Beat the heat with the right plant combo

This planting at left does best in full sun. It’s OK to let the soil dry out between watering, so this combo is a great choice for an out-of-the-way spot that’s a little harder to get to with the hose.

A – Arkansas amsonia (Amsonia hubrichtii) Perennial; steel-blue flowers late spring to early summer, yellow-green foliage turns gold in fall; full sun to part shade; 2 to 3 ft. tall and wide; cold-hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8, heat-tolerant in AHS zones 8 to 1

B – ‘Purple Knight’ alternanthera (Alternanthera dentata) Tender perennial; deep purple foliage all season; full sun; 18 to 36 in. tall, 24 to 36 in. wide; cold-hardy in USDA zones 10 to 11, heat-tolerant in AHS zones 12 to 1

C – Box Office Bronze coleus (Solenostemon hybrid) Tender perennial; lavender flowers in late summer, red-orange foliage all season; full sun to part shade; 14 to 24 in. tall, 14 to 16 in. wide; cold-hardy in USDA zones 10 to 11, heat-tolerant in AHS zones 12 to 11

D – Pow Wow® Wildberry coneflower (Echinacea hybrid) Perennial; rose-purple flowers from early summer to fall; full sun; 16 to 20 in. tall, 12 to 16 in. wide; cold-hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9, heat-tolerant in AHS zones 9 to 1

E – Hawaiian Flare™ Orange Yellow Blush bidens (Bidens ferulifolia) Tender perennial; yellow flowers from spring to fall; full sun; 12 to 18 in. tall, 24 to 36 in. wide; cold-hardy in USDA zones 9 to 11, heat-tolerant in AHS zones 12 to 19 to 1

F – Moonlight™ Dark Salmon geranium (Pelargonium hybrid) Tender perennial; salmon flowers from spring to fall; full sun; 10 to 12 in. tall and wide; cold-hardy in USDA zones 10 to 11, heat-tolerant in AHS zones 12 to 1