British horticulture shifts to drought-tolerant species amid climate change

Climate change is driving a shift in British horticulture as nurseries and gardeners adapt to warmer, drier summers and erratic weather patterns. Large-scale tree nurseries, such as Frank P Matthews in Worcestershire, are phasing out traditional species in favor of drought-tolerant varieties like cercis, lagerstroemia, and koelreuteria.

To combat water scarcity, nurseries are implementing infrastructure changes, including the construction of large lagoons for water storage and the use of drip irrigation to minimize waste. Some growers are also utilizing compost additives designed to reduce water consumption by up to 30 percent.

For domestic gardens, experts recommend selecting resilient, low-maintenance plants that can withstand both prolonged heat and heavy winter rainfall. Recommended species include drought-tolerant perennials such as Geranium ‘Rozanne’, Sedum ‘Herbstfreude’, and various ornamental grasses and shrubs that can anchor deep root systems to survive extreme weather fluctuations.