15 Beautiful Flowers That Can Handle Extreme Heat
Most of the world’s stunning blossoms require plenty of sunlight to thrive. This is because sunlight gives plants the energy to create stunning and intricate flowers, but sometimes, too much sun can have fatal consequences. With intense sunlight and long days, the dangers of extreme heat and dehydration become very real. If you live in an area with very hot summers, then you need to find flowering plants that can withstand these arid, sunny conditions.
Some of the best flowering plants to grow in hot climates include lantana, coneflower, blanket flower, and salvia. Several flowering herbs do well in extreme heat, too, including mint, verbena, and catmint. Some popular flower varieties that thrive in hot weather and sun include the sunflower, butterfly bush, and marigold. If you want something unique, opt for moss rose, Egyptian star flower, or fan flowers.           Â
When you live somewhere with very hot summers, it might seem as if keeping your flowers alive is a full-time job. Instead of constantly watering and sheltering your blooming plants, consider choosing varieties that tolerate extreme heat. Below is a list of plants that bloom in the hottest conditions, all of which can make your life as a gardener easier in the summer.    Â
15 Flowers That Can Survive Extreme Heat
1. Lantana
Lantana is a fantastic plant to grow in hot, dry climates, including desert-like conditions. This plant produces vibrant clusters of flowers of various hues, including pink and yellow. This adds lovely color to an otherwise dry landscape.
Lantana attracts the pollinators you want in your garden, and its blooms are known to last many weeks. This allows your garden to have consistent color and pollinators without having to plant many species. This plant can also survive brief frosts, making it ideal for desert climates that have extreme heat and cold.
2. Coneflower
Coneflowers add value to any garden. They come in several different colors, allowing you to create the garden color palette you desire. Once established, coneflowers can easily tolerate full sun and high temperatures. They are also drought-tolerant.
Coneflowers are easy to grow, and the blooms last many weeks. This makes them a great flower for gardeners seeking a low-maintenance plant to grow in hot climates
3. Lavender
If you want to grow an herb that flowers and thrives in hot, dry conditions, consider lavender. Lavender has a soothing scent and stunning purple flowers. It is native to the Mediterranean region, where long, hot, sunny days are the norm.
Once this herb is established in the ground, it tolerates dry and sunny weather and can survive through periods of drought.Â
4. Blanket Flower
Blanket flowers are another great low-maintenance plant you can grow in extreme heat. These low-lying plants provide beautiful red and orange blooms. The blanket flower can grow in many soil types, including rocky terrain and other soils with few nutrients and one plant can produce dozens of long-lasting flowers.
The long-lasting blooms are not only stunning to look at, but they also help attract pollinators. This makes them a great choice for those who want to attract several pollinators in a hot climate.
5. Salvia
Salvia provide several benefits to your garden. For one, it can thrive in hot climates and can tolerate drought once it’s established and it also produces long-lasting blooms in several colors.
This plant is used in several natural remedies, making it a great candidate to add color to a medicinal garden. It even deters deer and rabbits, which can help keep the vegetables and herbs in your garden safe from these hungry mammals.
6. Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea is one of the most beautiful and resilient climbing plants around. It’s known for its thin and colorful flowers. This vine can come in several colors, including purple, pink, and white.Â
It can last decades if properly cared for, and once it’s established, it can tolerate harsh sun and periods of drought. It’s a fantastic plant to grow on a pergola or trellis, especially in sunny and arid regions.
7. Egyptian Star Flower
If you want to grow something unique in your hot climate, consider the Egyptian star flower. This plant is native to tropical and dry regions of Africa, where the sun is oppressive and temperatures are high.
It loves heat and can even tolerate high humidity. This plant produces lovely pink flower clusters, and is one of the best options for hot regions where it's difficult to grow many flower species.
8. Verbana
Verbena is another flowering herb that thrives in hot and sunny conditions. Verbena loves the sun and has a unique taproot system. This root system helps Verbena survive in hot and dry weather once it’s established.
The flowers last for many months, providing your yard with color throughout the summer. In addition to its blooms, verbena is a plant used for natural remedies, including as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
9. Marigolds
Marigolds are a popular and easy-to-grow flower, and are even considered sacred in several parts of the world. They are one of the most vibrant orange and red flowers you'll find in a garden. They are very low-maintenance, partly because they thrive in many climates and conditions, including extreme heat.
Marigolds provide other benefits as well, including keeping pests away, and they are also a flower you can eat and incorporate into various foods.
10. Fan Flower
Fan flowers are a fantastic flowering plant to grow in very hot climates. Not only do they tolerate drought and heat well, but they also produce hundreds of beautiful flowers for many months.
You can grow fan flowers in various ways, including as a bedding plant or in hanging baskets. This makes them a great low-maintenance flower to add colorful blooms just about anywhere in an exceptionally hot garden.
11. CatmintÂ
Catmint is a perennial herb from the mint family. Like other mints, this plant has a refreshing fragrance. It produces lovely purple flowers that bloom for many months. This herb also attracts pollinators.
Catmint is an herb that can grow in many conditions, including extreme heat. It will return each year, even if your garden experiences cold winters. This makes it a great low-maintenance flowering plant for anyone looking to add color and pollinators to the yard.
12. Moss Rose
If you want to grow roses, but hot weather keeps killing them, consider planting moss roses. This plant has succulent leaves that store water, which helps the plant and its rosy blooms to thrive even in extreme heat and sunlight.
This flowering succulent likes full sun, requires minimal care, and tolerates different types of soil.Â
13. Butterfly Bush
Butterfly bush is not only great at attracting butterflies, but it is also a great option for anyone who wants to grow flowers in very hot weather. This plant prefers well-drained soil, and tolerates all types of challenging weather.
Butterfly bush likes full sun and is heat and drought-tolerant. Its long-lasting purple flowers are lovely to admire and attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beautiful pollinators.
14. Sunflower
With a name like sunflower, it’s no surprise that this iconic, large yellow flower loves the sun and heat. These large blooms require full sun and like warmer weather. As long as you water them regularly, sunflowers can tolerate extreme heat. Just remember to water in the morning and often, to ensure they thrive in the hot summer months.
15. Desert Willow
If you want to grow a flowering tree, but live somewhere hot and dry, then the desert willow is a great option. Unlike many trees, which require frequent watering and struggle in the heat, the desert willow is perfectly suited for hot climates.Â
These small trees are drought-tolerant by design and can manage in various temperatures, including extreme heat. These trees provide flowers from early spring until the end of the fall, providing blooms in your yard throughout the hottest months.
Final Notes On Beautiful Flowers That Tolerate Extreme Heat
Growing anything successfully in hot weather can feel impossible, especially when you are seeking plants with beautiful flowers. Luckily, several flowering plants come alive in hot weather. Some popular flowers that tolerate extreme heat include sunflowers, marigolds, butterfly bush, and bougainvillea. Flowering herbs that love hot weather include lavender, verbena, and catmint. Other, more ornate options include the Egyptian star flowers, moss rose, and desert willow.
Related Guides:
- 12 Spring Flowers That Bloom Quickly
- Flowers That Can Survive A Spring Frost
- 36 Names Of Blue Flowers (With Photos)
Tom Gaffey is an expert writer who currently resides in Washington D.C. Tom has a passion for real estate and home improvement writing, as well as travel and lifestyle writing. He lived the last twelve years in Hawaii where he worked closely with luxury resorts and event planners, mastering his knowledge of aesthetics and luxury products. This is where he found his passion for home improvement and a keen interest in DIY projects. Currently, Tom resides in Washington D.C, and also working on his debut fiction novel.
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