Several shrub type plants will relish those conditions and give a tropical look, things like Yucca gloriosa or Y. flaccida, Phormium, Agave and Corokia. Less tropical looking shrubs are Artemisia, Brachyglottis, Buddleia, Cistus, Cytisus, Genista, Hibiscus, Lavender, Rosemary, Phlomis, Olearia, Santolina, Tamarix, Teucrium and Thyme. Perennial flowering plants; Achillea, Alyssum, Arabis, Armeria, Artemisia, Aubretia, Cerastium, Coreopsis, Dictamnus, Eryngium, Euphorbia, Iberis, Lychnis, Malva, Sedum, Salvia, Tanacetum, Verbena, Sempervivum, Stachys, Perovskia, Liriope. All will need some watering until they establish.

Hardiness comes to mind with some of the above Bamboo? Wonder what part of the country this garden is in?

Corokia and agave may be at risk and if its the outer Hebrides, the Phormium! I really wish Ajay and Peter would make it compulsory to say which area of the country people are in when they join up.

surly its down to how much watering and how much you dress/mulch the soil as to how dry it is . its going to beeasiero grow something in the sun than in the shade and ofcourse the right large shrub or plants will in there selves create there own shade . you could also make it into a bog garden to . the world is your oyster realy depending what you do . you could build a pagoda over it to give dappled light which you could grow climbers up perhaps .

Thats better than I thought re hardiness, I do agree Bamboo its easier if the members area is more defined.
Hi NP watering is not making any difference to my garden we have had rain once since mid February and some plants are bolting and setting seed after the heat/dry. It will take days of heavy rain to make any impression. Depending on where the member lives I would think hard about major planting if its going to continue with a hot and dry summer.

Anyway, Noseypotter, one of the main principles of gardening successfully is 'right plant, right place' - better for the environment as well.

maybe you could dig something damp in the soil . i must admit i have to water a lot more myself .

Plenty of good stuff goes in to my garden NP. It was 26 degrees here and no rain for weeks in April which is not normal so do I start replanting or do a rain dance?

Mesembryanthemums! Gorgeous in the sun, South African in origen I think.Livingstone Daisies is their common name.

well most plantsthese days in our garden dont even come from this country eg bamboo, bannana palms tree furns and newzealand flax and im sure many many more so that doesnt make to much sence realy sorry to contradict you bamboo . ironic thats your nic name lol x i guess its a rain dance it is lol and to finish over the commen all the plants belonging wear they belong are fine in this weather .personaly i just water more and my plants look fine .

a good mulch realy helps but i guess you know that . its not so good if your on a metre thow .