Kilmurry Nursery

27/08/2026

This summer has certainly put our gardens to the test! With long periods of dry weather and very little rain, I’ve been watching closely to see which plants really earned their place in the garden.
So here are my 5 current favourite perennials that have come through the drought looking surprisingly good:

1. Salvia microphylla ‘Hot Lips’
A real star performer. ‘Hot Lips’ has coped brilliantly with the dry conditions, and the beautiful two-tone flowers keep on coming. The microphylla salvias in general are definitely worth considering if you’re looking for resilient, long-flowering plants.

2. Nepeta grandiflora ‘Summer Magic’
Tough, pretty and pollinator-friendly — what more could you ask for? ‘Summer Magic’ has handled the dry weather remarkably well while still giving plenty of colour and soft, billowing flower spikes. We gave our clump a haircut in July and is now reflowering.

3. Erigeron karvinskianus
One of those plants that seems to just get on with it! This little daisy is incredibly tough once established and has continued flowering through the heat and drought. It’s perfect for softening walls, paths and borders.

4. Geranium ‘Rozanne’
A garden favourite for good reason. ‘Rozanne’ has stood up exceptionally well to the dry conditions and continues to produce those gorgeous violet-blue flowers. A brilliant, reliable perennial that earns its keep year after year.

5. Stipa tenuissima
Perhaps no surprise that this one made the list! This beautiful ornamental grass positively loves a hot, dry spot. Its fine, airy seed heads bring movement and texture to the garden, and it has barely seemed to notice the drought.

This summer has been a great reminder that choosing the right plant for the right place really does make a difference. As our summers become hotter and drier, I’ll definitely be planting more varieties that can cope with less water once established.

Which plants have surprised you with their drought tolerance this summer? Let me know your favourites below!

All the above can be purchased through our webshop or in the Nursery.

26/08/2026

Our last plant fair of the season is fast approaching

Rows of plants, specialist growers and plenty you probably won’t find in your local garden centre.

The Irish Specialist Nursery Association returns to Fota House on Sunday 13 September, bringing specialist nurseries from across Ireland together for its annual Plant Fair at Fota.

It’s a chance to buy directly from the people who grow the plants, discover unusual varieties and, importantly, ask the growers what will actually work in your own garden.

And if experience is anything to go by, you may arrive looking for one plant and leave with rather more than you planned.

20/08/2026

Our Salvia collection is back in stock, with a fantastic range of colours, forms and flowering styles to brighten the garden.
🌸 Long-flowering – they can provide colour for months.
🌸 Pollinator-friendly – bees and other pollinators love their nectar-rich flowers.
🌸 Sun-loving – perfect for bright, sunny spots in the garden.
🌸 Great variety – with so many colours, shapes and sizes, there’s one to suit almost every planting style.
🌸 Easy to enjoy – once established, many Salvias are wonderfully low-maintenance and drought tolerant.

1. Salvia microphylla 'Blind Faith'
2. Salvia microphylla 'Amethyst Lips'
3. Salvia microphylla 'Cerro Potosi'
4. Salvia microphylla 'Gletsjer'
5. Salvia microphylla 'Hotlips'
6. Salvia jamensis 'Nachtvlinder'
7. Salvia 'Jemima's Gem'
8. Salvia nemorosa 'Ostfriesland'
9. Salvia greggii 'Lemon Light'

https://www.kilmurrynursery.com/shop/

31/07/2026

We have just given our webshop an update, we have added loads of exciting varieties to add colour to your garden. We have lots of varieties coming over the next few weeks.

1. Campanula 'Blue Bloomers'
2. Erigeron karvinskianus
3. Salvia 'Amistad'
4. Geum 'Totally Tangerine'
5. Digitalis lutea
6. Salvia 'Amethyst Lips'
7. Nepeta 'Cats Pyjamas'
8. Pennisetum 'Hameln'

https://www.kilmurrynursery.com/product-category/new/

18/07/2026

All ready at the Rose Festibal in St Anne’s Park Raheny Dublin. Open today and tomorrow from 10am to 6pm

12/07/2026

The sunny south east is shining this morning. The Johnstown Castle Summer Plant Fair is on today from 10am to 4pm today.

04/07/2026

We are all ready to go at the Galway Garden Festival. Open today and tomorrow! We have loads of colour for your gardens.

01/07/2026

What a lovely group we had this morning!

30/06/2026

We are excited to be heading to the Galway Garden Festival this weekend! One of the highlights of the plant fair calendar!

25/06/2026

When you work in a Nursery during a heatwave, you turn on the irrigation to cool down!