Drought-tolerant plants

The most drought-tolerant plants include lavender, stonecrop (sedum), houseleeks, catmint, sage, ornamental grasses, and succulents and cacti. They have fleshy leaves, deep roots or a waxy coating that limits water loss. In the atlas they're listed under high drought tolerance.

Once established (usually the first season), most drought-tolerant species manage on natural rainfall and only need watering in prolonged dry spells. Water regularly in the first year so they build roots. After that, water deeply and infrequently rather than little and often.

Yes, but in a pot the soil dries out much faster than in the ground, so even xerophytes need watering more often there. Choose containers with a drainage hole and a free-draining mix with added sand or grit. Succulents, sedums and lavender do well in containers.