No matter how hot it gets, the perennials in this simple garden plan can take all the heat that summer dishes out. (Of course, you'll still need to provide a little water whenever the soil gets dry, especially during the first season.) Big, bold dahlias and lilies form the backbone of this heat-loving garden plan, complemented by reliable spike speedwell, penstemon, boltonia, and purple moorgrass. The result is a bed full of colorful blooms (they're perfect for cutting!) throughout the warmest months of the year.
Before you start the actual planting, place your plants into the suggested garden plan while still in their pots to get a preview of how the bed will look. This way, it's easy to rearrange the plants as needed without extra digging.
Plants for Creating the Heat-Loving Garden Plan
Choose a full sun location and provide well-drained soil for the plants in this garden plan.
- 12 Pink dahlia hybrids (4 clusters of 3 each): Zones 8-11*
- 3 Red dahlia hybrids: Zones 8-11*
- 3 Spike speedwell (Veronica 'Sunny Border Blue'): Zones 4-8
- 3 Yellow dahlia hybrids: Zones 8-11*
- 10 Asiatic lily (2 clusters of 5 each) (Lilium 'Landini'): Zones 4-8
- 10 Asiatic lily (2 clusters of 5 each) (Lilium 'Sunny Crown'): Zones 4-8
- 2 Snowbank boltonia (Boltonia asteroides 'Snowbank'): Zones 4-9
- 5 Firecracker penstemon (Penstemon eatonii): Zones 4-9
- 3 Purple moorgrass (Molinia caerulea arundinacea): Zones 4-9
* Can be dug up and stored indoors in winter climates colder than Zone 7.
If you aren't able to find the exact cultivars listed above, substitute with others that have similar colors, shapes, and sizes. And because some plants can become overly aggressive and spread out of control in certain climates, always check which species are considered invasive in your area before planting.
Get the Free Heat-Loving Garden Plan
The garden plan for this design includes an illustrated version of the planted garden, a detailed layout diagram, a list of plants for the garden as shown, and complete instructions for installing the garden.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does hot weather hurt plants?
Most plants struggle when temperatures reach 90°F and above for a long period of time. This could cause their growth to start slowing down. They might also show signs of stress, like wilted leaves or lower flower production.
- How can you help plants survive the heat?
In addition to using a garden design with plants well-suited to high temperatures, you can add a layer of mulch to keep the soil cooler and help protect roots. You can also move potted plants into shade or cover in-ground plants with shade cloth until the temperature drops back down.
- Do plants need more water in extreme heat?
When it's especially hot, plants will need more water than usual in order to keep them thriving. Keep checking the dryness of the soil to tell whether your plants could use some more water in the hot summer sun.