The summer months in Northeast Florida can be hot and humid! When adding to your landscape, it is important to select plants that are hardy enough to withstand these sometimes harsh conditions.
For areas of full sun, look for heat-tolerant plants such as black-eyed susan, blue daze, bush daisy, coleus, dune sunflower, gaillardia, gazania, lantana, melampodium, milkweed, ornamental peppers, pentas, portulaca, purslane, Texas sage, vinca, zinnia, and all types of sedums and succulents.
Carolina jessamine, otherwise known as yellow jessamine, grows as a vine and is a great choice for climbing up a landscape feature such as a trellis, arbor or pergola. These yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers release a sweet fragrance and are very heat-tolerant.
For a low-maintenance option, consider blue daze as it requires little care other than extra water during dry weather. It is salt tolerant and grows beautifully in eastern exposure. No deadheading required! The plants are covered with small blue flowers that close during the afternoon heat.
Vinca is a great annual that comes in a variety of colors for hot, dry weather. Their needs are minimal — only low water and fertilizer.
Other beautiful plants for the summer heat are bulbine, butterfly bush, firebush, firespike, hydrangea, Mexican heather, plumbago, salvia, and shrimp plant.
In areas of shade, consider heat-tolerant plants such as begonias and impatiens, both annuals. Also look for agapanthus, alocasia, alternanthera, arboricola, caladiums, foxtail fern, Hawaiian ti, ornamental sweet potato and stromanthe.
Happy planting!
Please email Kathy at kathys.creative.gardens@gmail.com for any questions or gardening tips you would like to see in the future. For more information and ideas, visit the nursery in Ponte Vedra Beach! Kathy’s Creative Gardens & Nursery, 196 N. Roscoe Blvd. 904-655-7373
