For a garden in the hot, dry summer months, there are some great native plants you can grow. Sunflower, Zinnia, and Persian Shield are all great choices for your desert garden. In addition, you can even grow some annuals such as Marigold, Sunflower, and Zinnia. The best plants for Arizona summer can make or break your planting season, so you should consider the growing season of your chosen plants before selecting them.
Persian Shield
The Persian Shield is a great plant for Arizona summer because of its stunning foliage and funnel-shaped blue flowers. However, the flowers are dwarfed by the foliage, which has beautiful metallic markings. This plant is a fast-growing soft-stemmed shrub. Its growth can be controlled by pruning it in early spring and late summer. Pruning at an angle can help the plant to grow bushier and fuller.
This easy-to-grow houseplant has a unique look with contrasting foliage and pink, purple, and silvery silver hues. It propagates from stems and requires dappled or partial shade. The Persian shield also looks great with other foliage and plants with a green texture. It can be pruned to a compact bushy form and brought indoors during the winter months.
For the most successful results, you need to provide more shade than other plants. It needs water every other day to survive, but it bounces back quickly after a drink. You can also give it half-diluted liquid plant food every two weeks, but you may want to suspend this practice during winter. Iranian shield plants also require fertilization, so make sure you have a good soil mixture that contains a high amount of nitrogen.
Zinnia
A classic zinnia variety is the Benary’s Giant, which is a tall, floriferous plant. These dahlia-like blooms are available in nearly every color. They can grow as tall as four feet and have dahlia-like centers. Several cultivars are suitable for the Arizona summer. Here are some tips for choosing the right one:
Zinnia is an easy to grow flower that is ideal for the southwestern desert. It’s hardy and tolerant of the hot desert summer, but it can become heat-stressed in full sun. Avoid strong west exposures. The soil needs to be well-drained and contain a moderate amount of organic matter. Zinnias can withstand the heat, but they need copious amounts of water. Pruning is a good way to promote more blooms. They’re also relatively pest-free, making them an ideal choice for children’s school gardens.
These plants grow fast and produce stunning flowers. They’re heat and drought-tolerant and attract hummingbirds and butterflies. The zinnia variety ‘Enchantress’ features large, double blooms that grow up to three inches (7 cm) across. The petals are deep pink, but fade to a pale rose at the tip. Zinnias also look great in containers and are excellent as a patio plant.
Marigold
Growing marigolds in Phoenix is easy, and you can plant them in your backyard during fall and spring. They will do best in full sunlight, but they will tolerate some shade in the afternoon. You should consider the soil pH, as marigolds prefer slightly acidic soil. If the pH level is lower than 5.5, they will form bronze speckled leaves. Marigolds need full sunlight. They should be planted at least 6 inches deep.
Marigolds are easy to grow and produce colorful, cheery flowers. You can plant ‘Super Hero’ marigolds for a compact flowering plant. African marigolds are larger and more floriferous. Marigolds have finely cut foliage and are highly scented. They are also deer-resistant. Marigolds are widely grown in mass planting, borders, cut flowers, and containers. They bloom from early summer to late fall.
Marigolds do well in full sun and need at least six hours of direct sunlight. Marigolds do best in soil that has been prepared for vegetable crops. Compost and organic matter should be added. If the soil is alkaline, you should add sulfur. Nitrogen must be applied sparingly, as too much will result in too much foliage and few flowers. Marigolds are easily grown from seed or nursery transplants.
Sunflower
There are a number of varieties of sunflowers you can grow in the garden and one of them will do a great job in your Arizona summer gardens. Sunflowers grow to be over 3 feet tall and have multiple branches, making it important to stake them to protect them from wind and rain. Sunflowers are heavy feeders and will need soil that contains plenty of nutrients, so make sure to choose a variety that will tolerate the heat and drought.
Two varieties of sunflowers are ideal for growing in Arizona summer gardens: the Double Dandy and the Autumn Beauty. The Double Dandy sunflower has flowers up to four inches across and is easy to grow. The double flowers are pollen-free, so you can cut them and enjoy them indoors. Red Courtesan is a good choice for containers and small gardens. It features double golden flowers and grows up to 4 feet tall.
The seeds of sunflowers are non-toxic and can be grown in your backyard or indoors. You can grow them in USDA hard zones two through 11 and will have a beautiful flower in your garden. Young sunflowers face east in the morning and track the sun as it moves west. Once they reach maturity, they stop following the sun. The seeds of sunflowers are a favorite snack for squirrels, chipmunks, deer, birds, and other pests, so cover them with cheesecloth to keep critters away.
Texas sage
If you are looking for a drought-resistant plant that thrives in the desert heat, Texas sage is an excellent choice. It grows with a low water need and requires very little care. Silverado is one of the most popular varieties, with its dense base and compact growth habit. Its small rosy-purple blooms appear from June through October and are triggered by periods of high humidity and rain. Silverado is best planted in full sun and tolerates poor soil.
This plant needs about four to six hours of sunlight each day, and is drought-tolerant. In full sun, Texas sage thrives, but will tolerate partial shade if it has the right conditions. However, too much shade inhibits blooming and causes the plant to grow leggy and stunted. Adding supplemental water will help it grow faster, but don’t overwater it because it won’t flower well if it’s overwatered.
This perennial is a wonderful choice for a desert garden. Unlike most sages, it requires little care and is drought-tolerant. Unlike other sages, Texas sage doesn’t require supplemental water and requires little maintenance. However, you should check with a local landscape designer before deciding to buy one. If you don’t know what Texas sage is, you can read about it here.
Caesalpinia mexicana Mexican Bird of Paradise
The best place to plant a Mexican Bird of Paradise in your garden is where it receives lots of sun. This shrub prefers a well-drained soil and will tolerate a wide range of soil types, from clay to loam. However, if you’re planting it in a pot, be sure to include drainage holes. This plant can tolerate partial shade but will not thrive in a full-shade environment.
This easy-care, mono-colored plant produces fern-like foliage and flowers. The ferny leaves are useful for containing foliage, and the plant can grow up to 8 feet in width. You can prune the Mexican Bird of Paradise plant to control its size and shape. This plant can reach up to 10 feet in height and is suitable for a wide variety of landscapes.
If you live in an area where winters are mild, you can plant a Mexican Bird of Paradise plant in your garden to avoid the harsh weather conditions. Mexican Bird of Paradise plants are drought-tolerant and grow 6 to 18 feet tall. They’re also adaptable to the conditions of Arizona’s summer heat and drought.
Totem pole ‘Monstrosus’
Totem pole ‘Monstrosus.’ Known for its knobby, nearly thornless stem, this columnar cactus is a popular addition to desert gardens. They look great growing in rows, but also make a stunning addition when planted next to a large boulder or in a pot. You can plant multiple plants side by side, or group them in a small group and space them at right angles to each other.
Totem pole ‘Monstrosus,’ or ‘Monstrosus’ cactus, is a perennial of the Cactaceae family. It originated in Mexico and Baja, and it now grows in limited areas in Arizona. The scientific name is Lophocereus schottii, but its common names are derived from the bumpy surface of the plant.
Pachycereus schottii monstrosus is a drought-tolerant cactus. However, it needs periodic watering to survive in the Arizona summers. Water it once or twice a week, but not more than every two weeks. Make sure the top inch of soil is dry. Don’t water it right away after planting; give it a few weeks to settle in the dry soil.