20 Heat-Tolerant Plants for Hot Summers

ABELIA

Plant type: Semi-deciduous or deciduous shrub
Zones: 4-11, depending on the variety
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Upright, arching or spreading habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 10 feet tall, 2 to 8 feet wide
Bloom time: Spring to fall

This deciduous shrub is adaptable to a wide range of growing conditions including shade, full sun, heat, cold, and drought. Abelia produces foliage in different colors, with small tubular flowers that occur from summer into fall. Provide regular moisture in hotter climates. Use as hedging, in mass plantings, or shrub borders. Read more about how to grow abelia.

Pictured: Poco Loco® abelia from Proven Winners.

AGASTACHE

Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 3-10
Exposure: Full to partial sun
Habit: Upright spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 6 feet tall, 1 to 3 feet wide
Bloom time: Summer to fall

Agastache is a mint relative with aromatic foliage and spiky or tubular flowers in an array of colors. Native to North American plains and forests, agastache is adapted to extreme heat and cold, poor soils and drought. Use in mixed borders, native gardens, or waterwise curbside strips. Read more about how to grow agastache.

Pictured: Poco Loco® abelia from Proven Winners.

ALOE

Plant type: Succulent
Zones: 7-12, depending on the variety
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright or mounding spiky habit
Height/Spread: 6 inches to 30 feet tall, 6 inches to 20 feet wide
Bloom time: Year-round, depending on the variety

Aloe is an evergreen succulent with torch-like flower spikes and spiky leaves arranged in a rosette pattern. Native to arid and tropical regions across the globe, aloe is heat-tolerant, with the ability to self-regulate and store water in the thick, fleshy leaves. Add structure to waterwise beds and containers. Read more about how to grow aloe plants.

BLACK-EYED SUSAN

Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 4 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide
Bloom time: Summer to early fall

This cottage garden favorite is grown for the cone-shaped flowers in warm hues of orange, yellow, gold, and brown. Native to North American prairies, black-eyed Susan is adapted to extreme heat and cold, lean soil, and prolonged periods of drought. The rough hairy leaves reduce water evaporation. Use in mass plantings or native landscapes. Read more about how to grow black-eyed-Susan plants.

BLANKET FLOWER

Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 3-10
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Compact mounding habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 3 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide
Bloom time: Summer to fall

Gaillardia is a short-lived perennial (often grown as an annual) with daisy-like flowers in cheerful colors of yellow, orange, and red. This native wildflower is adapted to different soils, extreme temperatures and drought. Provide full sun and lean, well-drained soil. Plant in a native garden or waterwise landscape. Read more about how to grow blanket flower.

BOUGAINVILLEA

Plant type: Vine
Zones: 9-11
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Vining spreading habit
Height/Spread: 3 to 30 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Summer, with nearly year-round bloom in warmer climates

This colorful vining shrub is popular in Mediterranean countries, with a vigorous growth habit and prolific bloom. Native to warm regions of South America, this cold-tender woody vine is adapted to heat, drought, and poor soils. Bougainvillea can be trained on an arbor or trellis, used as hedging or a ground cover. Read more about how to grow bougainvillea.

BUTTERFLY BUSH

Plant type: Shrub
Zones: 5-9
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright bushy habit
Height/Spread: 3 to 12 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Summer to early fall

Butterfly bush is named for the colorful flowers that attract a range of butterflies and other pollinators. This tough deciduous shrub is tolerant of heat and drought, preferring full sun and well-draining soil. Provide regular water in hot weather. Plant in a pollinator garden or cottage-style border. Read more about how to grow butterfly bushes responsibly.

Pictured: Lo & Behold® 'Blue Chip Jr.' butterfly bush from Proven Winners.

CONEFLOWER

Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 5 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide
Bloom time: Summer

This perennial produces colorful daisy-like flowers in summer. Native to North American prairies, coneflower subsists in lean soil and extreme temperatures. Some species develop a long taproot, while the coarse, hairy leaves and stems help reduce water evaporation. Use in a cottage-style border, native landscape or butterfly garden. Read more about how to grow coneflower.

Pictured: Summersong™ Firefinch™ coneflower from Proven Winners.

COREOPSIS

Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 3-9, and often grown as an annual
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 4 feet tall, 1 to 3 feet wide, depending on the variety
Bloom time: Late spring to fall, depending on the variety

This perennial has brightly colored daisy-like flowers and lush green foliage. Also known as tickseed, this North American native thrives in harsh sunlight, extreme heat, and lean soil. Provide supplemental water during prolonged heat or dry spells. Use in rockeries, mass plantings, or native landscapes. Read more about how to grow coreopsis.

Pictured: Uptick™ Yellow & Red coreopsis from Proven Winners.

CRAPE MYRTLE

Plant type: Shrub, often grown as a tree
Zones: 6-10
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Vase-shaped habit
Height/Spread: 10 to 30 feet tall, 10 to 20 feet wide
Bloom time: Mid-summer to fall

This ornamental tree has showy late-season flowers, colorful fall foliage and smooth bark. Native to temperate and tropical regions of Asia, crape myrtle requires full sun and hot temperatures to bloom, and is drought-tolerant once established. Use as a showy focal point or street tree. Read more about how to grow crape myrtle.

Pictured: Center Stage® Red crape myrtle from Proven Winners.

DESERT WILLOW

Plant type: Shrub, often grown as a tree
Zones: 7-11
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright bushy habit
Height/Spread: 10 to 30 feet tall, 10 to 20 feet wide
Bloom time: Late spring to fall

This deciduous shrub or small tree produces showy trumpet-shaped flowers that are attractive to pollinators. Native to the Southwestern U.S. and Mexico, desert willow is found growing in ditches, washes and streams where water collects. Plants are adapted to heat, drought, and lean soil. Use as a background plant or in a xeriscape.

ECHEVERIA

Plant type: Succulent
Zones: 9-11
Exposure: Full to partial sun
Habit: Mounding spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 4 inches tall, 2 to 12 inches wide
Bloom time: Spring to fall

Native to dry regions of Mexico and Central America, Echeveria is a tender perennial succulent with colorful rosettes and flower stalks. Water is stored in the thick, fleshy leaves, which can have a waxy coating that reduces evaporation. Echeveria thrives on rocky outcrops, surviving with minimal water. Display in a rock garden, container, or xeriscape. Read more on growing echeveria.

EGYPTIAN STAR FLOWER

Plant type: Tender perennial, usually grown as an annual
Zones: 10-11
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright mounding habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 3 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Summer

This warm-season plant produces vibrant star-shaped flowers that attract pollinators. Native to tropical regions of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, Pentas thrives in summer heat and is tolerant of high humidity. The hairy leaves help reduce water loss. Use as a bedding plant or in containers. Read more on growing Egyptian star flower.

Pictured: Sunstar® Red Egyptian star flower from Proven Winners.

JACARANDA

Plant type: Deciduous tree
Zones: 9-11
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright spreading habit
Height/Spread: 25 to 50 feet tall, 15 to 30 feet wide
Bloom time: Spring to summer

This deciduous tree has showy violet blooms that appear in spring. Native to tropical regions of South America, jacaranda is grown worldwide as a common street tree. In the U.S., jacaranda is found in Texas, Florida, Southern California, and Hawaii. Plants thrive in heat and humidity, preferring regular water during prolonged dry spells. Use as a street tree or stand-alone specimen.

LANTANA

Plant type: Woody perennial, usually grown as an annual
Zones: 9-11
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright bushy, spreading, or groundcover habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 6 feet tall, 3 to 10 feet wide
Bloom time: Late spring through frost when grown as an annual; nearly year-round in frost-free regions.

Valued for the brightly colored flowers, lantana is a landscape shrub grown as an annual in colder climates. Native to tropical regions of Africa and the Americas, lantana thrives in heat, and is drought-tolerant once established. The rough, hairy leaves and prickly stems reduce water evaporation. Use in containers or as a bedding plant. Read more on growing lantana.

Pictured: Luscious® Citrus Blend™ lantana from Proven Winners.

LAVENDER

Plant type: Woody perennial
Zones: 5-9
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright bushy habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 4 feet tall, 1 to 5 feet wide
Bloom time: Late spring to fall

This popular perennial herb is grown for the scented flowers and foliage with an array of ornamental, culinary and medicinal uses. Native to the Mediterranean, which experiences hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, lavender prefers lean soil and good drainage. Plant in an herb garden or mixed border. Read more on growing lavender.

Pictured: Sweet Romance® lavender from Proven Winners.

MANGAVE

Plant type: Succulent
Zones: 9-11, with some hardy to Zone 7
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Mounding habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 24 inches tall, 6 to 42 inches wide
Bloom time: Some, but not all, varieties bloom at the end of their life, dying after flowering; some bloom perennially and do not die after flowering.

Mangave, a cross between Agave and Manfreda, has spiky foliage in different colors, shapes and patterns. This tender succulent produces fleshy leaves that store water, making it resilient to heat and drought. Place in a rock garden or xeriscape, and bring indoors over the winter in colder regions. Read more on growing magave plants.

Pictured: Art and Sol™ mangaves from Proven Winners.

MARIGOLD

Plant type: Annual
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright or compact mounding habit
Height/Spread: 6 to 48 inches tall, 6 to 24 inches wide
Bloom time: Late spring to frost

One of the most popular heat-tolerant flowers, Tagetes has blooms in bright colors of yellow, orange, and red. This warm-season annual is native to warm regions of Central and South America. Marigold thrives in heat and well-drained soil. Use as a bedding plant or in containers. Read more on growing marigold flowers.

MOSS ROSE

Plant type: Succulent annual
Zones: 10-11
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Low spreading or trailing habit
Height/Spread: 3 to 12 inches tall, 6 to 42 inches wide
Bloom time: Summer to frost

This warm-season annual has small leaves and colorful rose-like flowers. Widely distributed in subtropical and tropical regions across the globe, Portulaca grows in lean soils, preferring full sun and hot temperatures. The succulent fleshy leaves have the ability to store water. Plant in a rock garden or containers. Read more on growing moss rose.

Pictured: Mojave® Red portulaca from Proven Winners.

OLEANDER

Plant type: Shrub
Zones: 8-11
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright bushy habit
Height/Spread: 4 to 20 feet tall, 3 to 15 feet wide
Bloom time: Year-round, with peak bloom during warmer months

Oleander is a common landscape plant in warmer climates, grown for its carefree nature and long bloom time. This Mediterranean native thrives in full sun and hot temperatures, preferring lean soils, and is able to withstand long periods of drought. Plant in a curbside strip or along a slope to stem erosion. Read more on growing oleander.

Pictured: Austin Pretty Limits® oleander. from Proven Winners.

BLUE PALO VERDE

Plant type: Tree
Zones: 8-11
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright spreading habit
Height/Spread: 20 to 25 feet tall, 15 to 20 feet wide
Bloom time: Spring to summer

Parkinsonia is a common desert landscape tree, with a spreading canopy and yellow flowers. Native to the desert Southwest, palo verde is acclimated to hot weather and arid conditions. In extreme heat or drought, plants shed their leaves to conserve water. The green bark continues to perform photosynthesis and helps store water. Use as a focal point or street tree.

PETUNIA

Plant type: Annual
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Mounding, spreading, or trailing habit
Height/Spread: 6 to 24 inches tall, 13 to 36 inches wide, up to 36 inches long
Bloom time: Summer into fall

Petunia is a staple of the summer garden, grown for the showy trumpet-shaped flowers in an array of colors. Native to tropical regions of South America, this warm season annual thrives in warmer temperatures, but may become stressed in extreme heat. Use as a bedding plant or in containers. Read more on how to grow petunias.

Pictured: Supertunia Vista® Bubblegum® petunia from Proven Winners.

SALVIA

Plant type: Perennial, some varieties grown as annuals
Zones: 4-12, depending on the variety
Exposure: Full sun to partial sun
Habit: Upright spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 5 feet tall, 1 to 6 feet wide, depending on the variety
Bloom time: Late spring to fall, depending on the variety

Salvia is a flowering perennial or annual that occurs in a wide range of colors and shapes. Distributed throughout the world, many species are native to hot, dry regions, with adaptive traits such as drought tolerance, deep root systems, and waxy or hairy leaves that reduce evaporation. Use in a xericape or containers. Read more on how to grow salvia.

Pictured: 'Pink Profusion' salvia from Proven Winners.

YARROW

Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 4 feet tall, 2 to 3 feet wide
Bloom time: Summer to early fall

This herbaceous perennial produces flat-topped flowers that attract a range of pollinators. Distributed throughout North America, Europe and Asia, plants develop a fibrous root system to access water deeper into the soil during dry spells. The rough leaves and hairy stems reduce water loss. Plant in a waterwise border or pollinator garden. Read more on how to grow yarrow.

Pictured: 'Firefly Sunshine' Yarrow from Proven Winners.

ZINNIA

Plant type: Annual
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright or compact bushy habit
Height/Spread: 6 to 48 inches tall, 6 to 36 inches wide
Bloom time: Summer to frost

Zinnia is a warm-season annual grown for the long-lasting colorful blooms. Native to warm regions of the Southwestern U.S., Central and South America, zinnia is tolerant of heat and humidity. Prolonged periods above 90 degrees F can cause stress and reduce flowering. Use as a bedding plant or in containers. Read more on how to grow zinnias.