Mud sculpture in the 4Head garden Enlarge Image

Recent dry conditions have influenced many exhibitions, some of which show how gardeners can cope during the bans.

One display includes drought-resistant perennials which require much less water than normal plants.

The 84th flower show, run by the Royal Horticultural Society, will open for the public on Tuesday.

Royal visit

The Prince of Wales, accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall, will visit the show with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on Monday.

Celebrities attending the show include actress Emma Thompson, who will launch a Breast Cancer Care campaign.

Some 157,000 visitors are expected at the show this year, which will feature displays from more than 600 exhibitors.

DROUGHT RESISTANT PLANTS Stachys Eucalyptus Rosa glauca Yucca Lavandula Cistus

These include 19 show gardens, 27 smaller gardens and more than 100 floral exhibitions.

Other displays reflecting Britain's dry conditions include a system which traps rain water under garden paving.

Chelsea organisers have this year sunk a borehole to provide a sustainable source of water for the show.

An RHS spokesman said: "As ever, designers at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show are on hand to help tackle gardeners' concerns and a wide variety of drought-resistant plants and methods to capture rainwater to irrigate the garden will be showcased at the world famous flower show."

Oscar-winner Thompson will raise money with the sale of pink-coloured plants.