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Heat & Sun Tolerant Perennials
Informational list of heat- and sun=tolerant perennials plants, featuring their basic characteristics and growth habits.
Many dependable perennial plants thrive in hot, sunny gardens. All of them, however, benefit from some afternoon shade, especially in areas with extreme desert heat. Although these perennials are drought-tolerant, keep them looking their best by providing them with water on a regular basis, particularly during hot and dry spells.
Artemisia 'Powis Castle'
The artemisia cultivar 'Powis Castle' (Artemisia 'Powis Castle') grows as a perennial, or is hardy, in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 10. It reaches a height of 2 to 4 feet and a width of 4 to 6 feet. Valued in the garden for its silvery, feathery foliage, it lends texture and contrast among green-leaved plants.
Chocolate Flower
Chocolate flower (Berlandiera lyrata, USDA zones 4 through 11a), grows 6 to 18 inches tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. From spring through fall, its yellow flowers resemble daisies and have a subtle fragrance reminiscent of chocolate. Deadheading the plant's spent flowers prolongs its bloom season.
Firecracker Penstemon
Firecracker penstemon (Penstemon eatonii, USDA zones 4 through 8), grows 1 to 5 feet tall and 1 to 3 feet wide. From spring through fall, this U.S. Southwest native attracts hummingbirds with its bright-red, tubular flowers.
Bush Morning Glory
Bush morning glory (Convolvulus cneorum, USDA zones 8 through 10) has a mounding growth habit and reaches a height of 1 to 3 feet and a width of 3 to 5 feet. It is a suitable ground cover in sunny, hot spots. Covered with silver-gray foliage, it has white flowers in summer.
Jerusalem Sage
Jerusalem sage (Phlomis fruticosa, USDA zones 7 through 11) grows to a height and width of 3 feet. In spring, this drought-tolerant, Mediterranean native produces yellow flowers in whorls above its green foliage.
Lantana
Lantana plants (Lantana spp., USDA zones vary among varieties) have a growth habit that ranges from ground cover to shrub. For example, the cultivar 'Radiation' (Lantana camara 'Radiation') grows 4 to 6 feet tall and wide; it is hardy in USDA zones 9 through 11. It blooms all year or until frost, depending on its climate.
Lavender
Lavender plants (Lavandula spp., USDA zones 5 through 11, depending on the variety) reach different heights and widths, but all require well-drained soil.. The Spanish lavender cultivar 'Otto Quast' (Lavandula stoechas 'Otto Quast,' USDA zones 7 through 9) sports purple flowers in spring and summer. It grows 20 to 28 inches high and 18 to 36 inches wide.
Mexican Hat
Mexican hat (Ratibida columnifera, USDA zones 3 through 10), grows 1 to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. A summer bloomer, this plant can be used in a garden for wildlife because its seed heads attract small birds.
Sunray
Sunray, also called lanceleaf tickseed and lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata, USDA zones 4 through 9) has a height and width of 8 to 16 inches. This native wildflower tolerates a variety of soils. Deadhead the plant to encourage continuous blooms throughout the growing season.
Whirling Butterflies
Whirling butterflies (Gaura lindheimeri, USDA zones 6 through 9) reaches 2 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide. Its white flowers in spring and fall fade to pink on long, airy stems. It grows well in dry or humid heat.
