Plants that
Beat Summer Heat
F
ollowing the non-stop heat in July, how does your garden look in August? There are some years I peek out the back window of my house in late summer and quickly close the curtains. It’s easier to ignore the poor plant choices and move on to thinking about all
the great new plants to try next year! That’s an easy garden planning and shopping cycle to get caught up in. And expensive, especially when the newest varieties don’t work out. There will always be new plants to try and that’s one of the fun things about gardening. But
it’s also nice to have plant options that are proven for our Midwest gardens. I’ve turned to some of the horticulture experts at Powell Gardens to learn about their favorite plants that do well in August. It’s quite a range of plants with something for every style of gardening.
Indian Summer Rudbeckia Rudbecika hirta ‘Indian Summer’ Cut Flower Garden, All-America Selections award winner in 1995 – Casey McNeel, North Gardens
Miss Molly Butterfly Bush Buddleia x ‘Miss Molly’ Visitor Center terraces, vibrant magenta flowers that attract butterflies – Brent Tucker, Visitor Center Gardens
Cardinal Flower Lobelia Lobelia cardinalis Perennial Garden, late season hummingbird favorite – Molly Shepherd, North Gardens
Golden Ghost Red Pine Pinus densiflora ‘Golden Ghost’ Conifer Garden, with variegated tips that look like flowers – Zoe Aber, Core Gardens
Solar Flare Red Hot Poker Kniphofia ‘Solar Flare’ Perennial Garden, handles the heat – Phil Bishop, Assistant Director of Horticulture
Tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera Native Pollinator Garden, tiger swallowtail host plant – Eric Perrette, North Gardens
Coral Groundcover Aloe Aloe saponaria Vineyard Container Gardens, great contrast with a mix of succulents – Rebecca Carbonell, North Gardens
Sensitive Plant Mimosa pudica Children’s Sensory Garden, leaves fold up when touched – Haze Gaddie, North Gardens
Geisha Gone Wild Japanese Maple Acer palmatum ‘Geisha Gone Wild’ Woodland and Stream Garden, variegated foliage – Tommy Loggins, Core Gardens
Sophistica Lime Green Petunia Petunia x hybrida ‘Sophistica® Lime’ Chapel Container Gardens, lush flowers that trail – Marissa Mills, Greenhouse Production
Blue Fortune Hyssop Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ Visitor Center terraces, bees and butterflies love the flowers – Cassie Callahan, Visitor Center Gardens
Seven Sons Tree Heptacodium miconioides Gatehouse Garden, pollinator favorite with exfoliating bark – Dan Wicks, Core Gardens
Manee Red Waterlily Nymphaea ‘Manee Red’ Island Garden, true red and winter hardy – Matt Hockaday, Core Gardens
Great Blue Lobelia Lobelia siphilitica Butterfly Meadow, late season pollinator plant – Julie Copley, Conservationist
Geisha Gone Wild Japanese Maple
SUSAN MERTZ Plantswoman 12
August 2022 | kcgmag.com
Sensitive Plant
Blue Fortune Hyssop
With over 25 years in the horticulture industry and public gardening community, Susan is Director of Horticulture at Powell Gardens. Married, with grown children and a granddaughter, Susan and her husband love to travel and want to see the world. Or, as much of the world as is covered by their frequent flyer miles. As long as there is a garden or two included in each vacation spot, her suitcase and camera bag are packed.
