Many garden annuals shrivel up in the summer heat. Below is a listing of many floral beauties that Beat the Heat of Summer. They keep your garden alive with color all through the summer’s dog days and into fall. They’re tolerant of the high day and night temperatures as well as being moderately drought tolerant.

Regarding drought tolerance, plants need frequent watering when first planted. Depending on rainfall amounts where you garden, the first 6-8 weeks of watering (rainfall + irrigation) is highly important to build a sturdy summer drought tolerant plant. Genetics also plays an important part here. Select annuals that cope with summer drought. Secondarily having a backup irrigation system may be necessary if rainfall amounts fall significantly short of needed plant survival.

Lantana (Lantana camara) produces small tubular flowers in an array of colors, including yellow, orange, pink, red, purple, and even white that attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. perennial in zones 7b-11. Love the Luscious™ and Bandana™ series; ‘New Gold’.

Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) grows 1-6 feet tall in full sun and dry conditions. Choice of flower colors include orange, pink, red, purple, or white blooms; attract birds and butterflies.

Globe amaranth (Gomphrena) include pink, red, orange, purple and white flowering choices, along with narrow deep green leaves and a compact or upright growth habit. Attract butterflies and other insect pollinators. Love ‘Truffula’, ‘Fourth of July’, ‘Fireworks’, Gnome series.

Spider flower (Cleome spp.) grows 3-4 feet high with pink, purple, white, and lavender flowers that attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and hummingbirds. For smaller gardens select dwarf sterile (seedless) ‘Senorita Rosalita’, ‘Senorita Blanca’, and Sparkler™ varieties.

Fanflower (Scaevola aemula) is an Australian native that is exceptionally heat and drought tolerant.; bears abundant blue, pink, white, or purple blooms with bright yellow-and-white centers that invite numerous pollinators into the summer and fall garden.

Mealycup sage (Salvia farinacea) grows 2-3 feet tall and is exceptionally heat tolerant annual, sometimes perennial. Cathedral™ or Sallyfun™ series offer deep blue, pale blue and white depending on the cultivar.

Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia) is sun-loving and perform well in average to dry soils and cope with poor soils; preferred varieties – “Fiesta d’Sol’, ‘Torch’, and ‘Yellow Torch’.

Portulaca (P. grandiflora) low-growing, succulent leaves; vibrant pink, red, yellow, orange, white, or purple blooms open fully in bright sunlight; perform at their best in sandy, dry soil; excellent for containers.

Blanket flower (Gaillardia) Daisy-like flowers in red, gold, and orange; blooms from summer to frost; tolerates poor soil and full sun.

Evolvulus (Evolvulus glomeratus) demonstrates exceptional heat and drought tolerance bees and butterflies like to visit its sweet blue blooms leading varieties ‘Blue Daze’ and ‘Blue My Mind’.

Mexican Heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia) features fine, glossy, bright green foliage and tiny trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom in shades of purple, lavender, pink, or white, attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds; compact growing plant suitable for small gardens, borders, rock gardens, and containers.

Tips for Growing Drought-Tolerant Sun Annuals

• Water deeply at planting through the first 6-8 weeks to establish roots, then reduce frequency; shallow watering encourages shallow roots.
• Soil: Well-drained soil is essential; organic (peat- or bark-based) gritty potting mixes work well for container planting.
• Deadhead spent flowers to prolong blooming; some species self-seed for the next season.
• Pot size is highly important. Drought-tolerant annuals in pots tend to dry out faster with limited soil (media) mass.
• Mulch flower beds to reduce soil moisture loss from evaporation and excessive weed pressure.