Water-Saving Flowers

Reduce water use and maintenance with 5 plants that can handle a little summer neglect

Common or Chinese lilac

This large deciduous shrub is often mistaken for a tree as it can grow 6-7m high. Its fragrant flower clusters are great for cutting fresh. Lilacs are available in colours ranging from white to dark purple and are very drought-tolerant. Once established, lilacs require very little work besides some optional deadheading and pruning to keep to size. Common lilac grows more quickly than Chinese lilac but the latter does not sucker. Hardy to zone 3.