Plants That Can Take the Florida Summer Heat By Morgan Cole
Zinnia (Zinnia spp.)
Those of us who adore gardening and can’t wait to get our hands in the dirt typically rush to the local nursery at the first signs of warmer weather to load up on beautiful flowers and lush greenery to plant. However, if you don’t have a good plan, you may get home and find yourself with a carload of plants that are either hard to maintain or do not perform well as the temperatures begin to soar. Southern summers can often become unbearable, and any living thing that isn’t protected by shade is under threat of becoming baked. If you want your colorful garden to perform well in the heart of the summer, do your homework before you head to the nursery. It’s tough to keep our gardens lush and vibrant with the hot humid conditions during summers in the south—especially here in Northwest Florida. That’s why it is important to look for plants that can holdup well on their own in the heat, humidity and even through drought situations. The good news is that even during the oppressive heat of summer, you can still plant and cultivate a flourishing garden filled with beautiful bedding plants. In fact, there are several plant species that thrive in our climate and soil. We’ve consulted with Manager and Owner of Floral Tree Gardens, Tena O’Daniel, to bring you a selection of sun-loving flowers and hearty plants that will help you create a beautiful summer garden you’re sure to love.
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African iris (Dietes bicolor) Muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) This versatile ornamental grass is a plant superstar, putting on a fabulous show each fall even if it receives little care during the year. Muhly grass is naturally found in Florida’s pine flatwoods, coastal uplands and even along its highways, but these days it’s also a popular choice in home and commercial landscapes. This easy-to-grow ornamental grass produces clumps that can reach 2 to 3 feet tall and up to 3 feet wide when mature. In fall, muhly grass produces fluffy pink to purple flower stalks that can grow up to 5 feet tall, giving the plant a distinctive appearance. A lovely white-flowering variety of muhly is also available. “Some of the best heat-tolerant plants for our area are ornamental grasses,” O’Daniel said. “Just a few examples that work well in hot drought-like conditions are Fountain grass, muhly and breeze.” O’Daniel also
explained that ornamental grass like muhly are valued in home landscapes for their hardiness, ease of care, dramatic appearance, and the wide variety of colors, textures and sizes available. African iris (Dietes bicolor) As its name implies, the African iris is a variety that originated in Africa. These hardy cousins of the lovely bearded iris (more commonly found in northern climates) produce beautiful flowers in the spring and all through the summer. It is low maintenance and thrives in full sun and can tolerate dry conditions. This plant will look great alongside a border or flower bed edge. It is also pest resistant. O’Daniel says that the African iris is a great all-purpose plant for home landscapes. Its sturdy, reed-like foliage is evergreen and a wonderful accent plant in the landscape. It produces bright white
