by Amanda Moon
Wow, we have been warm this summer! I am thankful for the recent
rain for sure, but I am also certain that there's more heat to on its
way – so this seems like a good time to ask which plants can take
the heat and brighten up our landscapes this time of year. There
are plenty actually.
Driving around town this month it’s hard to miss the bright yellow
blooms of the Esperanza (aka Yellow Bells, also in orange) and the
en masse red and orange colors of the Pride of Barbados. These
large growing perennials are always the first go-to for summer col-
or, and they rarely disappoint. There are even dwarf varieties of
Esperanza available for smaller beds.
But they’re not the only options out there. From trees to ground
covers, many of our drought-tolerant stars are still blooming late
into the summer, and some are just getting going for the season.
Crape Myrtles are wonderful additions to any landscape that needs
a little summer pick-me-up. They are fast growers, good for creat-
ing privacy in a garden, and are quite drought-tolerant once esta-
blished.
Crapes come in a wide selection of colors and sizes, from the white
blooming larger tree Natchez, to the smaller Red Rocket and Dy-
namite. Let them grow naturally and they won’t let you down.
Cenizo Sage (aka Purple or Texas Sage) will burst into bloom any
time it rains, covering itself in purple flowers. That means any
summer rain will send these shrubs into their full display no matt-
er the temperatures. I like to have these large beauties as speci-
mens, letting them grow into their natural form.
Some of my top color choices for smaller beds and lower plant-
ings include Plumbago, Calylophus, Bat-faced Cuphea, 4-Nerve
Daisy and Lantana.
Blue Plumbago can’t be beat for its sky blue flowers. It is not a
tall perennial, topping out at about 2 ½ feet, but can spread twice
as wide if allowed. They bloom from spring to frost.
Bat-faced Cuphea will also grow to roughly the same dimen-
sions as Plumbago, but instead of bright blue flowers this unique
plant offers deep red and purple flowers shaped like little bats.
Cuphea also blooms all season long.
Calylophus and 4-Nerve Daisy are perfect for tight sunny spots.
Their yellow blooming wildflowers are evergreen, low-growing
and bloom most of the growing season. They can handle the heat
and drought, and deer won’t touch them.
Lantana is another fabulous summer blooming perennial. There
are several cultivars out now that don’t get quite as large as the
traditional varieties (New Gold, Dallas Red, Irene etc.), and new
introductions come out every spring. When planted in full sun,
most lantanas will bloom spring to frost with little outside inter-
vention.
Just getting started for the season, Mexican Mint Marigold and its
relative Copper Canyon Daisy are great additions to any landscape.
Their golden daisy flowers can be seen from a distance and both
are quite deer-resistant.
The Mint Marigold (or Texas Tarragon) works well in medium
beds and herb gardens and is a nice substitution for French Tarra-
gon, which struggles in our heat and humidity. Copper Canyon is
only about 3’ high, but can spread out wide so give it lots of leg
room.
The mistflowers are also just getting started as the hottest part of
the summer hits. My two favorites are Gregg’s and White Mist-
flowers. Both are an integral part of any butterfly garden and will
grow in full to morning sun.
Gregg’s is a shorter, traveling plant with purple flowers atop spikes
of foliage. It can be invasive but the butterflies love it, so plant
accordingly. White Mistflower, on the other hand, is a large full
shrub 4’ tall and 6’- 8’ wide. It will cover itself in white flowers
from late summer into fall and attract every butterfly from miles
around.
Though our heat can be oppressive this time of year, there are still
some wonderful landscape plants that can bring summer joy on
the hottest, driest days. Even if you only have room for one or two,
those small changes can brighten up an otherwise bloomless sum-
mer landscape. Happy gardening everyone!
