Water Smart Plants - Drought Tolerant Garden Plants

Lavender ‘Margaret Roberts’ is one of South Africa’s most beloved lavender varieties, celebrated for its fragrance, resilience, and iconic purple blooms. Hardy, evergreen, and naturally waterwise, it thrives in the Western Cape’s sunny climate and keeps gardens looking beautiful year-round.

From spring into summer, tall silver-green stems produce masses of purple flower spikes, filling the air with scent and attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Plant in full sun with well-drained soil, and trim after flowering to maintain shape and enjoy repeat flushes of flowers.

While Lavenders can thrive in pots, ensure you use high-quality, well-draining potting soil. For optimal growth, consider fertilizing Lavender 'Margaret Roberts' from spring to autumn with products like Atlantic Bio Ocean or Vigorosa 5:1:5.

Tulbaghia violacea, commonly known as Wild Garlic or Wildeknoffel, is a tough, clump-forming perennial that delivers colour and fragrance from midsummer to autumn. Its narrow leaves and tall stems carry clusters of violet flowers, creating a striking display when mass-planted in borders, pathways, or rockeries.

Beyond its beauty, Wild Garlic is edible — the leaves can be used as a mild substitute for garlic or chives in cooking. Plant in full sun or semi-shade in well-drained soil. Once established, it is drought-resistant, low-maintenance, and easy to grow, making it one of the most reliable indigenous perennials for Western Cape gardens.

 The Bird of Paradise is an unmistakable South African icon, admired for its bold, tropical foliage and brilliant orange-and-blue flowers. A focal plant in any landscape, it provides year-round greenery and dramatic colour when in bloom mainly during May to December.

Best grown in full sun to light shade, Strelitzia reginae is hardy, low-maintenance, and waterwise once established. Its architectural leaves make it equally striking in modern gardens, containers, or as a feature near a pool or patio.

This indigenous beauty is a wind-resistant plant and  suitable for coastal gardens.

Provided with lots of bright light with some direct sun, they can be successfully grown indoors.

Feed with compost in early spring before new growth begins and then fertilize during the growing season.

Princess Lavender, also known as Butterfly Lavender, is a compact, eye-catching variety of Lavandula stoechas with vivid pink-purple flower heads topped by wing-like petals that resemble butterflies in flight. This fragrant, evergreen shrub brings long-lasting colour and charm to pots, pathways, borders, and small garden spaces.

 A sun-loving plant, it thrives in well-draining soil and is well-suited to waterwise and coastal gardens in the Western Cape. Princess Lavender flowers generously from spring to early autumn and attracts bees and butterflies with its aromatic blooms. Light pruning after flowering encourages compact growth and more blooms.

Brachyscome is a compact perennial with tons of flowers from spring to summer and on to autumn. It is a great plant for containers and for flower gardens and grows easy.

Portulacaria Afra, also known as 'Spekboom', is an easy-to-grow indigenous plant typically reaching heights of 2 meters in garden settings. Its small, non-invasive root system makes it perfect for poolside or boundary planting. With its compact structure, it's an excellent choice for accent planting, bonsai enthusiasts and landscapers. Creates perfect hedges and garden borders and readily accepts regular pruning. Spekboom is a truly 'green' succulent playing a vital role in combating air pollution by acting as a carbon sponge, effectively removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Highly recommended for its prolific growth, the Salt Bush lends itself beautifully to marvelous formal applications, including crafting shaped balls and clipped hedges.

When planting, choose a well-drained soil location with full to partial sun exposure for optimal results. The fantastic silvery-grey foliage of the Salt Bush not only adds to its own allure, but also showcases the colors of the plants planted around it, creating a visually stunning landscape.

A popular indigenous garden plant with variegated leaves and pinkish-mauve flowers in summertime. Very useful to fill difficult hot corners in your garden, as it is drought-resistant, but will flourish with regular watering. A perfect groundcover to cover large areas and also excellent used as borders or edging. The leaves and flowers are edible, and can be used in salads and other dishes.

Clusters of flowers cover this popular vine-like shrub for many months of the year. Often used for covering garden banks but can be trimmed beautifully for use in pots. Flowering mainly from November to May. Indigenous.

Spekboom'Grande' ,also known as Large-leaf Spekboom, has slightly larger leaves than the rest of its family. This versatile plant is considered by many to be a miracle plant and is highly regarded for its ability to fight climate change. This indigenous plant acts like a carbon sponge and statistics indicate that a Spekboom thicket is 10 times more effective per hectare in carbon fighting than any rainforest.

For care, provide well-drained soil and ample sunlight. Water sparingly, as it's drought-resistant. Spekboom'Grande' benefits by occasional pruning ,helping to maintain its shape and promote branching. 

The Wild Olive is one of South Africa’s most treasured indigenous trees, known for its timeless beauty and resilience. Its silvery-green leaves and rugged trunk add instant character to gardens, while its drought tolerance makes it a dependable choice for the Western Cape.

Best planted in full sun, this evergreen tree grows slowly but steadily into a long-lived garden feature. It thrives in coastal and dry conditions and can also be pruned into a neat hedge or trained for use in a large pot. 

 The wild olive has beautiful wood for furniture making. Has many medicinal uses.

A captivating succulent with a ground-hugging growth habit, perfect for water-wise gardens. Its unique foliage features fleshy leaves that seem to shimmer as they catch and reflect sunlight. But the real showstopper is its vibrant array of flowers, which burst into bloom during late spring and summer.

Once established, they're virtually indestructible, withstanding long drought spells.

The flower can be described as a purple fairy with white wings. Lavender is a wonderful and fragrant addition to your garden. Flowers from mid spring until early summer.  Plant where there is good air circulation and well drained soil. 

The 'Tree Aloe' is Africa's tallest Aloe and forms branches with orange spikes as flowers, creating an excellent focal point in any garden. Widely used for its architectural shape, this evergreen giant is perfect as a dramatic feature plant in large gardens and coastal properties. Often used in office parks and commercial sites,'Aloe bainesii' offers year-round structure and beauty.                                                                                                                          Young trees do well in pots, but ensure the pot is sturdy and wide. 'Tree Aloe' is proudly indigenous and thrives in full sun and dry conditions, making it ideal for low-maintenance gardens in the Western Cape.

The fire sticks plant resembles sea coral and is a striking evergreen succulent shrub. It is resilient to most pests and diseases. Water hardly at all in winter and moderately in summer. Let the soil dry out before watering again. 

*Please note this plant is toxic.  Use with care.

Evolvulus 'Blue my mind'(also known as Dwarf Morning Glory) has tiny blue blossoms covering these silvery-leaved plants for extended periods.  An ideal choice for ground covers in gardens or containers, creating a mound of vivid blue blooms. These resilient plants thrive in heat and drought conditions, making them excellent ground covers and companions for mixed baskets and pots. They thrive in scorching temperatures and shine in full sun. Furthermore, once established, 'Blue my Mind' requires minimal watering due to their drought tolerance.

A best-seller. Popular due to its attractive foliage, drought tolerance and pest free nature this plant looks fantastic in hanging baskets or containers. Widely used as a quick spreading ground cover for outdoor garden landscaping. The variegated leaves brighten up a shady area. This favourite prefers partial shade, especially in hot climates.  The plant produces long, slender stems which carry white flowers and plantlets at the tip of the flowers.  A single plant with its stems soon become a mother plant surrounded by its 'babies' and therefore the name 'hen and chickens' Water regularly during the growing season but sparingly in winter when the plant is dormant. They prefer being watered from the bottom and not from above. Indigenous. 

A compact and hardy lavender with mauve-lilac, butterfly-like petals on silver green aromatic foliage. Flowers from mid spring to early summer. Plant where there is good air circulation and well drained soil. A wonderful and fragrant addition to your garden.   

This proudly indigenous plant is also commonly known as the 'Natal Plum' or 'Large Num-Num'. An extremely easy-to-grow, thorny shrub often used for hedges. It produces glossy, deep green leaves and highly fragrant,snowy white flowers in summer. The ornamental plump, round, crimson fruit appears in summer and autumn at the same time as the blooms.  A popular indigenous, evergreen choice for coastal gardens.                                                      Plant 1m apart for an impenetrable hedge.'Natal Plum' is easy to grow and low maintenance.                                                                                     

Golden sunshine for your garden! Leucospermum 'High Gold' is a tall growing variety that produces bright yellow flowers in spring. Perfect for screening or hedging, this South African beauty creates stunning privacy while adding vibrant color to your landscape.

The ultimate low-maintenance choice - thrives in low water use gardens and provides great cut flowers for indoor arrangement. Water-wise and hardy, it's the perfect solution for busy gardeners who want maximum impact

 This evergreen shrub resembles rosemary but lacks its fragrance and culinary value. It excels in coastal gardens, withstanding salt spray admirably. It thrives in sandy, well-drained soil and becomes relatively drought-tolerant once established, requiring less water than other plants. Additionally, it responds well to pruning, allowing you to shape it into beautifully pruned balls, hedges, or lollipop standards. During spring and summer, it adorns itself with dainty white or blue flowers.

The Italian Cypress is an attractive, upright, pencil-thin conifer that works perfectly in restricted spaces or spaces where shade is not desired. It can be planted in groups to create a beautiful hedge or screen. Effortless with minimal water requirements once established. The Italian Cypress is also wind-tolerant and suitable for coastal gardens.

‘Frantoio’ is the most noted olive oil variety of Tuscany, Italy and makes an excellent potted specimen.  White flowers in spring produce small round to oval black fruit in Autumn.  Self-pollinating, but can be used to pollinate other cultivars. Plant in well-draining soil.

This colourful crassula is a firm favourite as it sets your garden alight with its fleshy propeller-like leaves that mature from bright lime-green to bright red. Also very pretty in containers or hanging baskets. 

Elegant evergreen plant for Cape Town gardens or indoors. Cycas revoluta adds structure and texture with its distinctive palm-like fronds. Prefers bright, indirect light indoors or partial shade outdoors. Water when soil surface feels dry - avoid overwatering as this can cause root rot. Feed monthly during growing season with balanced fertilizer. Remove only completely brown fronds by cutting close to trunk. Growth is naturally slow, so be patient. Great in pots or planted in beds for dramatic architectural impact.

Aeonium'Kiwi' is a  charming evergreen succulent with petite, variegated rosettes and spoon-shaped leaves that turn a vibrant rose red in the sunlight. Plant this popular succulent in well-draining soil  and water sparingly. Aeonium'Kiwi' requires a minimum of 6 hours of daily sunlight to ensure optimal growth.

Reaching a height of 5m+ with a non-aggressive root system, the' Kei Apple' is an extremely versatile all-rounder that lends itself to many applications .It can be planted on its own, in a garden border or as a screening plant. It can be pruned to create a neat ,compact shape, which makes it ideal for use as container plant or bonsai. The dense, evergreen foliage and thorny branches of 'Dovyalis caffra' make it suitable for security hedging.

Various bird species,especially louries and black-eyed bulbuls, love the unusual golden fruit of the 'Kei Apple'.

Excellent used as a windbreak or hedge. Can be cut to any size. Indigenous.A strikingly attractive and hardy drought resistant tree, with an uncommon silvery-blue appearance that contrasts beautifully with surrounding, darker green foliage. Well suited to harsh coastal conditions. It has a non invasive root system and can be used close to walls. Easily trained as a shrub or screening plant that can provide privacy in a short space of time due to its fast growing rate.

 Prune off the lower branches to form a shade tree; and if space is limited, grow it in a large pot.

Drought-resistant, evergreen shrubs and trees, with handsome, glossy foliage and fragrant, starry-white, jasmine-like flowers. Ornamental and edible, scarlet to crimson oval fruits are produced after flowering. Carissas are attractive, ornamental shrubs and make excellent hedges. Does well in coastal areas. Plant 1 m to form an impenetrable hedge, they have thorns. 

This succulent has a lovely medium sized rosette and unusual colouring of chocolate-grey green leaves. Perfect for growing in containers on its own or as part of a mixed succulent arrangement.

Provides a striking colour contrast in rock gardens and adds interest and variation in succulent gardens.

Water-wise,prefers full sun /part shade.

 With glossy, cream-and-green variegated foliage, Coprosma ‘Marble Chips’ adds year-round colour to any garden. Naturally salt-tolerant, it’s ideal for Cape Town’s coastal gardens.

Grows into a dense shrub, perfect for screening, borders, or mixed beds. Low-maintenance and evergreen, it thrives in full sun and requires little more than occasional trimming to keep a neat shape.

Thyme Buchu (Agathosma serpyllacea) is a charming indigenous fynbos shrub that brings authentic South African beauty to your garden. This aromatic evergreen produces masses of delicate white or pink flowers from autumn through winter, creating spectacular displays when most plants are dormant.

The fragrant foliage releases delightful thyme-like buchu scent when touched. This compact shrub handles salt spray and wind making it coastal tough. Ideal for pots and small spaces.

Plant in well-draining soil, full sun to partial shade. Minimal maintenance required - simply prune lightly after flowering.

Fast growing and vibrant trailing succulent. In lower light areas they maintain a green shade with purplish highlights especially along it’s stem. In bright sun the stem and the bean shaped pudgy leaves will turn ruby red!

A hardy, evergreen creeper traditionally used to make jam and rope. Attractive foliage. Indigenous, fast grower for covering fences or pergolas. Can also be used as a ground-cover. Small green-yellow flowers in late summer, followed by tart ‘grape-looking’ berries. The flowers will attract insects to your garden. It can be used as a screen.

This evergreen, structural plant forms a bulbous trunk-like stem, resembling an elephants foot. The swollen base stores water and makes this an ideal waterwise option.  It's drought tolerant and hardy. Can be grown as an indoor plant but will require bright light. Will grow slower in a container than in the ground. Use potting soil that drains well. Waterwise, tough and ideal for a patio. 

A garden showstopper! Leucospermum 'Clockwork Orange' produces large orange flowers in spring that turn a vibrant red colour after flowering. Perfect as a focal point or planted in groups, this South African beauty provides stunning long-stemmed cut flowers.

Effortlessly elegant - thrives in low maintenance, low water use gardens and looks equally beautiful as a container plant (1.5m x 1m). Also known as 'Speldekussing' in Afrikaans, it's the ultimate water-wise garden star!

Very popular evergreen succulent of striking beauty. It forms a solitary rosette of rounded, pointed pastel grey leaves adorned with lavender-pink highlights. The overlapping leaves are delicately dusted with a fine white powder which adds to the plant's unique appeal.One of the most prolific echeverias, producing generous flowering spikes of coral pink flowers yearly. Highly valued in floral arrangements, wedding bouquets and an excellent container plant.Adds beautiful colour and contrast to your garden landscape.

The Mission olive makes a stunning feature tree. Suitable for planting in small gardens due to its slow growth speed and compact growth habit/ form. Very suitable for pots.   Cross pollinate with Frantoio. A very popular cultivar to produce black table olives and olive oil. Harvest October-November. Plant in well-draining soil. Can be pruned as a hedge or windbreak.

A compact lavender with an upright growth habit and dark violet flowers on silver green aromatic foliage. Ideal for pots and for mass planting. Flowers in spring.

Tube like leaves resembling little hunting horns. Grows upright.

Transform your garden into a bird paradise! Leucospermum 'Anouk' is a stunning South African pin cushion protea that covers itself in deep orange flowers throughout spring and summer, attracting sunbirds and wildlife to your space.

Perfect for busy gardeners - thrives in low water, low maintenance gardens and pots. Makes exceptional cut flowers. Simply pick spent blooms to keep it looking perfect. No fertilizing needed!

A silver succulent that forms a small, clumping bush. Its oblong leaves are covered in white, waxy hairs that give it a “dusty” look. Small pink flowers bloom in the Spring. *Can be toxic to people and pets.

The Yellow Spekboom is an indigenous plant with bright yellow-green, rounded succulent leaves and a reddish stem. For gardening purposes the plant is grown for its striking leaf colour and water-wise attributes. The leaves are edible and the plant has marvelous air-purifying qualities. It helps fight air pollution in that it removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, acting like a carbon sponge. Easy to grow and low-maintenance. It works well in hot, dry rockeries or grouped with other succulents in drought-prone areas.Yellow Spekboom happily provides bright evergreen leaf colour amongst plants receiving regular watering.

Classic Line is a cross between Zonal & Ivy geranium, with lovely large semi-double flowers.  Drought and heat tolerant.  Ideal for baskets and patio containers.

Chlorophytum comosum vittata stands out with its green-edged leaves, a deviation from the typical yellow variegation.

This indoor favorite excels in air purification and adapts beautifully to hanging baskets, containers, or as a ground cover in outdoor gardens, especially in partial shade.

Its slender stems produce delicate white flowers and 'babies,' earning it the endearing name 'hen and chickens.' Keep the soil consistently moist, avoiding waterlogged conditions, and water from the bottom. As an indigenous plant, it effortlessly blends into its environment

An evergreen sub-shrub with vibrant, purple-magenta, pea-like flowers, adorning a compact mound of gray-green foliage for much of the year.

A succulent perennial with erect, fleshy , bluish-green pencil-like stems. They are adorned with purple-green patterns and lined with soft spines along the sides. Brilliant red to orange thistle like flowers appear in summer. Easy to grow, the pickle plant is great for containers and can be used as a houseplant. Slightly cascading when mature,it is also perfect for hanging baskets.Also excellent for rock gardens and succulent gardens to add colour contrast and interest.

 A resilient shrub boasting lush green foliage and magnificent bursts of pink or white blooms each spring. Elevate your garden effortlessly with its low-maintenance charm. Shape it into the hedge of your dreams or let it flourish in pots or beds.

With its tightly whorled rosettes of fleshy silvery, ice-blue leaves that freely produces offsets, this fast-growing and award winning succulent is a very attractive addition to one's succulent collection. Bright-pink blooms on long slender stems occur late winter and spring.

 A resilient shrub boasting lush green foliage and magnificent bursts of pink or white blooms each spring. Elevate your garden effortlessly with its low-maintenance charm. Shape it into the hedge of your dreams or let it flourish in pots or beds.

This extra-dwarf crested marigold is compact and heat tolerant.  Hot Pak will bloom all summer long even in high and humid temperatures.  These vigorous plants will bloom abundantly and are ideal for containers, patios and the garden.  Attracts bees and butterflies.

This quirky and fun trailing succulent with leaves that look like little dolphins will bring instant joy to your surroundings. Easy to grow, waterwise and can be grown indoors or outdoors.

Black Rose is definitely a show-stopper, its nearly black foliage and clusters of yellow flowers bring drama and contrast into any garden setting. Spectacular when used in containers, raised planters and in grouped plantings. A very unique and popular succulent to add to your collection. Grows well in sunny to partially shaded positions. Winter rains provide ample moisture for growth, little water is needed during the rest of the year.

This small slow growing succulent grows in dense clusters of blue-green fleshy, transluscent leaves, forming a rosette.  They grow deeply set in the soil to protect itself from the hot sun.  Ideal to keep inside on a window sill with bright indirect light.

This extra-dwarf crested marigold is compact and heat tolerant.  Hot Pak will bloom all summer long even in high and humid temperatures.  These vigorous plants will bloom abundantly and are ideal for containers, patios and the garden.  Attracts bees and butterflies.

A low and fast-growing, mat-forming plant with green succulent leaves and sprays of pink star-shaped flowers on long stems. Ideal as ground cover in a shady corner.  This drought resistant, indigenous beauty will attract birds to the garden.

This striking ornamental grass forms a weeping mound of finely textured bronze foliage. It's lovely when gracefully spilling over slopes, pots, and garden edges and is an ideal choice for mass planting.

Moreover, Carex 'Bronco' is exceptionally low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, making it a practical addition to your garden.

A wonderful dwarf ornamental grass,mostly grown for its superb,evergreen,bright silver-blue foliage. Densely tufted,the foliage of finely-textured,blade-like needles forms a neat mound topped by upright flower plumes in Summer. Stunning when mass-planted as groundcover, Blue Fescue adds a superb colour accent to your garden all year round Excellent used in borders, edging,rock gardens, cottage gardens and containers.