7 Plants That Shine and Bloom Post-Heatwave
There are plenty of plants that continue to thrive in August and beyond, despite challenging heatwave conditions. These late-summer resilient plants are becoming increasingly important as we look for tough shrubs, perennials and annuals that will tolerate extremes of temperature without missing a beat.
Long periods of drought and strong sunshine can be deadly for many plants, but not the ones I’ve chosen here. These will push on through, with minimal water and care, because one way or another they’re simply built that way – whether it’s because of their roots searching deep into the soil for every drop of available moisture, inherently drought-tolerant adaptations or a native tolerance for hot weather conditions.
I’ve taken the advice of some expert plantspeople and garden designers, who have recommended shrubs, annuals and perennials that don’t notice a heatwave. The result is a roundup of seven brilliant, resilient plants (and there are still lots available at Nature Hills) that will fill your garden with color and greenery through late summer and into fall, however the mercury hits. Let’s go ahead and dig a little deeper.
Latest Videos FromHomes and Gardens
1. Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
(Image credit: Alamy/ Johnny Walker )
Also known as Virginian trumpet flower, this is a great clue to the nature of this fast-growing deciduous climber with large trumpet-shaped flowers in hot shades of red, orange and yellow. A native of eastern North America, it will fill your yard with its big, bold flowers from midsummer to the end of fall.
Despite its resilient nature, it does come with a word of warning. It will get huge (around 40ft/12m in height) and is often considered invasive outside of its native range. Nevertheless, keep up a rigorous pruning regime in late winter/early spring and you’ll be rewarded with one of the most colorful and drought-tolerant plants money can buy.
In terms of how to grow trumpet vine, as well as a good sturdy structure to clamber up, it needs a sunny spot, in either a garden border or a large pot, like this 20in barrel pot from Anthropologie. Lay over a thick layer of mulch, such as pea gravel from Lowes, in autumn to help retain moisture and keep out weeds.
Bonus: trumpet vine is adored by hummingbirds!
USDA Zones: 4-10
You can buy Chicklet Orange trumpet vine at My Perfect Plants
2. Adam’s Needle (Yucca filamentosa)
(Image credit: m.schuppich / Alamy Stock Photo)
Although there are more than 40 species of yucca plants, Yucca filamentosa is perhaps the most common. This North American native is an easy-going shrub that thrives in hot, dry weather, lending dramatic spikes of creamy white flowers to its bold sword-like evergreen foliage in late summer. They’re gorgeously perfumed too.
Tammy Sons, CEO and founder of TN Nursery, is a big fan: ‘Yuccas should be much more widely used: they maintain architectural form year-round, and don’t need much supplemental irrigation when established.’
You’ll need to give yuccas a spot in well-drained soil, perhaps in a rock garden or gravelled area (in fact it’s one of the best plants for a desert garden), where they will thrive and provide a handsome architectural focal point up to 3ft (1m) in height. Yuccas are perfect for pots too, as they enjoy being a little root-bound. Choose a weighty container at least 18in (40cm) in diameter to stop it toppling over. Compost should be mixed with plenty of grit or perlite to give it the sharply-draining conditions it needs.
A pale gravel mulch – try something like these marble chips from Lowes – will set off those creamy blooms to perfection.
USDA Zones: 4-10
Buy Color Guard yucca at My Perfect Plants
3. Oleander (Nerium oleander)
(Image credit: Ros Drinkwater/Alamy Stock Photo)
My first memories of gorgeous oleander flowers are from a young age, seeing them planted along the central reservations of roads in southern France. I’ve since spotted them across all the hottest, driest, trickiest spots across southern Europe, where their glorious pink, white and, occasionally pale yellow, clusters of large tubular flowers are a real treat for the eye in high summer.
Angelika Zaber, a gardening expert at Online Turf, is an oleander enthusiast. ‘A native of the Mediterranean, northern Africa and parts of Asia, oleander is adapted to hot, dry weather. It’s an excellent choice if you want a plant that’s guaranteed to thrive for years to come. It produces stunning blooms from late spring to early fall. These have a sweet scent with hints of vanilla and honey.’
This evergreen shrub happily grows in coastal salt-laden winds, tucked in verges by heavy traffic or simply in a sunny backyard. There are all kinds of varieties, growing to as tall as 20ft (6m) or dwarf varieties, which will reach just 3ft (1m) and make fabulous container specimens. Or plant in the garden as a windbreak, hedge or focal point shrub.
All parts of the oleander plant are highly toxic, however, so wear gloves when handling them. A protective pair of gloves like these Slarmor gauntlets from Amazon will keep you safe.
USDA Zones: 8-11
Buy Austin Pretty Limits oleander from Nature Hills
4. Salvias
(Image credit: Getty Images/Jacky Parker Photography)
There are hundreds of different salvias, in a huge variety of colors, shapes and sizes, including bedding salvias, annual salvias, tender varieties and culinary salvias. Just some of the many reasons to grow salvias.
All belong to the sage family but two of the best for heat tolerance, in my opinion, are shrubby evergreen varieties Salvia greggii and Salvia microphylla, both border salvias and perennials that flower for weeks on end, from summer right through to the first frosts of late fall.
‘Salvias have a high tolerance for heat, attract pollinators and bloom profusely with just occasional deadheading,’ says Tammy.
Of course, being sun lovers, to do this they need a south or west facing spot in a border or roomy container. Well-drained soil is a prerequisite too.
Cultivars I particularly recommend are red and white bicolor ‘Hot Lips’, purple ad white ‘Amethyst Lips’ and shocking pink ‘Cerro Potosi’.
USDA Zones: 6-10 (depending on variety)
Shop the salvia collection at Nature Hills
5. Zinnias
(Image credit: tinydevil / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images)
For pops of the very brightest, most joyful color in pots, it has to zinnias. These Mexican natives are some of the simplest hardy annuals to grow from seed and they absolutely adore a heatwave, flowering from midsummer to late fall with very little care and attention.
In fact, these little color bombs are so low maintenance that many gardeners are ditching dahlias in favor of zinnias. They’re just as colorful and striking, but much less hassle.
Angelika emphasises their environmental credentials: ‘Zinnias are an amazing choice for any climate-conscious gardener. They handle heat and drought well and are rich in nectar, supporting beneficial pollinators such as bees, butterflies and even hummingbirds.’
In pots zinnias are perfect – aim to water deeply once or twice a week, from the bottom of the pot to avoid any possible problems with mildew. A classic terracotta plant saucer, like this one from Ace Hardware, is a huge help here.
Shop the range of zinnia seeds at Burpee
6. Fig Tree (Ficus carica)
(Image credit: Alamy)
‘If you have room for a fig, grow one,’ says Tammy. ‘They’re so fruitful, tough and heat tolerant once they’re settled in.’
I couldn’t agree more. A fig tree is beautiful throughout the year – even in winter its shapely branches provide structure and interest. And those huge leathery leaves are lush and cooling, dripping with fruit, once in early summer and again from August into September.
Choose from purple-skinned varieties such as reliable award-winning ‘Brown Turkey’ or pale green ‘White Marseilles’. How to grow a fig tree? All are best planted with a restricted root run. A hole 2ft (60cm) deep, lined with vertical paving slabs and started off with an 8in (20cm) layer of stones, is ideal, or grow n a large handsome container about 1ft (30cm) in diameter for a fabulous statement pot.
USDA Zones: 7-10
Shop the range of fig trees at Burpee
7. Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)
(Image credit: Chris Klonowski/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images)
Crepe myrtle is classed as a deciduous small tree or large shrub (it grows to around 26ft/8m) with large lilac-esque panicle flowers in shades of purple, white and pink from late summer into fall. The foliage is pretty too, emerging a lovely bronze color in spring.
Tammy highlights the bark of the crepe myrtle tree as worthy of special mention: ‘When I think of plants that not only survive but look good through several weeks of extreme summer heat, crepe myrtle is near the top of my list. Its blooms beautify through summer, and its colorful bark lasts for weeks after the flowers are done.’
Obviously a sunny planting spot is needed, and a sheltered one too. A light prune in late winter will encourage more summer blooms and strong new growth. Apart from that, once established, crepe myrtle is an easygoing sun lover that will flourish in a heatwave.
USDA Zones: 6-9
Shop the crepe myrtle range at Fast Growing Trees
Finally, a few words that are true for all new plants, drought-tolerant sun lovers or moisture-loving shade-tolerant species. All of them will need some TLC in their first year. Avoid planting in summer, and when you do plant, soak the pot well first. Once planted, water your newbies in deeply, then continue to water regularly throughout that first season, which will allow them to send their roots deep into the earth, become established and, ultimately, fend pretty much for themselves.
If you’ve chosen plants like the ones I’ve mentioned above, then you’ll be making your life easier and more beautiful for many hot summers to come.
If you love inspiring garden ideas, outdoor advice, and the latest news, why not sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox?
