Heat-loving perennials

Bring on the heat

BY: Gardening How-To

Here are some popular perennials that bring the same scorch-proof color to your garden year after year:

Heat-loving perennials:
African lily (Agapanthus africanus, Zones 9 to 10
Bee balm (Monarda didyma, Zones 4 to 9)
Blanket flower (Gaillardia spp. Zones 3 to 8)
Blazing star (Liatris spicata, Zones 4 to 9)
Clustered bellflower (Campanula glomerata, Zones 3 to 8)
Crown imperial (Fritillaria imperalis, Zones 5 to 9)
Daylily (Hemerocallis spp., Zones 3 to 10)
Globe thistle (Echinops spp., Zones 3 to 9)
Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis, Zones 4 to 7)
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia, Zones 5 to 8)
Oriental poppy (Papaver orientale, Zones 4 to 9)
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea, Zones 3 to 9)
Purple sage (Salvia officinalis, Zones 5 to 8)
Snow in summer (Cerastium tomentosum, Zones 3 to 7)
Yarrow (Achillea spp., Zones 3 to 9)
Yucca (Yucca filamentosa, Zones 4 to 11)
White gaura (Gaura lindheimeri, Zones 6 to 9)

How to keep your perennials healthy in the heat
To keep your perennials thriving in hot weather, give a little extra attention to soil preparation and plant placement:

- Amend soil with organic material such as well-rotted manure, leaf mold, or compost. Spread 2 to 3 inches of material over the bed and work it 12 inches into the soil. Roots must be encouraged to go deep to support the plants in the hot dry days they’ll face.

- Mulch and water carefully. Hot-weather plants take the heat, but many are challenged by humidity or excess moisture on their crowns or leaves. Water in the morning to give moisture time to evaporate from the foliage. Pull mulch back from the crowns and stems to prevent disease. Better yet, use drip irrigation to water only the plants’ root zones, and mulch with fast-draining pebbles or gravel to keep foliage out of wet conditions.

- Group perennials in mass plantings against evergreen shrub borders. Include varieties that bloom at various times, especially in the late summer and fall, when the color from garden annuals is fading.

Comments

By jmartin3 Sunday, June 06, 2010 8:02 PM

What about containers? Any different tips?

By Gardening Man Stephanio Monday, June 07, 2010 8:25 PM

Remember a container is same as planting a plant in the ground, except you get to choose the size, shape, how often to feed, water, and if it will be out when there is something like hail comeing your way. In other words, if it doesent do good where it is, instead of haveing to dig it up, you just move it to another place. Remember if this is a heat loveing plant you still do not water it as often as a plant that is not as tollerent of heat. I have to stress this point, chances are if you can do it in the ground you can do it in a container. I also have to stress if you put a plant in a container, because of leaching of nutreants out of the dranage holes, some plants you may have to fertelize more often than you have to do when it is planted in the ground. Place a bucket if the pot is a bery big onei if it is smaller a Bowl or something along thease lines underneath the pot. You are asking me what in the heck does those tips have to do with this article or my question, well it is simple, all of those things are inner woven together in containers, I just was telling you how to get any kind of plant to thrive in a container of some kind.

By aaburton Friday, July 02, 2010 9:28 AM

Why do my Crown Imperials turn yellow and die before they flower?

By aaburton Friday, July 02, 2010 9:28 AM

Why do my Crown Imperials turn yellow and die before they flower?

By hdouglas Thursday, July 26, 2012 9:47 AM

I live in South Catolina where it not only hot but also very humid.Will these plants take the humidity without dying? I have tried different kinds of plants but roses and mums are the only ones I have had success with Wil someone answer this question if possible. Thank You