Carolyn Saft
Contributor
Gardening in North Florida in the summertime is like being in an outdoor sauna. After a few minutes outside, you may be ready to let the weeds take over and deal with yard chores after the first cold front. A different option is to plant some of these heat-tolerant plants so there is less room for weeds to grow. Consider planting the following ten plants that grow well during our sweltering summers. 1. Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) This is my favorite spring/summer bloomer. The fields and roadsides come alive when the Coreopsis starts blooming. These bright yellow flowers grow to about 18 to 24 inches in height. Several natives exist, and Coreopsis basalis, with the burgundy color in the center, is often planted along roadsides. 2. Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Sturdy and easy to grow, this early-summer-blooming flower brightens gardens. Cutting encourages them to rebloom late in the season. The 2 to 4-inch blooms have orange-red rays and a prominent purplish-black cone. Deer usually avoid these plants. 3. Mealycup Sage (Salvia farinacea) Tall, densely packed flowers appear on this plant, which is native to southern New Mexico, Texas and Mexico, in late spring. Blooms vary from deep violet to white. Like other members of the sage family, mealycup sage is generally pest-free. Many other salvias do well in hot weather and could be used in our landscapes. 4. Purslane or Moss Rose (Portulaca oleracea) These cheerful little flowers open fully in bright light and close by mid-afternoon in hot weather. Purslane thrives in hot temperatures and intense sunlight and is not fussy about soil. Purslane has a taproot and is able to tolerate poor, compacted soils and drought. You can even eat the native purslane. 5. Verbena (Verbena species) These tough plants grow to heights of 8 feet to 36 inches, depending on the species. They bloom in late spring, thrive in heat, and tolerate drought. My favorites are the fuchsia pinks. Other colors include white, lavender or purple. They grow well in sunny locations with well-drained soil and good air circulation. 6. Daylily (Hemerocallis cultivars) These hearty perennials grow to a height of about 1 1⁄2 to 3 feet and have bloom spikes of 18 to 24 inches. Daylilies are highly adaptable and prefer sun or light shade. There are thousands of cultivars in every color except blue. 7. Georgia calamint (Calamintha georgiana) A native that grows to approximately 1 to 2 feet that can be used as a border or foundation plant. Many different pollinators are attracted to this plant. The light lavender flowers bloom in late fall and winter and provide a nectar source when many other plants are dormant. 8. Pink muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) A native, clumping grass that grows 3 to 4 feet tall. This plant flourishes in sun or light shade. The very showy purplish pink plumes appear in early fall and are a wonderful transition plant from pond areas to landscaped areas. Another favorite of our Master Gardener volunteers. 9. Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) Rosemary is a fragrant herb that can enhance your cooking and your landscape. It blooms in winter and spring with small pink, lavender or blue flowers, depending on the cultivar. When planted in the ground, rosemary can reach up to 6 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide but will remain smaller if pruned or planted in containers. 10. Wishbone Flower (Torenia fournieri) Older varieties of torenia did not always thrive in Florida, but the new Summer Wave® series of torenia is tolerant of heat, heavy rains and occasionally dry soils. Specific cultivars in the Summer Wave® series include "Amethyst Ice," "Silver," "Violet Ice," "Large Amethyst" and "Large Violet." Flowers resemble snapdragons and can be white, yellow, pink, violet or purple. Plants' height is 6 inches tall and can trail up to 30 inches as they grow, making them an excellent choice for the front of a landscape bed or the edge of a container or hanging basket. These plants have been tried and evaluated in our north Florida landscapes and can be found at your local nursery or garden center. UF/IFAS is an equal-opportunity institution.