Plants that Beat Summer Heat

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Plants that

Beat Summer Heat

Following 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

Golden Ghost Red Pine Pinus densiflora ‘Golden Ghost’ Conifer Garden, with variegated tips that look like flowers – Zoe Aber, Core Gardens

Coral Groundcover Aloe Aloe saponaria Vineyard Container Gardens, great contrast with a mix of succulents – Rebecca Carbonell, North Gardens

Sophistica Lime Green Petunia Petunia x hybrida ‘Sophistica® Lime’ Chapel Container Gardens, lush flowers that trail – Marissa Mills, Greenhouse Production

Manee Red Waterlily Nymphaea ‘Manee Red’ Island Garden, true red and winter hardy – Matt Hockaday, Core Gardens

Geisha Gone Wild Japanese Maple

SUSAN MERTZ Plantswoman

Miss Molly Butterfly Bush Buddleia x ‘Miss Molly’ Visitor Center terraces, vibrant magenta flowers that attract butterflies – Brent Tucker, Visitor Center Gardens

Solar Flare Red Hot Poker Kniphofia ‘Solar Flare’ Perennial Garden, handles the heat – Phil Bishop, Assistant Director of Horticulture

Sensitive Plant Mimosa pudica Children’s Sensory Garden, leaves fold up when touched – Haze Gaddie, North Gardens

Blue Fortune Hyssop Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ Visitor Center terraces, bees and butterflies love the flowers – Cassie Callahan, Visitor Center Gardens

Great Blue Lobelia Lobelia siphilitica Butterfly Meadow, late season pollinator plant – Julie Copley, Conservationist

Sensitive Plant Cardinal Flower Lobelia Lobelia cardinalis Perennial Garden, late season hummingbird favorite – Molly Shepherd, North Gardens

Tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera Native Pollinator Garden, tiger swallowtail host plant – Eric Perrette, North Gardens

Geisha Gone Wild Japanese Maple Acer palmatum ‘Geisha Gone Wild’ Woodland and Stream Garden, variegated foliage – Tommy Loggins, Core Gardens

Seven Sons Tree Heptacodium miconioides Gatehouse Garden, pollinator favorite with exfoliating bark – Dan Wicks, Core Gardens

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.