Heat-Proof Flowering Shrubs For Hotter Summers – 6 Of The Best That Will Flourish in Drought and Heat Without Fuss
No matter how hot it gets, these flowering shrubs will still thrive
Vibrant heat-proof flowering shrubs are the backbone of any summer garden design even in the hottest climate. The trick to successful planting is finding shrubs that deliver blooms month after month to add color and structure to your landscaping without wilting in the heat.
Choose plants that thrive in hot sun because they're native to arid climates, such as the American Southwest, Australia, and the Mediterranean. These drought-tolerant plants will be adapted to withstand prolonged periods of heat without the need for constant watering and attention, and they will still look good.
As our climate continues to change and firescaping increasingly becomes a real concern for many of us make sure you choose flowering shrubs that can deliver in even the hardest growing conditions. Find out what we consider to be the best heat-proof flowering shrubs every garden should have when it's too hot outside to think.
6 Flowering Shrubs That Work For Hotter Summers
As summer temperatures rise across much of the US, selecting shrubs that can thrive in intense heat is increasingly important.
'Many common landscape shrubs struggle when temperatures soar above 100°F, but several flowering shrubs flourish in hot climates if planted thoughtfully and watered properly during their initial growth phase,' says horticulturalist Noelle Johnson, who is an expert in choosing plants for hot, dry climates.
When choosing shrubs for hotter summers, make drought-tolerant landscaping ideas your starting point.
Noelle also suggests considering the natural habitats of plants. Those from arid regions like the American Southwest often have built-in adaptations to survive extreme heat with less water than typical landscape shrubs.
Varieties of shrub where the heart of the plant is packed with leaves and branches are more flammable. 'Plants that have been thinned, and have loose, open branching, and a low volume of leaves are less flammable,' according to Adrienne Edwards and Rachel Schleiger, authors of Firescaping Your Home: A Manual for Readiness in Wildfire Country, available on Amazon. 'Another point to consider is that plants containing oils, resins, waxes, and aromatics like terpenes and phenols are more flammable than those without these volatile compounds.'
Now find out what our expert recommendations are for 6 of the best heat-proof flowering shrubs to choose for your garden that will thrive in hotter US summers.
Noelle Johnson, known as 'AZ Plant Lady', is a horticulturist, landscape consultant, and author specializing in water-wise gardening for hot, dry climates. She holds a B.S. in Plant Biology/Urban Horticulture from Arizona State University and is the author of The Water-Smart Garden and the award-winning The Dry Climate Garden. Her work has been featured by CNN, HGTV, NPR, PBS, and Martha Stewart Living, and she has spent more than 25 years helping gardeners create beautiful, resilient landscapes that thrive in the desert Southwest.
Adrienne Edwards is a plant ecologist, garden designer and environmental consultant. She began her botanical odyssey in the Southeast, spent time in the Midwest, and since 2006 has lived and worked in northern California. After more than 30 years' experience teaching, researching and consulting, plants continue to be her muse. She is currently a faculty lecturer at California State University, Chico.
Rachel Schleiger specializes in restoration ecology. She has lived in the Sierra Nevada foothills most of her life. Her family and property survived the deadliest and most destructive western fire on record, the 2018 Camp Fire. Since then, she has developed a curriculum to teach about wildfire, both in person and online through Butte College. She is currently a faculty lecturer at both Butte College and California State University, Chico.
1. Baja Fairy Duster
'This hardy shrub, native to the deserts of Baja California, produces vivid red, powder-puff flowers from spring through fall that attract butterflies and hummingbirds,' says Noelle Johnson. 'Once established, it needs little extra water and continues blooming through extreme summer heat.'
This plant gets its name from the fact its red flowers are shaped like a feather duster. Also known as Calliandra californica, Baja fairy duster loves full sun and reflected heat, so is a good choice to plant against south- or west-facing walls where hot, reflected heat is the norm.
It will reach a mature height and spread of 5 feet. It has a natural, spiky shape that creates an unusual punctuation point in your landscaping. Find Baja fairy duster seeds here at Amazon.
If you live in an area with mild winters this Mexican native may bloom in winter. The deep green foliage consists of tiny leaflets clustered tightly together. Lightly prune back in mid to late spring, and as your shrub gets bigger prune selectively to thin and remove any old, woody growth.
2. Mexican Honeysuckle
'With stunning bright orange flowers that draw hummingbirds and butterflies, Mexican honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera) blooms through much of the warm season in filtered sunlight, adding a soft, natural look to your garden,' says Noelle.
Tubular flowers decorate this Mexican honeysuckle throughout most of the year. In the right climate it will bloom all year round, but in areas with cold winters flowering may pause until spring. In addition to the flowers, the lush, light green foliage adds a nice tropical feel to the landscape. You can find Mexican honeysuckle plants at Amazon.
Mexican honeysuckle is a small shrub with a naturally mounded shape. Another desirable characteristic is that it does well in filtered shade while handling summer heat. In spring, any pruning can be done by cutting it back to the ground.
3. Texas Sage
Texas sage (Leucophyllum species) is valued for its heat and drought tolerance, seasonal color, and growing adaptability across the Southwest and Pacific Northwest.
An evergreen shrub native to arid and semi-arid regions it's one of the heat-proof flowering shrubs you can count on to deal with a combination of intense sun, heat, and minimal watering.
Known for its prolific violet blooms, Texas sage adds texture, color, and structure to desert landscaping ideas, xeriscaping projects and other sun-drenched garden spaces.
It also offers a vibrant accent in rock garden ideas where it will segue seamlessly into the landscape, as well as being a low-maintenance option for water-wise landscapes. Find heirloom Texas sage seeds here at Amazon.
'Recognizable by its silvery foliage and bursts of purple flowers after rain or humidity, Texas sage reflects sunlight and endures high temperatures, making it ideal for hot, dry areas,' says Noelle. The vibrant blooms attract a variety of pollinators, including butterflies and bees, to help create a healthy ecosystem in your garden.
4. 'Orange Jubilee' Tecoma
The tecoma variety 'Orange Jubilee' is an upright shrub that reaches up to 12 feet tall and 8 feet across in hot climates. It can be found growing from the Southeast to the arid Southwest. In hot, humid climates it can be invasive, so if this is the case keep it under control with regular pruning.
'For gardeners wanting a larger shrub, 'Orange Jubilee' produces eye-catching flowers from spring until frost in warm climates, and thrives where many other shrubs struggle,' says Joelle.
The lush foliage gives this shrub a subtropical appearance, while clusters of orange-red, bell-shaped flowers always make this variety a popular choice.
Moderately drought tolerant, 'Orange Jubilee' can get by on minimal supplemental water during summer, and will tolerate rocky, native soil too. Find 'Orange Jubilee' seeds here at Amazon, which are super quick and easy to germinate.
5. Valentine Bush
Pretty scarlet blooms give Valentine bush standout factor if you're looking for vibrant heat-proof flowering shrubs. In mild climates, flowering begins in winter, bringing a pop of welcome color in the garden out of season.
'Offering bright red flowers from winter to late spring and attractive evergreen foliage year-round, this Australian native is especially good at handling heat and drought, making it an excellent choice for year-round color,' says Noelle.
Valentine bush (also known as Eremophila maculata 'Valentine') has an attractive slightly open and arching growth habit that adds an interesting note to the landscape. Plant in well-drained soil and full sun, and when it reaches maturity it will be around 4 feet tall and 5 feet wide. Prune back once a year to half its size once flowering has ended.
This shrub is low maintenance but requires well-drained soil to reach its full potential.
6. Yellow Bells
The stunning blooms of the shrub yellow bells are well suited to hot and sunny gardens, where they enjoy full sun and reflected heat, and will fill flowerbeds throughout the warm season. This is another one of the popular heat-proof flowering shrubs that are attractive to hummingbirds.
'Known for its vivid trumpet-shaped flowers, yellow bells blooms from spring to fall, even during intense heat,' says Noelle. 'It requires little water once established and attracts pollinators throughout the growing season.' In late summer, brownish-tan seedpods appear and remain on the plant for a long time.
This large, fast-growing shrub is frost-tender but grows back quickly in spring. As the regrowth is so rapid it can be pruned by selectively thinning old, woody branches or cutting back more severely to about a foot tall.
In hot climates it grows quickly to around 8 feet in height with a spread of 10 feet, and the plant will be covered in clusters of flowers. Find yellow bells plants here at Amazon for year round color and beauty.
FAQs
Can I Get Flowers And Scent In Fire-Risk Zones?
As you can see from our selection above it is still possible to get plenty of flowers in fire-risk zones. You can also add scented varieties to your garden if you choose your plants carefully.
French lilac is one of the best options if you're looking for scented fire-resistant plants to try. It's generally considered to be fire-resistant as the foliage has a high water content, and it has an open branching structure so accumulates less dead or dry wood in the center. Additionally lilac doesn't carry the volatile resins found in highly combustible plants.
Another good choice is lavender, which is considered to be moderately fire-resistant. Many lavender plants turn woody if they have lots of dry, dead stems but if kept hydrated and pruned regularly they are slow to ignite.
That's it for heat-proof flowering shrub suggestions. Now find out about the main firescaping mistakes to avoid if you're planning on introducing more fire-smart landscaping ideas.
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