5 heat-loving lavender alternatives that bloom through the hottest months
Create a drought-tolerant garden with these lavender-like varieties
Lavender has long been a staple of British gardens. Its fragrant lilac spikes fill outdoor spaces with the scent of summer and the gentle hum of pollinators in search of nectar. Better still, it's remarkably easy to grow and care for.
As UK summers become increasingly hotter, the evergreen shrub ticks another important box: it thrives in dry, warm conditions. And if you're looking to create a resilient, drought-tolerant garden, it's only natural to wonder what other plants offer a similar appeal.
Whether you want to mix up your borders or simply love lavender's soft, Mediterranean look, there are plenty of equally beautiful alternatives to choose from. From Russian sage to catmint, these lavender-like plants will bring colour, fragrance and pollinator appeal to your garden while flourishing in the heat.
Russian sage
"Russian sage thrives in full sun and high temperatures, and it will produce the best flowers when it gets at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight a day. It prefers dry conditions, so it needs to be grown in well-draining soil," says Richard Barker of LBS Horticulture.
Water well for the first few weeks. Once established, Russian sage is very drought-tolerant. Keep its vigorous growth in check by regularly removing runners.
Catmint
![catmint nepeta racemosa 'walker's low'. nepeta is a genus of about 250 species of flowering plants in the family lamiaceae. the members of this group are known as catnip or catmint because of their famous effect on cats nepeta pleasantly stimulates cats' pheromonic receptors, typically resulting in temporary euphoria. it can also induce mild euphoria in humans. the genus is native to europe, asia and africa. it is now also common in north america. most of the species are herbaceous perennial plants, but some are annuals. they have sturdy stems with opposite heart shaped, green to grayish green leaves. the flowers are white, blue, pink or lilac and occur in several clusters toward the tip of the stems. the flowers are tubular and spotted with tiny purple dots. image is captured in 12 bit raw and processed in adobe rgb color space. [file:xxx; lot:39]](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/f0492a92-03a3-4352-aefe-eec391f034b7.jpg?crop=1.00xw:0.838xh;0,0.0718xh "Catmint / Catnip, Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low' - IV")
"Catmint thrives in the heat, and a few hours of full sun a day can promote dense, abundant blooms," Richard explains. "Container-grown plants can be planted in summer, as long as they are kept well watered during dry weather until they have established."
Established catmint, or nepeta, is drought-tolerant and thrives in dry, well-draining soil. Trimming its flowers back after they've finished blooming can encourage more.
Salvia
Like lavender, salvias grow long purple spikes and are exceptionally drought-tolerant. "They continue blooming in weather that may make other plants wilt," says Richard. "They should be planted in free-draining soil, and can thrive in poor soils."
If planted in a border, these plants are ideal for hands-off gardeners. "Established plants should get all of the water that they need from rainfall, but if growing in containers, they may still need to be watered regularly."
Rosemary
This Mediterranean plant is another great choice if you're planting with heatwave weather in mind. "It handles summer heat well, as long as it has well-draining soil," Richard explains.
"Once established, rosemary is drought-tolerant and will need little maintenance aside from annual pruning to stop the plant from becoming straggly."
Hyssop
"Hyssop thrives in warm, sunny and dry conditions, and prefers full sun to produce the best foliage and flower spikes," says Richard.
Once established, hyssop is a relatively low-maintenance plant and can tolerate some drought. Prevent the plant from growing leggy by planting it somewhere it will receive at least six to eight hours of sunlight a day.
Wanda Sachs is the Multiplatform Writer for Country Living and House Beautiful, exploring the latest in gardening, wildlife and sustainable living alongside interiors and property. She is particularly interested in human-interest stories, the intersection of design and pop culture, and the evolving relationship between urban and rural life. Previously, she served as Associate Editor at The Berliner in Berlin, where she reported on culture and fashion. Wanda studied English and German at the Goethe University Frankfurt and Exeter University.
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