Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus 'Kyoto Dwarf')Can be grown as a lawn and once established, requires much less watering than conventional lawns. It is especially useful in small townhouse gardens and on slopes that can't be mowed, or between pavers. +-10cm tall and slowly spreading to +-15cm wide. Full sun or semi-shade.
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Dichondra 'Silver Falls' (Dichondra argentea)Is heat and drought tolerant, recovering quickly if wilted. Water moderately during dry spells to prevent wilting. A very vigorous and widely spreading plant that looks beautiful if grown as a groundcover. +-5 to 7cm tall. Full sun, tolerates semi-shade.
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Twin Spur (Diascia integerrima)Resents 'wet feet' so do not overwater. Perfect for mass plantings, between pavers, in pebble gardens and hanging baskets. +-30cm tall and +-30cm wide. full sun or semi-shade.
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Sea Pink (Armeria maritime)Does well in water wise gardens designed as xeriscape, rock or pebble gardens. A good ground-cover or border plant, forming a slowly spreading carpet. +-15 to 30cm tall and 40cm wide. Only grows in full sun.
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Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium x bellum 'E. K. Balls')Once established it is drought tolerant but will grow best in the garden if watered moderately. It's method of dealing with drought is to go dormant. Will tolerate quite high traffic and can be trodden on, making it lovely along pathways and borders.Full sun.10 to 15cm tall and +-10 to 15cm wide.
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Heartleaf Bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia)Tolerates a wide range of moisture conditions, growing slowly in dry areas and rapidly in constantly moist spots. Excellent border plant or groundcover. Plants are 20cm tall but the flower stems can reach 50cm high. The plants can spread up to 75cm, forming expanding clumps of plants that are vigorous, yet not invasive. Semi-shade.
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Renoster arctotis (Arctotis acaulis)Is tolerant of drought but enjoys being watered moderately during the growing season. This plant makes a most effective ground cover and looks wonderful spilling over walls or a dry bank. Plant in full sun. +-20 to 30cm tall and can spread as wide.
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Terracotta gazania (Gazania)Low-maintenance garden plants that are drought hardy and resent being overwatered, requiring only judicious watering during dry spells. A fantastic groundcover or border plant. Full sun. Varieties vary slighty in height and spread.
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Cat's whiskers (Becium obovatum)This tough and undemanding plant has become very popular in gardens as a groundcover or border plant. It is deciduous, with new stems arising every year from its woody underground rootstock; so plant it between evergreen groundcovers. +-30cm tall. Full sun.
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Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa columbaria)Drought tolerant once established but performs well if watered moderately during the growing season. Keep it on the dry side in winter. Ideal to fill gaps and open spaces in the garden. +-40 to 60cm tall and spreading up to 90cm. Full sun.
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Stokes Aster (Stokesia laevis)Keep it slightly on the dry side, but water it regularly in dry regions. Full sun. +-60cm tall and +-35cm wide. Planted en masse, it makes a lovely ground cover.
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Cat's tail (Bulbine frutescens)These drought hardy plants make tough, groundcovers for dry beds +-30 to 40m tall and 40cm wide. Thrives in full sun, but will grow in semi-shade.
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Carpet Geranium (Geranium incanum)Makes a good groundcover in full sun, tolerating drought and neglect. Can grow up to 30cm tall but occasional trimming will keep it about 15cm tall and 20cm wide. It forms a tighter carpet if it is grown in full sun, but will take some shade.
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Bush lily (Clivia miniata)Although Clivias enjoy regular watering, they are remarkably drought hardy, because their large roots can store water and nutrients. Ideal for dry shade underneath trees. Semi-shade. +-80cm to 1m tall and spreading up to 1m.
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Delosperma "Sequins"This very drought tolerant vygie should not be overwatered and is extremely hardy, tolerating both low and high temperatures. It spreads quickly and plants can be spaced 45 to 60cm apart and they will soon cover the soil.
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Bloody Cranes-bill (Geranium sanguineum)A good low maintenance groundcover or border plant that is long-lived, with a strong rootstock, making it perfect to stabilise soil on slopes. Water weekly during dry spells. +-25 to 30cm tall 30 to 40cm wide. Full sun or light shade.
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Rose-scented pelargonium (Pelargonium capitatum)This drought tolerant plant is used to stablalize dunes in re-vegetation projects. Water moderately during dry spells. Spreads widley, making an excellent groundcover. Full sun or semi-shade. +-30cm tall and 1.5m wide.
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Seaside daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus)This trouble free plant requires only moderate watering during dry spells andwill grow almost anywhere. Try it as a groundcover in difficult areas or as an edging plant. +-30cm tall and 60cm wide. Full sun but will also take some shade.
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Coopers Aloe (Aloe Cooperi)Grows well throughout the country and is hardy to frost and drought. Lovelylittle accent plant for the garden. +-1m tall (including the flower spikes) and +-50cm wide. Full sun.
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Sea Lavender (Limonium perezii)Grows well in most parts of the country and is hardy to moderate drought. If planted in mass it makes a lovely groundcover. +-60cm tall and +-40cm wide. Full sun.
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Cape Daisy (Dimorphotheca jucundum)Hardy to all but severe drought. Resents being overwatered, but responds well to judicious watering during dry spells. A good border or groundcover plant to stabilise soil in coastal gardens. +-30cm tall and 90cm wide. Full sun.
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Grevillea (Grevillea Mount Tamboritha)Does well in coastal gardens and dryer regions, is frost hardy. Has a low growing, widely spreading habit, making a wonderful groundcover for large areas. +-30 to 50cm tall and 1.5 to 2.5m wide, but can be pruned quite hard. Full sun.
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Hottentots fig (Carpobrotus edulis)Drought resistant once established and should not need additional irrigation. A widely spreading low maintenance groundcover which is used for the fast stabilization of sandy slopes, in large areas; and a good fire-resistant barrier. Will grow in full sun or in the dry shade under trees.
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Veronica (Hebe)Certain varieties like Hebe "Wiri Prince" thrive in coastal areas and aredrought tolerant, while others tolerate frost. Water moderately, especially in dry regions.By selecting the right variety, a Veronica can be found for almost any situation and season. Full sun or light shade.
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Geranium- (Pelargonium)Hate wet feet and heavy and slow draining soil. Water them thoroughly, but then let the soil dry between watering. Many popular types to choose from. Look good in a bed all by themselves, or mixed in with other annuals or perennials. Full sun.
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Blanket Flower (Gaillardia 'Fanfare')A frost hardy plant that tolerates drought, water moderately in summer keeping the soil on the dry side. Remarkable if it is planted in groups and combined with plants that have contrasting blue flowers. +-45cm tall and 45cm wide. Full sun.
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Coral Aloe (Aloe striata)Is both drought and wind resistant. Do not overwater, but for best results in the garden, water during prolonged dry spells and keep it on the dry side in winter. Easy to cultivate under a wide variety of climatic conditions. +-25cm tall and 45cm wide. Full sun.
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African aloe (Aloe maculata)Salt tolerant and enduring long periods of drought, thriving in coastal areas and dry spots. Responds well in the garden if watered sparingly during long dry spells. Well suited to rock gardens and sloping banks. When in bloom, the flower spikes can reach +- 1m tall and the plant will spread about 1m. Full sun.
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Lavender Grows easily throughout the country, and is drought and frost hardy. Makes a lovely low, formal or informal hedge. There are a variety of plants available that vary greatly in height and spread. Full sun.
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RosemaryGrows easily throughout the country, and is drought and frost hardy. Makes a lovely low, formal or informal hedge. There are a variety of plants available that vary greatly in height and spread. Full sun.
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Euphorbia (Euphorbia hypericifolia 'Breathless')Heat and drought tolerant with low water needs and low maintenance. Suitable for in-ground plantings and mixed containers. +-20 to 38cm tall and 50 to 70cm wide. Full sun or light shade.
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Anise Sage (Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue')Needs to be watered during dry spells but dislikes overwatering. Excellent to fill gaps in the mixed shrub border. +-1 to 1.5m tall and can spread as wide. Full sun or light shade.
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Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium)Hardy to frost and drought but grows best if watered regularly in summer. Suitable for low-maintenance plantings and informal low hedges. +-1m tall and 75cm wide. Sun, semi-shade and even deep shade.
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Dwarf Bottle Brush 'Little John' (Callistemon citrinus)Grows well throughout the country and is drought and frost hardy once established. Good border or small screening plant or hedge. +-70cm tall and +-50cm wide. Full sun.
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Wild Daisy Bush (Euryops) Water-wise plants that grow quickly and easily both inland and at the coast, in any well-drained soil. The varieties vary in height, are hardy to all but severe frost. Full sun.Click here for more info..