumper: Claire's jobs this week will bring autumn wins for your garden, wildlife and weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 6, 2026

We spend so much time admiring what grows above ground, but beneath our feet lies one of the most biodiverse habitats on Earth. Soil ecologist Dr Frank Ashwood reveals the remarkable hidden world within our gardens, from earthworms and fungi to springtails, mites, nematodes and tardigrades. Frank explains why healthy soil matters for plants, wildlife, carbon storage, flood resilience and climate change, and shares simple ways gardeners can protect it. Expect fascinating discoveries, practical advice and one memorable takeaway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See all episodes →