By Donita Brannon

Are your daisies drooping? Is your Wisteria wilting? Are all those cute little transplants that you set out this spring succumbing to the relentless summer sun? Much like their human counterparts, many plants simply cannot tolerate our south Texas summer heat. On the other hand, there are a few hardy plants that not only tolerate the heat, they thrive on it! By planting some of these hot weather wonders, and watering wisely, you’re not only saving yourself time spent outside with a water hose, you’re saving on your water bill, as well.

First of all, keep in mind that morning sun is much different than afternoon sun. Some shade-loving plants can tolerate a little morning sun, but even sun-loving plants can suffer under a hot, west afternoon sun. As far as watering goes, it’s always best to water early in the morning so your plants have sufficient water throughout the day. For container-grown plants, use saucers under your pots to conserve as much of that moisture as possible. In planting beds, consider using soaker hoses. Soaker hoses combined with an automatic timer mean you are free to enjoy your favorite indoor activity, while your plants are getting the moisture they need without wasting a drop.

Those shade-loving Coleus that your grandmother grew now come in sun varieties too. The wide variety of colors keeps their popularity high. They are a natural choice for bedding plants, but can also be grown in containers and hanging baskets. “Alabama Sunshine,” developed by the University of Alabama, was one of the first of the sun lovers and continues to grow in popularity. I keep these in 10" pots, and within just a few weeks of planting they are the size of bushel baskets. Great colorful accents on a porch or patio. Watch for any bloom spikes that begin to develop. Coleus are grown for their colorful leaves, not the blooms, so keep the bloom spikes picked off to keep your plants looking fresh.

You may have noticed a new colorful yellow shrub blooming around your neighborhood lately. “Esperanza” or “Texas Yellow Bells” as they are sometimes called, have become the new "go-to" shrub for water-smart landscapers. Tacoma stans is native to Texas and Arizona and southward to Argentina. It has bright green foliage and huge clusters of sunny, yellow flowers. It will grow in a wide variety of soils, and can be grown as a container plant or patio tree. It has the added bonus of attracting both birds and butterflies. This is a super shrub that is finally getting the recognition it deserves. There is a coral- colored variety also. Try it together with a sun-loving copper plant for a terrific color contrast and heat tolerance to boot!

Speaking of copper plants...
In the search for heat-loving plants, who could ask for anything more? With such a wide range of color choices and leaf shapes, you could design an entire garden using copper plants alone. The genus alcalypha includes not only the appropriately-named copper plant, such as “Louisiana Red” with rusty-red leaves tinged with pink, but also “Java White” with broad green and white leaves, and “Tahiti Curl” with unusual frilly leaves that curl under. “Ceylon Beauty” is another curly-leaf variety with deep, maroon-crimson leaves. Another member of the copper plant family that is a huge hit with kids is the Chenille plant. Children love the long, fuzzy red blooms that hang down from the stems that give this plant the humorous name of Caterpillar plant.

Crotons are one of my summertime favorites because of the amazing array of shapes and colors in their leaves. They have thick, leathery leaves that protect them from the heat. It seems as though the hotter it gets, the more colorful they become! These are great grown in a container or in a bed, adding a wonderful tropical touch around a swimming pool. As a specimen plant they can grow to about 12 ft. tall. With simple varieties such as “Petra” to exotic ones such as “Sloppy Painter” and “Dread Locks,” you’re sure to find one that suits your style.

You may not think of rosemary as a landscape plant, but this fragrant herb is quite the heat lover! Native to the Mediterranean, it grows naturally in dry, rocky soils, so it is well suited to our hot, dry climate. Its blue-gray foliage contrasts well with other plants and it puts on tiny blue flowers as well. Try it as a specimen plant or even grow it into a small hedge, saving the clippings for the kitchen, of course.

So, just because we humans have to suffer through the dog days of summer, that doesn’t mean our gardens have to. Plant some of these heat-loving beauties for one colorful summer.

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