8 Annuals That Can Take The Heat!
Summer Annuals That Can Take the Heat
When the East Texas summer heats up, you need plants that can keep the color going! These annuals are some of our favorites for adding bright flowers, colorful foliage, and plenty of interest to beds, containers, and hanging baskets throughout the warm season.
Vinca
Vinca is an upright blooming annual available in an incredible range of vivid colors. These heat-loving plants perform best in sunny locations with excellent drainage and don’t like staying constantly wet.
If your Vinca becomes tall or leggy, it can be lightly trimmed to encourage fresh, bushier growth. Fertilize according to the product label when needed rather than automatically feeding after every trim.
Vinca
Profusion Zinnia
Profusion Zinnias certainly live up to their name! These compact plants produce masses of colorful flowers throughout the warm season and are known for being easy to maintain.
They’re excellent for sunny beds and containers, and their flowers also provide a food source for butterflies and other pollinators.
Profusion Zinnia
SunPatiens
SunPatiens produce bright flowers in shades of orange, coral, white, pink, lilac, violet, and more. They’re beautiful in flower beds, containers, and hanging baskets where their colorful blooms can really make a statement.
SunPatiens generally tolerate considerably more sun than traditional impatiens, but sun tolerance and water needs can vary with the variety and growing conditions. Here in East Texas, plants in intense afternoon sun or containers may need closer attention during extreme summer heat.
Keep the soil consistently moist without leaving the roots waterlogged. Don’t assume they automatically need daily watering—check the soil and water according to conditions.
SunPatiens
Bronze Leaf Begonia
Bronze Leaf Begonias are an old standby for good reason. Their glossy bronze foliage and colorful flowers create neat mounds that work beautifully as bedding plants or in containers and hanging baskets.
Light tolerance varies by variety. Some wax Begonias handle more sun than others, but protection from our strongest East Texas afternoon sun can help prevent stress and leaf scorch.
Begonias are tender plants and shouldn’t be counted on to survive winter outdoors, even though they may occasionally make it through unusually mild weather.
Begonias
Pentas
Pentas are excellent plants for attracting butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. Clusters of star-shaped flowers appear in shades of red, pink, violet, white, and more.
Their bushy growth habit makes them a great choice for flower beds, pollinator gardens, and containers. Give them plenty of light and good drainage for the best flowering.
Pentas
Sun Coleus
Coleus is known for incredible foliage in combinations of green, chartreuse, burgundy, red, pink, orange, and more. With so many colors and leaf shapes available, there’s a Coleus for just about every combination.
Some varieties are bred to tolerate considerably more sun than traditional shade Coleus, but sun tolerance varies by cultivar. Even sun-tolerant varieties may appreciate some afternoon protection during our hottest East Texas weather.
If a plant becomes tall or leggy, pinch or trim the growing tips to encourage fuller, bushier growth.
Coleus
Purslane
Purslane is a heat-loving trailing plant with fleshy, succulent-like foliage and brightly colored flowers. Its spreading habit makes it perfect for cascading over the edges of containers, hanging baskets, retaining walls, and raised beds.
Give Purslane plenty of sun and excellent drainage. Once established, its succulent foliage helps it tolerate drier conditions better than many traditional annuals.
Purslane
Portulaca
Portulaca, often called Moss Rose, is another heat-loving annual with a trailing growth habit. Its narrow, fleshy leaves and colorful flowers make it a great “spiller” for containers or a low-growing plant for sunny beds.
The flowers typically open in bright sunlight and may close during cloudy weather or at night. Like Purslane, Portulaca performs best with plenty of sun and well-drained soil.
Portulaca
Summer color doesn’t have to disappear when the temperatures climb! Match your plants to the sunlight and drainage in your space, keep an eye on moisture during our hottest weather, and these warm-season favorites can keep your landscape and containers looking colorful all summer long.