Plants for Water Resilience

Right plant, right place, right purpose: over 300 plants have been selected for different ways of interacting with water that are useful to gardeners. The lists were drawn up by RHS scientists and an expert horticultural panel as part of RHS Plants for People & Planet research

Quick tips

Different plants help gardeners manage water in different ways. Some use relatively little water, some make use of abundant soil moisture, some contribute to flood resilience and others cope well with both wet and dry conditions.

  • Wet and dry plants: Great all-rounders for gardens that fluctuate from dry in summer to wet in winter.
  • Flood resilience plants: Great for helping reduce flooding in your neighbourhood and wider environment

  • Low water use plants: Great for reducing watering and low-maintenance gardens
  • High water use plants: Great for lush planting and summer cooling in reliably moist soils

RHS Recommended: Plants for Water Resilience

Browse recommended plants by following the links below

Plants for both wet and dry

Struggling with dry summers and wet winters? These resilient and versatile all-rounder plants are for you, keeping extra watering at a minimum in summer while also coping with soggy winter soils.

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Plants for flood resilience

Every well-chosen area of planting can help build a more flood-resilient garden and help reduce flooding downstream – by catching rain on leaves and stems, slowing water as it reaches and moves across the ground, helping it soak into the soil, and taking up water through plant roots. These plants have characteristics that help them do this effectively.

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Plants with low water use

Save water, time and potentially money with plants that, once established, need relatively little water to stay healthy. Though low water use isn’t the same as drought tolerance, these plants can help reduce watering. They’re useful in established beds and borders, front gardens, community planting and other places that are difficult or unsustainable to water regularly.

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Plants with high water use

Make the most of a reliably moist border with plants that take up relatively large amounts of water during the growing season, releasing much of it through their leaves. This evaporation can help cool their surroundings, which is helpful during hot summers.

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What is RHS Recommended: Plants for Water Resilience?

These plant lists were developed as part of the RHS Plants for People & Planet work, which brings scientific research and horticultural expertise together to identify useful plant characteristics and environmental benefits in gardens and green spaces. The 2025 review and relaunch of RHS Plants for Pollinators was also part of this work.

Candidate plants were reviewed by an expert panel and checked for correct identification, availability in the UK, future climate resilience, pest and disease tolerance and invasive potential before being recommended.

The lists are indicative rather than definitive. Site, soil, microclimate, weather and whether a plant is established can make a substantial difference to its water needs. Ongoing RHS research is measuring how much water different garden plants need to remain healthy and attractive.

“We need to prepare for a future in which reliance on mains water for gardening will not be possible. Each list has plenty of choice for gardeners, and more will be added. I hope this research shows that plants can give lots of extra benefits as well as looking good and providing enjoyment.”

Dr Nicholas Cryer, Senior Water Scientist

Advice on waterwise gardening

How to manage water in your garden

Everything you need to know about coping with too little or too much water in your garden, from garden design to plant choices to how to water efficiently

RHS water advice hub

Ideas for planting combinations

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Switch from Mains 2 Rains: Water the way nature intended

Mains water use in our homes and gardens is often highest when water availability is lowest – in hot, dry periods. However, by making a few simple changes, we can all make our gardens and outdoor spaces thrive on the rainfall we receive by collecting it and re-using it during dry spells. So, switch now from mains to rains to make your garden more sustainable.

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