Sixty-six resilient plant species, endorsed by global authority figures, represent the premier choice for cultivation in a climate undergoing transformation
Future-Proof Gardening: Top Resilient Plants for a Changing Climate
Gardeners are increasingly seeking plants that can withstand the challenges of a changing climate and require minimal maintenance. Here are some top recommendations for future-proof gardening, focusing on groundcovers, drought-tolerant evergreen sub-shrubs, and perennials that offer multi-season interest.
Groundcovers
One reliable choice is the Golden Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’). This low-growing groundcover cascades beautifully, with golden coin-shaped leaves. It thrives in partial shade and loves moisture but can tolerate full sun with moist soil. Suitable for zones 4–8, it adds colour and texture year-round.
Drought-Tolerant Evergreen Sub-Shrubs
The Japanese Pieris (Pieris japonica) is an evergreen, deer-resistant shrub for zones 6–8. It showcases multi-season interest with glossy evergreen foliage, colourful new spring growth ranging from red to white, and fragrant white urn-shaped flowers in early spring. The Pieris thrives in full sun to full shade and requires protection from harsh winter winds.
Other drought-resistant trees and shrubs for future-proofing with drought tolerance include Quercus macranthera and several Salix species, such as Salix alba and S. excelsa.
Perennials Offering Multi-Season Interest
Coneflower (Echinacea), Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), and Bee Balm (Monarda) establish well in warm soil, providing long-lasting colour and flowers into early autumn. They are robust, low-maintenance, and attract pollinators. Allium, Hardy flowering plants noted for their globe-shaped purple, pink, or white flower heads, bloom late in summer, adding texture and colour continuity.
Heliopsis ("False Sunflower"), Yarrow, and Agastache bloom later in summer and continue through fall, helping extend garden interest through multiple seasons. Other drought-tolerant perennials highlighted for low-maintenance and resilience include Sedum, Centranthus, Lychnis coronaria, Eryngium, and Erigeron karvinskianus.
Additional Recommendations
Selecting perennials and biennials with staggered blooming times can create a garden that continuously offers interest from spring through fall. Experts also recommend planting perennials that establish in warm soil during summer months to ensure durability against climate stress and season length changes.
In summary, future-proof gardening focuses on drought-tolerant, hardy plants like Golden Creeping Jenny for groundcover, Japanese Pieris as an evergreen sub-shrub, and robust perennials such as coneflower and allium for multi-season interest, supporting sustainability and resilience under climate change impacts.
Designers might opt for the resilient Golden Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’) in their future-proof garden design, as its low-growing, golden, coin-shaped leaves contribute towards colour and texture year-round. The environmental science behind its adaptation to a changing climate reveals its tolerance for full sun with moist soil, making it suitable for zones 4–8.
The Japanese Pieris (Pieris japonica), an evergreen shrub for zones 6–8, is another environmental-science-backed choice for future-proof gardens. Its glossy evergreen foliage, colourful spring growth, and fragrant early spring flowers, combined with its tolerance for full sun to full shade and protection from harsh winter winds, make it a valuable addition to any climate-change-resistant landscaping plans.
Not limited to shrubs, even plants like Coneflowers (Echinacea), Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia), and Bee Balms (Monarda), which establish well in warm soil and attract pollinators, have proven their worth in future-proof gardens, providing long-lasting colour and flowers into early autumn.
In the realm of health-and-wellness, the study of climate-change impact suggests that drought-tolerant plants like Allium, Sedum, Centranthus, Lychnis coronaria, Eryngium, and Erigeron karvinskianus are not only low-maintenance but also resilient against climate stress and season length changes, helping maintain the wellness of future gardens with minimal interference.
ideas of planting perennials with staggered blooming times can contribute to gardens offering continuous interest from spring through fall, thus adopting a healthier, more sustainable approach to gardening in a changing climate.
