7 Heat-Resistant Blooms to Keep Your Garden Bright

Don’t let your garden become drier than West Texas. Make it an oasis instead. Texas summers can be brutal for plants, but hearty plants that thrive in hot and dry conditions will keep your garden vibrant year-round. These trees, shrubs, and vines can take the Texas heat — and you can keep your green thumb!

Autumn Sage

Salvia Greggii. This shrubby perennial is a favorite of Texas gardeners and it thrives in a variety of soils. It’s perfect for really hot sunny areas, even close to concrete. You will be rewarded with blooms from early spring till first frost and the hummingbirds will love you for it.  Flowers range in color from pure white to pale yellow to pink and even the deepest red.

Bearded Iris

Iris germanica. Bearded Irises are one of our most drought-tolerant yet stunningly beautiful perennials. There are more varieties and colors available today than you could ever possibly plant. Perfect for a sunny location with limited or no automated irrigation. One of my favorites? ‘Blenheim Royal,’ a stunning, deep blue.

Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia indica. One of the most compatible plants for the Texas climate, crape myrtles provide beautiful color throughout the summer and into the fall with their red, pink, white, and purple flowers, which can last for as long as four months. They thrive in full sun, and once they’re established (usually a couple months after planting), they’re disease-resistant and drought-tolerant.

Crossvine

Bignonia capreolata. Plant crossvine on a lattice, fence, or wall to grow a strong vine with heavy blooms that range in color from yellow to red. It does best in full sun but will still grow in partial shade, and the vines become completely covered in clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers in warm weather. Crossvine is drought-resistant and loves to grow, so be prepared for it to spread out.

Lady Banks Rose

Rosa banksiae. Even in the most miserable sun and heat, these tough ramblers will not only survive, but thrive. In spring, this rose will deliver the most abundant shower of double yellow or white rose blooms you can find. Its semi-evergreen habit is perfect for covering an unsightly fence or decorating a trellis.

Mexican Bush Sage

Salvia leucantha. Add a vibrant pop of color to your landscape with the long, purple flower strands of this pest-resistant and water-wise shrub. Plant Mexican bush sage in full sun and watch it bloom — all you need to do for this low- maintenance perennial is prune it to the ground after the first winter frost hits.

Texas Lantana

Lantana horrida. This perennial loves the Texas heat — it blooms bigger and brighter as the heat intensifies! Texas lantana will bring butterflies and birds to your garden, and it typically only needs watering once a week. It comes in different colors and growth patterns; the red/orange variety is more bushy, while the purple variety is more spread out over the ground.

In addition to colorful plants, add some flavor to your yard this summer with tips from Texas Heritage for Living for growing a bountiful vegetable garden!

© 2016 Texas Farm Bureau Insurance