Though flowering shrubs and perennials play a major role in ornamental plantings, the addition of hot weather annuals can further add diversity and interest to these growing spaces.
Annuals For Your Specific Region
When considering the best heat tolerant annuals for one’s garden, it’s important to recognize other characteristics of your growing zone that could also impact your plants’ health. Most heat tolerant annuals require periodic rain or supplemental irrigation in order to truly thrive. If you live in a region that is especially dry or prone to drought, you may need to choose more water-wise, hot weather annuals. Local garden centers are often an invaluable resource when shopping for plants that grow well under one’s own regional conditions.
Growing Heat Tolerant Annuals
Most heat tolerant annuals can be grown from seed. In fact, many annuals for heat are actually native to growing zones that experience hot summer conditions. Among the most popular uses for hot weather annuals is in ornamental flower beds or in containers. Dwarf plants like zinnias, gomphrena, ageratum, and lantana each offer a colorful addition to the growing space, and are also quite attractive to pollinators. Portulaca, petunias, celosia, and various types of salvia are just a few examples of other especially robust bedding plants that are often able to handle hot temperatures. Some of the most heat tolerant annuals may actually be those that are considered wildflowers. This includes flowering annual plants that may already be growing in your own zone. Annual types of blanket flower, coreopsis, and rudbeckia are ideal candidates for growth in many hot weather regions. These are all known for their adaptability to infrequent watering and poor soil conditions. Locating the right annuals for hot growing conditions may require some research before planting to help to ensure a profusion of color in ornamental flower beds throughout the entire growing season.
