3 tender perennials that take the heat
By: Garden Gate staff
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Stop the summer slowdown
When summer temperatures soar, plants may stop blooming, wilt, drop leaves and flowers, lose color or launch into seed production. Click ahead to see three flowers that will keep your garden colorful even when summer heats up.
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Petunia Petunia x hybrida
Petunias are fast-growing, gorgeous and low-maintenance: Their small, hairy leaves help them conserve moisture. Whether in beds or containers, these versatile bloomers flower happily in hot weather as well as cool. Plus they come in nearly every color of the rainbow. Easy Wave® petunias are spreaders, but have more of a mounded shape and controlled spread than the original Wave®. Try Easy Wave White in containers or as a pathway edger; they’ll help illuminate walkways even after dark.
Blooms Yellow, pink, lilac, purple, coral, red, fuchsia, white or bicolors from spring through autumn
Light Full sun
Soil Well-drained
Size 4 to 24 in. tall, 8 to 96 in. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 10 to 11
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 12 to 1
Source Harris Seeds
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Moss rose Portulaca grandiflora
Hot, dry, poor soil? That’s no problem for moss roses. These little bloomers will sprout anywhere, even in the cracks between bricks. Great for containers, these beauties with fleshy leaves that conserve moisture will often reseed themselves. So while they are annuals in colder climates, you may be enjoying them for years in warmer ones. Another plus is that deer don’t like them. Mojave® Red moss rose features large rosy flowers with delicate yellow stamens. It is a vigorous rebloomer that doesn’t need deadheading.
Blooms Red, orange, pink, yellow or white from summer through autumn
Light Full sun
Soil Well-drained
Size 3 to 10 in. tall, 6 to 18 in. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 9 to 11
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 12 to 1
Source Proven Winners
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Angelonia Angelonia angustifolia
Talk about standing up to heat and humidity. Angelonia is native to Mexico so it evolved to take hot temperatures. Thanks to its upright growth habit and wand of color, angelonia is the ideal plant for a dose of bright color. Use it in beds, borders or containers. Some varieties offer sweet fragrance. Archangel™ Blue Bicolor is a new variety in 2017. It features huge flowers and beautiful deep purple and light lilac blooms atop small green leaves.
Blooms White, purple, lavender, blue, pink, red and bicolors from summer through autumn
Light Full sun
Soil Well-drained
Size 12 to 30 in. tall, 10 to 18 in. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 9 to 11
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 10 to 1
Source White Flower Farm
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