Hot Season Heroes for Your Zone (We LOVE Heat!)

Hot Season Heroes for Your Zone (We LOVE Heat!)

Let’s not allow the “misery index” (hot, humid, hazy) to turn your high summer garden from dazzling to dreary! There are plenty of hardy and beautiful plants that like nothing more than when the mercury zooms. Here are just 10 that not only hold up to heat, but actually thrive. You can still plant even now in July–just be sure to provide ample water as they take root.

We’re also adding a few tips for heat-of-the-summer watering (see below).

Russian Sage
Zone: 4 – 9

Tall, airy, fragrant, and a bee magnet, this plant comes on strong and stays gorgeous all summer long. Deer resistant, too. Full sun. Up to 4′ tall and wide.

Summerlasting Coconut Crape Myrtle

Summerlasting™ Coconut Crape Myrtle
Zone: 7 – 10

Crape Myrtles don't just tolerate heat, they need heat for the best bloom. The dark foliage of this shrub-sized variety is the perfect contrast for the white blooms. Deciduous. Full sun. Up to 3' tall and wide.

Evolution™ Emerald Ice Sedum

Evolution™ Emerald Ice Sedum
Zone: 4 – 9

Gray-green succulent foliage forms a dense, short-stemmed mound and is blanketed in pink flowers in summer. Evergreen in mild winter regions. Full sun. Up to 15" tall and wide.

HARLEQUIN™ Magenta Beardtongue

Harlequin™ Magenta Beardtongue
Zone: 5 – 9 

By late July we’re craving color. Brilliant blooms over a very long period, thrives even in poor, dry soils and loves a scorching day. Full sun. Up to 22″ tall, 16″ wide.

Titan Skye Daylily

Titan Skye™ Daylily
Zone: 4 – 11

Hot, humid weather makes daylilies thrive. This easy-to-grow rebloomer features huge, frilly, burnt-orange flowers. Full sun. Up to 18" tall and wide.

 
Walker’s Low Catmint

Walker’s Low Catmint
Zone: 4 – 9

Flowers for cutting, fragrant foliage, long bloom season, cascading compact habit. Now, bring on the heat! Partial to full sun. Up to 2.5″ tall, 3″ wide.

SunBelievable™ Brown Eyed Girl Helianthus

SunBelievable® Brown Eyed Girl Helianthus
Annual, Zone 11

Produces over 1,000 flowers in a single season, summer until first frost. ‘Nuff said. Full sun. 32″ tall, 40" wide.

 
Artichoke Agave

Artichoke Agave
Zone: 6 – 10

Heat and drought are no sweat for these icy-blue, dense, symmetrical rosettes. Full sun. Rosettes reach 2' to 4' wide, forming clumps up to 5' wide.

August Beauty Gardenia

August Beauty Gardenia
Zone: 8 – 11

While it blooms from spring to fall, the heat of summer really intensifies the memorable fragrance. Needs regular water. Partial to full sun. 5' tall, 3' wide.

Fiesta Picante

Fiesta™ Picante Lantana
Zone: 10 – 11

Hot weather calls for hot colors! Clusters of red and yellow flowers are great for containers or the landscape. Evergreen in warmer zones; annual elsewhere. Full sun. 18" tall, 30" wide.

TIPS FOR HEAT WAVE WATERING

  • Summer is busy but do your best to adhere to an early morning or late afternoon watering schedule. Especially once the heat of day subsides. Plants need to recover from the heat before they can really drink up. If you're pressed and need to water midday using a hose, remember to let the water run for a few minutes. This will clear heated liquid.
  • This is no time for a spritz and go. You need to water deeply and thoroughly so that soil is wet down to 4-6 inches deep. This is where root are likely to be. Anything more shallow just evaporates which is a bummer both for your water bill AND your plants.
  • When it comes to containers, we can say it often enough. Stick a finger into the container’s soil and if its dry below your knuckle, WATER. You may need to water 2 or even three times a day in a heat wave. Plants can often come back from drying out but let’s face it, they never really look quite the same.
  • Finally, lay it thick. Mulch that is. If you’ve not replenished mulch by late summer, now’s your moment. Helps keep moisture in and (hopefully) weeds at bay.

Questions? Need specific advice? Ask!

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2019-07-02 01:11:00
Gary Richmond
Are you still producing the grafted line of Gardenias? I am having a hard time finding them for sale. I have 3 First Love, and do love how they have performed. I would like to add more. But need a Bay Area source. Thank you.
reply Reply
Jane Loprano
Kate: Cant tell you how much I enjoy these frequent postings. Would it be possible to also include a comment as to whether or not the plant being discussed is deer resistant? I know this is no guarantee but it would help to know when considering a selection. Many thanks.
reply Reply
Mary Gregory
I love that you've given me other ideas ! I have a white vinyl fence enclosure around the end of both sides of my pool (our neightbor, Peekaboo Bob is very visual ) to hide annoying eyes. Thing is, the heat in Redding can reach over 110* at times in the summer. Things I have purchased to put in have all died, good thing I keep receipts from big box store HD and Lowes to get reimbursed for dead shrubs (1 yr guarentee) any suggestions? I have put up 2 umbrellas in the one side to shade the existing shrubs and day lilies.
reply Reply
Bev Anton
Thank you for info relative to plants in full sun and heat. Very good to know. The other info received is also helpful with which plants and where, watering advice etc. I am happy to receive it and put in my memory bank.
reply Reply
Donna
How do I know what zone I am living in. We are in Aberdeen NC
reply Reply
Donna
I love near Pinehurst NC and have long leaf pine trees and line straw as mulch. Which plants will grow well under these conditions?
reply Reply
Marie Tracey
I love being part of Monrovia's Plant Savvy.
reply Reply
Maureen Simpson
Hi, I'd like to know what you recommend for foundation planting in lieu of mulch!!! While attractive to look at as a well defined bed and retaining moisture in the soil, I find that mulch is becoming more of a nuisance. It harbors ant colonies, attracts termites, harbors artillery spore and a small smelly worms that find there way into the house. I love the foundation plants and gardens but am not happy with the damage done by the pests mulch attracts, even treated mulch. Can you help?
reply Reply
Bev Miller
recommendation for low growing flowering bushes that loves the heat
reply Reply

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