Hot Lovers
With gardens scorching all across America is is
good to
know some of the plants that really do like it
hot or,
at least, can tolerate these temperatures.
One of my favorites is Coreopsis or "Tickseed".
You'll be
able to find it in three main forms, the traditional
single
with bright yellow blossoms, a double version
of that and
my favorite, 'Moonbeam.'
'Moonbeam' is a lovely pale yellow that seems
to work with
most colors in your garden. Some of the brighter
coreopsis
clash with their neighbors with their vivid yellow
colors.
This particular cultivar grows to be about 1.5'
and needs
no staking. It is, as advertised, drought tolerant
and is
quite resistant to mildew. East Coast humidity
doesn't seem
to faze it.
Cosmos, including the newish chocolate version,
thrive in
high temperatures. While generally annuals, they
reseed easily
and will be a constant presence in your garden
if you let it.
They look best in massed groupings and toward
the back of your
beds since they can be tall. Some can exceed
four feet! This
is not a fussy plant and will thrive in hot areas.
You may
have to stake this Southwest native but it is
worth it. Long
blooming, they are a delight in gardens.
The classic Cosmos bipinnatus is 'Sensation.'
It is prove what
breeders are able to produce. Colors include
pink, rose,
lavender or white.
A shorter form is C. sulphureus 'Sunny Red' which
is quite
bushy and tops out at 14 inches or so.
Lots of choices when you want to grow Salvias,
another hot
weather choice. In this one, plant in full sun
unless your
temperatures are consistently over 90 degrees.
With those
really high temperatures, they like partial shade.
Flowers are tubular in rings on long spires. Pretty
neat!
The common name for this plant is sage, so you
can find lots
under such names as violet sage, scarlet sage,
gentian sage,
and as Clary sage or meadow clary.
Among the easiest to grow and therefore not always
appreciated
is the Zinnia. Once again lots of choices here.
They come in
just about any size you want with blooms ranging
from tiny
buttons to 7" giants. Most of the flowers will
be about 3".
This plant benefits from some judicious mulching
to help it
retain a little moisture and be sure to dead
head regularly.
If you do, the plant rewards you with bushy growth
and lots
of repeat flowers.
While the plants I've mentioned here today (with
more next
week) all will do well in hot weather, none can
exist without
occasional water. TV's Paul James recommends
at least an inch
a week, if you can spare it.
Good luck and great gardening,
-----
David Soper, The Garden Guy, writes and lectures on gardening topics. Read more on his website, Adventures in Gardening, www.gardenguy.com
