As our climate shifts, choosing plants that can withstand both drought and periods of intense rainfall is becoming essential. The Met Office projects that by 2050, London could experience a climate similar to Barcelona; hotter, drier summers and heavier winter downpours.
This means the way we plant has to evolve. The trees we choose must work harder for us, delivering real environmental benefits:
- Cooling — reducing urban heat and lowering surrounding temperatures thus protecting our native flora
- Shade — protecting people, wildlife, and under planting varieties
- Rain interception — slowing stormwater runoff and easing pressure on drainage systems
- Drought tolerance – characteristics of these plants include silver or grey-green leaves to reflect the sun. Some have a coating of fine hairs on their leaves or stems, helping to trap in moisture.
Trees
The trees we plant now have to be resilient to our current climate as well as our future climate. Here is a selection of hardy exotic trees to plant alongside our native favourites:
Sorbus commixta ‘Olympic Flame‘ (Rowan) – Also known as ‘Dodong’, it originates from Japan. Selected from seed by a Swedish botanist in 1976 for its exotic look, it is now firm a favourite in Europe. Its glossy green foliage is vibrant throughout the growing season and turns to an impressive range of flame oranges and reds in autumn. Dark orange berries are produced from clusters of white spring flowers by late summer. Its young trunk is punctuated by lenticels and it thrives on most free draining soils. It does not tolerate excessive reflective heat and light from hard areas surrounding it. This tree is good for bees and other wildlife. Mature height: 5-8m
Styphnolobium japonicum (Japanese Pagoda Tree) – this is considered an excellent climate‑change‑resilient tree because it tolerates heat, drought, urban pollution, and poor soils better than many traditional street trees. These traits make it especially valuable for future UK and European urban planting as temperatures rise and rainfall patterns become more erratic.
Cercis canadensis (Eastern redbud) – One of the most beautiful small ornamental trees you can grow; famous for its early spring blossom that appears before the leaves, covering the bare branches in a cloud of pink. It has a combination of biological traits and ecological adaptability that help it cope with hotter, drier, and more unpredictable conditions better than many ornamental trees.
Ginkgo biloba (Maidenhair) – One of the oldest and most beautiful trees of all, this tree species is now unique, having no more living relatives. It is both distinctive and unusual and a gem in any garden where space is permitting. The leaves are delicately fan shaped, with two leaf blades, appearing in spring a fresh bright green colour. In autumn time, these wonderfully shaped leaves turn a clear and bright golden yellow. The notable bright yellow autumn colour is most distinctive and works well contrasting with species that give red autumn colour. Commonly known as the Maidenhair Tree, its name derives from the leaf shape, which resemble the Maidenhair Fern. Ginkgo biloba forms a large specimen with a conical shape at maturity and will maintain its habit as long as the central leader is retained. With its deep roots, it survived both the radiation and devastation from the comet strike which ended the dinosaur era, it is more than tough enough to survive 21st Century urban life. It was reintroduced in to the UK in 1754. Ginkgo biloba is a fantastic choice for parks and avenues where it will have the room to grow into a historic specimen for years to come. Air pollution, reflected heat and light are not an issue for this tough contender. Mature height: 17-22m.
Toona sinensis ‘Flamingo’ (Chinese Mahognay) – Generally considered to be a good tree to plant for a warming, more drought‑prone climate. It shows drought tolerance, adaptability to varied soils and is already listed by experts as a climate‑resilient species for future British climate conditions.
For areas prone to flooding:
Betula nigra (River Birch) – This is one of the best trees for wet soils. A highly impressive tree at maturity, it becomes a broadly pyramidal form as it ages, with diamond shaped, soft green foliage and shaggy, flaking cinnamon coloured bark. This favourite, for wet and boggy sites, performs exceptionally well by river banks but has also been planted successfully in urban conditions and been seen thriving in arid London locations, making it an extremely versatile choice of tree for future planting. As temperatures in the UK continue to break records in summer months this tree becomes a good contender. The River Birch is a large tree which is a good option for a difficult area when options are limited to less ornamental trees. It can be planted as a statuesque, single specimen, multistem or in groups to accentuate the qualities of the bark. Mature height: 12-17m.
Salix alba (White Willow) – thrives in saturated soil. An excellent trees for waterlogged areas in the UK. Willows can tolerate temporary flooding, making them suitable for areas that experience periodic inundation. They do not thrive where the water table is permanently high, but they handle fluctuating water levels well. White willow is used in living flood barriers and erosion‑control schemes because of its fast growth, ability to root from cuttings, and capacity to stabilise riverbanks.
Shrubs
Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’ (Dogwood) – Another favourite with our designers, this dogwood’s bright acid green/golden stems add a splash of colour to a garden in winter and contrast brilliantly with other darker greens. Particularly effective near water we recommend this for gardens that are near to a river or prone to flooding. The RHS have given this its Award of Garden Merit for good reason, it’s a robust medium sized shrub, highly useful with our increasingly wet winters. Height and spread 1.5-2.5 metres if left unpruned. Plant in moist but well drained, sunny/partial shade position.
Hydrangeas – All varieties require moist soil. However some do better in the heat / full sun than others once established. For example, Hydrangea paniculata and Hydrangea arborescens can thrive in full sun but Hydrangea macrophylla cannot as it requires consistently moist soil and shade to prevent leaves from being scorched.
Herbaceous perennials
Agapanthus (African Lily) – One of the most reliable, dramatic and climate‑resilient perennials you can grow in the UK. It thrives in hotter, drier summers, copes with poor soils, and delivers huge architectural flower heads from midsummer into autumn.
Helleborus (Christmas / Lenten Rose) – They can tolerate warmer winters, erratic rainfall and summer drought better than many traditional shade perennials. Height and spread 60cm.
Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ (Balkan Clary) – A superb cultivar with purple stems and violet blue flowers. Flowers from June to October. A compact variety ideal for near the front of the border. Butterfly and bee friendly. Height and Spread 50cm. Prefers moist but well drained soil in full sun but can tolerate dappled shade.
Need ideas and advice for your garden project? The first step is a visit to The Big Plant Nursery for inspiration where our plant experts are on hand to help 7 days a week.