Here in the Northwest of England, we are used to relatively warm, wet weather all year round. In recent years, we have had prolonged dry spells in early spring, right through to summer - with much less than average amounts of rain. This has happened again this year, and has been exacerbated by exceptional heat and drying winds.
Our soil does not hold onto water very well, and quickly dries out. Very many plants have suffered. We do not routinely irrigate our perennials or shrubs. Once they are established, we mulch well and expect them to thrive in the natural rainfall. This year has tested them - and us.
One of the best performers has been Scabious caucasica. This 10 metre bed has been packed full of flowers for several weeks already.
We planted this bed in early spring 2021, from a mix of seed-grown plants and plants bought as plugs, as well as divisions from an old, smaller bed. They flowered well last year, but so much better this year. A mix of white and all shades of blue, made of of several different varieties. They are a very popular and useful flower, fitting into many styles of floral design.
Very little cost to establish, a bit of weeding in spring, and hundreds of stems for weeks on end. What a great flower.
They have not been watered at all this year. I even noticed that the docks were wilting in the hot dry conditions, while the scabious were coping well. Always a reassuring sight!
Scabious plants coping better with drought than the weeds!