Water Smart Plants - Drought Tolerant Garden Plants

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.

A marigold with a mounded habit and multi-colours on one plant.  Blooms open to a deep pink with a yellow crest and matures to straw yellow.  In warmer conditions, colour changes faster with less distinct contrast.   Heat tolerant and attracts bees and butterflies 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 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.

A beautiful compact ornamental shrub producing masses of unique apricot colored flowers in spring. Great cut flowers and ideal for low maintenance, low water use gardens. This stunning variety brings warm, sunny tones to your landscape and works perfectly in containers or as part of a mixed fynbos planting.

Plant in well-draining, acidic soil in full sun and water regularly for the first 1-2 years until established, then reduce to drought watering. Apply organic mulch to keep roots cool, never fertilize as fynbos thrives in nutrient-poor conditions, and pick all flowers regularly to maintain shape and encourage continuous blooming. In containers, water daily during growing season.

The famous 'wonder plant' succulent with healing gel properties. Perfect for Cape Town's water-wise gardens, thriving in sunny spots with well-draining soil. Excellent in containers, borders, or as a striking indoor plant. For a contemporary look, remove soil from roots and display in a glass vase with water - creates a beautiful modern houseplant. Produces striking  flower spikes in winter.

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.

Leucospermum 'Ayoba® Pink Pin Cushion' brings vibrant pink blooms in spring and draws birds into your Western Cape garden. Hardy, drought-tolerant, and low-maintenance, it's perfect for fynbos landscapes or containers, adding soft color contrast to your indigenous plant collection.

Plant in sandy, well-draining soil in a sunny position and water deeply twice weekly for the first year until established. Keep roots cool with mulch, never fertilize (fynbos plants prefer nutrient-poor soils), and deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage more blooms and maintain the plant's neat, compact shape.

Stunning masses of color in spring! This compact shrub delivers spectacular red blooms that invite birds to the garden while creating a vibrant carnival atmosphere. Perfect for low maintenance, low water use gardens and containers, it brings year-round structure and seasonal excitement to any landscape design.

Simple to grow - plant in well-draining, sandy soil in full sun and water deeply twice weekly for the first year, then reduce to drought watering. Apply organic mulch to keep roots cool, avoid all fertilizers as fynbos plants thrive in poor soils, and regularly deadhead spent blooms to promote continuous flowering and maintain the plant's compact form.

The floral bracts on this beautiful bougainvillea open orange, turning pink as they age. This variety has a full growth habit providing masses of blooms. Ideal for low maintenance, low water use gardens.

The Jade Plant,also known as the 'Money Plant', is a well-known native succulent shrub with a compact growth habit. Ovata has glossy, grey-green,oval succulent leaves with a red margin and bears masses of pink flowers from Winter to Spring. The Jade plant's vibrant green leaves and tree-like structure make it a favourite for pots,windowsills,rockeries and succulent gardens.

This unique succulent has furry, grayish-green leaves with brown spotted tips. Opal-shaped leaves are covered in tiny hairs that gives the plant a velvety look and feel. Once mature they look fantastic placed in hanging baskets or displayed near windows and on shelves. Does best in bright light and indirect sunlight. An essential addition to any indoor succulent plant collection.

A perfect tree for the suburban garden as it is quick and easy to grow, tolerates wind and drought, is evergreen with a graceful habit and a neat crown and won't get too big.

This compact rosette succulent forms tight clusters of blue-grey leaves that look like miniature flowers. Perfect for pots, rock gardens, and sunny beds, it’s a favourite in Cape Town gardens for its neat shape and low water needs.

In summer, it produces delicate pink blooms that rise above the rosettes, adding a soft splash of colour. Easy to grow, waterwise, and striking year-round.

Sincerely spectacular! Leucospermum 'So Sincere' produces long lasting vibrant red flowers that make a welcome addition to any garden. This elegant needle-leaf hybrid delivers genuine beauty that you can count on season after season.

Perfect for the practical gardener - provides great cut flowers and is ideal for low maintenance, low water use gardens. Water-wise and indigenous, it's a sincere commitment to effortless gardening!

It is very attractive when not blooming but particularly striking in late winter when it bears its clusters of showy, salmon-orange, bell-shaped flowers.

A compact flowering shrub, with masses of orange coloured upright flowerheads. They are tough, versatile and ideal for a sunny spot in the garden. An abundance of flowers in summer and autumn.

A compact flowering shrub, with masses of bright yellow upright flowerheads. They are tough, versatile and ideal for a sunny spot in the garden.

A stunning evergreen pelargonium with bright red semi-double flowers, providing good performance even if conditions are less than favourable.  Ideal for pots, containers and baskets. 

A beautiful, vigorous plant of medium height with bright yellow daisy flowers  The leaves are finely divided and the bushes are small and neat.

Calliope is a cross between Zonal and Ivy geraniums, giving it a semi-trailing habit. It bears large semi-double flowers. Stunning in baskets and patio containers. Drought and heat tolerant.

Happy Hour is full with an upright and mounded habit and large semi-double blooms in vivid colours with excellent performance.  Happy Hour is bred to bloom under reduced daylengths, will therefore bloom two weeks earlier than other varieties.  Drought and heat tolerant and excellent for edging and works well in containers.

A striking blue-gray indigenous succulent.

Pencil-like ,slightly curved leaves point upward and form a dense mat. Creates a very attractive groundcover or textural contrast in mixed succulent containers. Small white flowers appear in summer. Low maintenance and drought tolerant. A frost-tender evergreen that prefers a full sun position and moderate watering.

Spreading succulent with yellow-green to orange foliage.  White, lightly fragrant flowers in winter.

An evergreen,succulent bush with fingerlike stems that are green when young, turning brown and woody when mature. Bears small bright yellow cluster flowers. Ideal plant to create texture in your garden. *Can be toxic to humans and animals.

This attractive shrub will form a dense mat, making it ideal as a groundcover or a climber in rocky gardens. It has small dark green leaves on red-brown stems with small yellow-white flowers from late spring.

Can be pruned into a hedge or topiary. Very suitable for pots. A small hardy, evergreen and compact shrublet that is fairly drought resistant. Covered in a mass of dainty flowers in summer through autumn, attracting bees to the garden. Indigenous. 

Cotyledon Pendens is an easy starter plant that requires little maintenance, yet is one of the most beautiful succulents. Native to South Africa,they are often seen hanging done cliffs in their natural habitat. Very attractive as an houseplant,due to its leaves that naturally hang down to create cascading beauty. Beautiful bell-shaped flowers in shades of orange and red adds to its charm. Thrives in bright sunlight and requires regular watering , especially during hot summer months.

An evergreen succulent shrub with green paddle-shaped leaves with a red edge. Bears salmon-orange flowers from late winter to early spring.

Boxwood Beauty is a thornless low growing evergreen dwarf shrub, bearing white, star-shaped flowers and gorgeous dark green, thick leathery leaves. Flowers are followed by scarlet, edible fruit with a cranberry-like flavor. Drought and salt resistant.

The Buddleja Auriculata can be planted as either a small evergreen tree or as a large shrub. It is known for its winter enchantment, as it bursts into bloom with honey-scented cream flowers delicately adorning the ends of weeping branches. Buddleja is also an ideal indigenous choice for creating a stunning hedge.

A small succulent with striking reddish-brown leaves that spiral around the stem with top leaves arranged in beautiful rosettes.It grows up to 15cm tall and can spread or drape attractively over pots and containers.

Clusters of pinkish flower buds reveal delicate yellow flowers in Spring. A must-have in your succulent collection. Thrives in sunny conditions, water regularly in summer months. Take care to not overwater as this could cause root rot.

A hardy evergreen shrub with bright yellow flowers, which fade to rusty-orange and then a reddish brown.  Aromatic grey leaves will attract brids, bees and butterflies to the garden.  An easy and fast growing shrub, which is drought resistant. Also known as Salvia Aurea.

The Jelly Bean plant is a quirky and unusual succulent. Its short leaves resemble jelly beans, especially when it change colour. The green leaves turn into red during summer months as a protective adaption. Bright yellow flowers appear between the leaves in Spring. Mainly used as an ornamental plant for use in gardens as well as potted plants. Low -maintenance and easy to grow and tolerates all types of soil. This unique specimen is a must-have for your succulent collection.

An aloe from the Cape that flowers during summer. The stems of this succulent aloe trail along the ground, often rooting where they touch down. The leaves are short and broad and arranged in a rosette and has a toothy edge.

The golden barrel cactus is armed with golden yellow spines. In its native Mexico, plants can eventually grow to around 90cm wide. It makes an easy to care for plant - feed plants once a month during the growing season, and it does not matter if it dries out from time to time. Be extremely careful not to over water - especially during winter. It makes a real statement when planted one per single contemporary planter. Or, if you have space, to place a set of these in a row in a bed with excellent drainage.

When used as an indoor plant, place the plant by a sunny window. 

An evergreen, bushy perennial.  Trailing when mature with rounded mid-green leaves and clusters of orange pink bloooms.  Ideal for pots and containers.

Experience the succession of stunning blooms! Leucospermum 'Succession' is a tall growing variety that produces dark orange, almost red flowers in early spring from August to September. This South African beauty creates a spectacular seasonal display that marks the beginning of spring.

Perfect for effortless gardening - ideal for low maintenance, low water use gardens or containers and makes great cut flowers. Water-wise and indigenous, it's the ultimate reliable performer for busy gardeners!

This lovely compact shrub flowers easily from late summer to spring. It's colour changes form orange to pink over this period making it a fantastic plant for gardens or containers. Ideal for low maintenance, low water use gardens.

A small rosette shaped succulent with fleshy, rounded upward facing leaves, red tinged leaves. A wax coating gives the leaves a frosty texture. Bears coral red flowers.

An attractive, quirky succulent indoor plant with long, bean-like lime green leaves. Its unique, coiling pea-pod green leaves fit in cramped spaces and purifies the air. Does well in a range of light conditions, making it suitable for poorly lit indoor areas. Avoid placing in direct sunlight indoors and outdoors. Take care not to overwater to prevent root rot.

Royal Crown is an evergreen bushy shrub, with fragrant, linear leaves and blue-purple flowers from spring to summer. Perfect for creating hedges, bordering pathways, and planting in large groups.

Meet the early-blooming Geranium. Its medium, compact habit showcases large, show-stopping flowers that steal the spotlight. Whether gracing your pots, hanging baskets or garden beds, this Geranium adds a burst of color and charm to any style of garden.

Ayoba! Orange excellence for your garden! Leucospermum 'Ayoba® Orange PBR' bears beautiful orange flowers in spring that attract birds to your garden. This hardy South African beauty can tolerate moderate frost, making it perfect for a wider range of climates.

Easy to plant and grow - plant in well-draining, sandy soil in full sun and water regularly until established. Ideal for low water use gardens and makes a great cut flower. Water-wise and indigenous, it's the perfect frost-tolerant addition to any fynbos garden!

A lovely slow-growing succulent with a bushy habit. The wavy blue-green leaves with their red edges, make an interesting filler plant. Ideal for rockeries, containers or borders. *Toxic to pets and small children..

Fan Aloe (Aloe Plicatilis) showcases architectural, fan-shaped foliage that stands up beautifully in Cape Town and George gardens. Ornamental, water-wise, and low-maintenance, this aloe is ideal for coastal wind exposure, dramatic rock garden accents, or container planting with minimal fuss.

A lovely shade tree that is not only grown as an ornamental tree in gardens but also widely cultivated for its edible pods that when dried is often ground to carob powder as a replacement for cocoa powder.

A free flowering pelargonium with a compact and bushy habit and pink flowers. Ideal for pots and containers.

A small, slow-growing hybrid jade plant with fleshy bright green cylindrical leaves. The leaf margins will turn red with maturity and especially when exposed to the sun. Low maintenance plant ideal for rock gardens, containers and will also be quite happy on a well-lit window sill.

Coprosma ‘Pink Splendour’ has green, pink and cream leaves and the pink colour will intensify in winter. This versatile evergreen shrub can be used as a filler plant, trimmed as a hedge, planted in containers or anywhere you would like to make a statement. They are pest and disease resistant.

Beautiful bougainvillea with bright pink, elongated floral bracts. Ideal for indoor colour and patio containers. 

This delicate cone bush produces star-shaped leaf clusters, which change colour from green through pink to yellow. Ideal for low maintenance, low water use gardens.

Ayoba® Tangerine Twist Pin Cushion bursts into spring with massed orange blooms that attract birds to your garden. Adapted to the coastal and inland microclimates of the Western Cape, it's perfect for small garden spaces, containers, or low hedges—and thrives with minimal water once established.

Plant in well-draining, sandy soil in full sun and water deeply twice weekly for the first year, then reduce to drought watering. Apply mulch to keep roots cool, never fertilize (fynbos plants prefer nutrient-poor soils), and deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage more blooms and maintain shape.

Vibrant deep orange bracts will add a blaze of colour to your garden or patio. Suitable for hanging baskets, containers or in the garden. Ideal for low maintenance, low water use gardens.

An impressive succulent with green and pink leaves, each featuring a bold burgundy stripe down the center. Ideal for mixed containers, it thrives in well-draining soil with plenty of sunlight. Water moderately, letting the soil dry between watering for optimal growth.

A popular trailing succulent that has interesting leaves that are shaped like bananas or fishhooks. Perfect to grow in a hanging basket or in well-drained soil in the garden - this fast growing succulent will trail along the ground.