If you live in a hot climate, you’ve probably been searching for the best plants for hot weather. The harsh heat of summer can damage your plants, making them difficult to take care of. In this article, you’ll learn how to choose the best plants for hot weather. Listed below are some of the best plants for hot weather. Once you’ve found the perfect plant for your area, you can start planning your next landscaping project.
Daylilies
Daylilies are low-maintenance perennials that thrive in a wide range of soil conditions. They also provide beautiful groundcover that also serves as a great weed control plant. Here are some ways to care for your daylilies. Weed control: Adding a layer of straw mulch over the root ball of your daylilies will help them resist weeds.
Hemerocallis: Hemerocallis is a hardy plant that can be planted any time of year except winter. Plant daylilies in early spring or late fall if you live in a warmer climate. The plant will grow up to six feet high and spread out to two to four feet wide. Plant multiple Hemerocallis in clumps one to two feet apart for optimal spacing. In a couple of years, your daylilies will be fully grown.
Fertilize daylilies annually. The fall fertilization is particularly helpful, as this period is when daylilies start forming their flowers for the next year. Over-fertilization may cause overgrowth of foliage and sparse flowering. After blooming, remove seed pods and stalks to encourage future flowering. And remember to fertilize daylilies annually with an all-purpose plant fertilizer.
A great daylily for hot weather is a classic yellow variety. There are countless cultivars available and you can choose from an award-winning variety if you want to plant something that’s hardy, yet still beautiful. Consider an award-winning variety like Stella d’Oro for a perennial garden. It can tolerate hot weather and will grow beyond the original planting area. There are even varieties that grow in containers.
Zinnias
One of the best plants for hot weather is the zinnia. Originally, the flower was a wildflower in Mexico. The Spanish colonists called it’mal de ojos,’ or ugly. It is now a common garden plant that thrives in warm, humid weather. However, this doesn’t mean you should forgo planting this beautiful flower. Its bright, colorful blooms are an ideal accompaniment to vegetables.
For a vibrant display of color, try planting a zinnia in a bright, sunny window. Queen Lime Orange, for example, is a perennial with coral, peach, and apricot hues. A bicolor variety is called Queen Lime Red, and it is also one of the best plants for hot weather. This plant will grow to about two or three feet in height and will bloom through the summer.
One of the best things about zinnias is that they do not require much care. They require little maintenance, just occasional fertilization, and they don’t need much mulch. You can also extend the blooming period by deadheading them regularly, as they will resume flowering after a short rest. Zinnias can be propagated by cuttings, divisions, or by starting new plants indoors 2-4 weeks before the last spring frost.
A classic garden plant, zinnias are perennials that work anywhere in the yard or garden. They come in a colorful palette of colors and are often named after their seed company. The Benary’s Giant, a series from Germany, is one of the most popular. It can grow to about four feet and features dahlia-like blooms. If you’re unsure about which one to buy, consider a few different varieties and decide which one best suits your style.
Coneflowers
These flowering perennials are drought tolerant and heat tolerant. They grow well in a cottage garden and are easy to grow from seed. Choose a soil that drains well. Clay soil may require some organic matter. If you’re looking for a plant that will survive hot weather, consider the coneflower. You’ll be pleased you did! The coneflower blooms in midsummer and will self-seed in subsequent years.
Plant coneflower seeds after the last frost to get the most blooms in early summer. The seeds should be planted in the soil with a quarter inch depth. If you’re starting your coneflower plants indoors, do so before the last frost. After the plants have sprouted, thin them and transplant them to the soil. When they’re large enough to grow in a pot, transplant them once they’re about two inches tall.
You can find several new cultivars of conifers. The Hot Papaya has brilliant gold petals that transition to orange tropical flame. It looks great mixed with cool colors and is easy to grow. The purple coneflower is another great plant to add to your garden. It’s a tough, drought-tolerant perennial that bears tons of pinkish-purple blooms in the summer. It attracts butterflies and goldfinches. A classic coneflower needs good soil and plenty of sun. Many new hybrids are available in various colors and sizes.
Petunias
Petunias are low-maintenance, easy-care plants. They come in many varieties, and their small, hairy leaves conserve moisture. They are a great choice for containers or beds, and come in almost every color you could imagine. Easy Wave(r) varieties are excellent for container gardens and can spread easily. Easy Wave White can be used as an edger for pathways, and its white blooms can be used to highlight walkways at night.
‘Wave’ series petunias have compact, rain-tolerant foliage and large flowers. They bloom all summer, often until frost. A compact variety with large blooms, ‘Purple Wave’ grows under four inches. You can grow petunias in any type of soil, but they thrive in fertile ground. A few tips for keeping petunias healthy and happy:
Petunias love full sun, but do well in partial sunlight. You should water them every few days until the soil is evenly moist, but avoid watering too deeply, as this will encourage shallow roots. In hot weather, they need more frequent watering. However, don’t over-water them, because the water will cause the flower to close and turn mushy. To keep them healthy, you should give them a monthly fertilizer.
For best results, water petunias in the morning, before the heat has begun. During the hot summer months, they need constant care. They shouldn’t be left on the porch all summer. During the winter months, they need to be kept in a cool dark place away from direct sunlight. This will help them thrive throughout the summer months. In addition to petunias, you should also choose varieties with thicker foliage and blooms.
Lilies of the Nile
Despite their low maintenance requirements, Lily of the Nile can become a pest in the hot weather if the soil pH becomes too high. To avoid this problem, use a soil pH tester. Lily of the Nile prefer acidic soil, so don’t be tempted to plant it in a neutral pH soil. Instead, plant it in a slightly acidic soil. The lily of the Nile is a low-maintenance perennial that will tolerate a range of temperatures and conditions.
Lilies of the Nile are perennials that can tolerate high temperatures. Their trumpet-shaped blooms will be a great addition to any flower border. These hardy plants are great in containers because of their deer resistance. But when planting them in the hot weather, make sure you plant them in the spring. After all, you don’t want to damage them! But if you do plant them in the spring or fall, they’ll be acclimated by the winter.
Lilies of the Nile are perennials that bloom in late spring and early summer. They grow from a bulb and bloom in clusters up to four feet tall. Many species are hardy in USDA zones eight through ten, with some deciduous hybrids being hardy in USDA zones 6 through 11. They grow well in many soil types, but they prefer a rich organic soil. When planting, space the bulbs at least a foot apart and keep the soil evenly moist in hot weather.
Cacti
Depending on the species, cacti are the best plants for hot weather because they tolerate high temperatures and partial exposure to sunlight. They also need shade during the day to keep their spines and roots healthy. The ideal temperature range for cacti is 45oF to 85oF, but temperatures below that range can cause irreversible damage to your plants. In the desert, temperatures fluctuate between 68oF and 77oF (20oC to 25oC) every day. Temperatures can soar to 120oF in the summer, and plummet to -18oF at night.
In hot weather, cacti need little water but are happy to get regular feedings from fertilizer. A 10-10-10 fertilizer will work well. Feeding cacti once a month in the summer will encourage rapid growth, but a small amount of fertilizer per watering is sufficient. Watering should be done in the spring and fall. Once the weather turns cool and the soil dries, you can reduce feeding to a weekly or biweekly interval.
Those who want a plant for hot climates should opt for a cactus. It doesn’t require much space and requires minimal care. This plant can survive in a desert environment with little water. Moreover, the flowering variety can provide your landscape with a vibrant splash of color. Some varieties of cacti also bloom, including the salvia plant, which requires lots of water to bloom.
