Defying climate change with climate-resilient plants

Extended droughts, heavy rain, and storms are taking a toll on our garden plants in these times of climate change. Not all cherished plants can cope. However, these weather extremes largely affect some hardy varieties. We introduce you to the climate champions among ornamental, fruit, and vegetable plants.

To put it simply: If we adapt and learn to deal with it, it’s manageable. However, some of our native plants struggle with these shifts. Some species suffer from drought and excess moisture, while others are less sensitive and manage just fine.  

An essential criterion for selecting plants for garden beds remains choosing the right location. Additionally, you should consider climate resilience when selecting plants. With robust plants suited to your site, along with naturalistic planting and care, your garden will continue to thrive, bloom, and provide a harvest – not just for you but also for insects and other garden wildlife. What exactly should we expect in terms of climate change in the garden? We’ll explain below and offer tips for fruits, vegetables, perennials, and shrubs. 

Summer drought: During extended dry periods, water shortages occur. Without water in the soil, plants cannot absorb nutrients, leading to deficiencies known as chlorosis. A typical sign of this is brown discoloration between the leaf veins. Drought increases the salt content in the soil and if the salt level is higher than in the plants, the soil will also draw water from the plants. 

Heavy rain, continuous rain: Intense rain can tear or dislodge plants, causing damage. If it rains continuously, the soil becomes saturated and can no longer absorb water. The lack of oxygen in the soil can lead to stunted growth, delayed ripening, yellowing, and increased susceptibility to pests and diseases. 

Storms: Branches break, trees are uprooted, and perennials are torn apart. Such powerful forces can lead to developmental and ripening delays. Damaged shoots then become entry points for pathogens. It’s essential to trim the broken areas and with the AdvancedPrune cordless garden pruner, this can be done effortlessly even on branches up to 45 mm thick. 

Vegetable gardens are experiencing the effects of climate change. Crops that used to yield abundantly just a few years ago now often struggle. Radishes and fennel are no longer as easy to grow in high temperatures as they skip forming bulbs and start flowering. Fortunately, there are also climate-resilient vegetables that are much less affected by extreme weather conditions in the garden. 

• Vegetables with deep roots, like parsnips and carrots, handle drought well as they can access water from deeper layers in the soil.   

• Perennial vegetables, such as asparagus, Jerusalem artichoke, Welsh onions, and kale, are unbeatable. In the right location, these perennial vegetables can thrive even in challenging weather conditions.   

• Growing short-seasonal vegetables is a gamble. In hot and dry weather, radishes can become woody or bolt quickly, and spinach can do the same in extreme heat and dryness. Vegetables with longer growing seasons adapt better and are generally more reliable.   

• Leeks are very dependable. Summer or winter varieties remain resilient. In very dry conditions, the stems may not grow as thick, but overall, leeks are certainly winners in the vegetable patch.   

• Exotic vegetables like chickpeas, aubergines, tomatillos, Mexican sour gherkins, and horned cucumbers originate from hot, dry regions and cope well with current garden conditions.   

• Many heritage vegetables, such as strawberry spinach, asparagus lettuce, and celtuce, are robust and undemanding. They generally react less sensitively to drought or heavy rain.   

• Potatoes, onions, and garlic can be added to your climate-resilient vegetable garden, as can fruiting vegetables like courgettes, peppers, and pumpkins. In very dry conditions, the fruits may be smaller, but they’ll still thrive.   

• For vegetables you’re keen to grow but that don’t handle dry periods well, look for varieties with smaller fruits – they have a lower water requirement and often taste more flavourful than larger ones.  

• The beetroot variety ‘Bernstein’ is an old heritage variety particularly suited to dry conditions. ‘Aromata’ is an old parsnip variety that doesn’t suffer much in drought and still produces good yields. 

Gooseberries, currants, blackberries, and Japanese wineberries used to thrive particularly well in sunny spots a few decades ago. Nowadays, partially shaded locations are better for these fruiting shrubs, as they protect them from intense sunlight. Finding the right spot in the garden is becoming more challenging for strawberries, chokeberries, and blueberries which generally thrive in higher air and soil humidity. On the other hand, you can consider giving warmth-loving trees like almonds, apricot, peach, and sharon fruit a chance.  

Classic fruit trees are managing surprisingly well with the challenges posed by climate change. However, when planting new apple, pear, or cherry trees, it’s wise to look for hardy, vigorous varieties, as these are even better equipped to handle adverse weather conditions. 

Consider the fruit tree size for your garden. Deep-rooted standard trees are more drought-resistant, but they require a lot of space. Smaller fruit tree varieties or narrow columnar trees can also fit in containers on the balcony. They can be more affected by drought as their roots don’t reach as deeply into the soil. 

Perennials have a significant advantage over annual ornamental plants: they typically grow for many years in the same location, are well-anchored in the soil with their root systems, and can withstand adverse conditions. After heavy rainfall or extended dry spells, they generally recover well. However, beloved perennials like larkspurs (Delphinium) and phlox now struggle, especially during droughts. For this reason, heat-resistant perennials are a good choice for the garden. 

• Gray-leaved perennials, especially those with a thick, hairy surface, like lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina), are highly heat-tolerant.   

• Plants with essential oils such as lavender, oregano, sage, and thyme release their scent in the heat, helping to cool their stems and leaves.   

• Deep-rooted perennials like Japanese anemones (Anemone japonica, A. hupehensis) and evening primroses (Oenothera) can access water from deeper soil layers even during dry spells.   

• Perennials with storage organs such as the fleshy rhizomes of irises, bulbs or tubers of ornamental allium species, and the thick, succulent leaves and stems of sedums are well-equipped to withstand harsh conditions like heat and drought.   

• Origin also provides clues about heat and drought tolerance. Plants from Mediterranean regions, prairies, or steppes are among the climate-resilient choices for our gardens. 

In recent years, prairie perennials have stood out for their resilience under the current extreme weather conditions. This is due to their origins: they come from the North American prairies, where they grow in natural conditions similar to ours. They thrive even in well-drained sandy-loam to sandy soils in full sun. Most importantly, they can also tolerate the winter moisture which is a necessity given the snowy winters in North America.

Popular prairie perennials: 

• Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida)   

• Narrow-leaved mountain mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium)   

• Large-flowered tickseed (Coreopsis grandiflora)   

• Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)   

• Rough blazing star (Liatris species)   

• White gaura (Gaura lindheimeri)   

• Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)   

• Quamash (Camassia species) 

There are also fantastic native perennials for dry locations that are true insect magnets: 

• Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) 

• Dittany (Dictamnus albus) 

• Common mallow (Malva sylvestris) 

• Musk mallow (Malva moschata) 

• Meadow sage (Salvia pratensis) 

• Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) 

• Bloody crane's bill (Geranium sanguineum)  

• Oregano (Origanum vulgare) 

• Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium subsp. millefolium)  

• Peach-leaved bellflower (Campanula persicifolia)  

• Rose campion (Silene coronaria) 

Trees form the backbone of a garden and when they are tall enough, they provide shade on hot days. But which trees are equipped to handle specific weather conditions? With trees like the serviceberry (Amelanchier), wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis), or the golden chain tree (Laburnum anagyroides), you are on the right track. For smaller trees, the hop hornbeam, Montpellier maple, and the Italian maple are recommended. If your garden space is limited, trees with a rounded crown, such as flowering ash (Fraxinus ornus), are the ideal choice. 

If you'd like to know more about when to carry out specific gardening tasks, you'll find the right times for all important activities in our gardening calendar.