Heat-Bearing Annuals That Thrive in Hot Weather

Summer heat can be quite intense in some climates, and it’s not for the faint of heart. These heat-tolerant annuals not only survive the heat, they thrive in it. They produce more blooms on larger plants as temperatures rise, making them ideal for growing in hot weather and hot summers.

1. CAMPFIRE® Flame Bidens

If your porch, patio, or window box gets full sun, this is the plant for you. This vigorous annual thrives in the heat and doesn’t mind a little dry soil from time to time. Its deep orange flowers continue to bloom from spring to fall atop bushy, green foliage. Try pairing it with the new Luscious® Royale Cosmo, which thrives in the same conditions.

2. TOUCAN® Coral Canna x generalis

If you love the look of tropical plants but want something that’s as easy to grow as a petunia, try our Toucan® Cannas. They grow quickly and make bold thrillers in your larger containers, and will also thrive in the landscape. Their very manageable size makes them easy to pair with other plants in more compact, compact containers. Cannas bloom profusely in warm climates that love the heat all summer, and they are grown more for their bold foliage in northern climates where they bloom late in the season. Toucan™ Coral features tropical salmon pink flowers that attract pollinators atop its lush green foliage.

3. LUSCIOUS® Berry Mix Lantana

If you’re looking for a tough plant, it’s hard to beat lantana. Drought? Heat? No problem! This pink and yellow bicolor makes a big statement in a container or garden. Grow it alone or combine it with other sun-loving plants. The clusters of fragrant flowers attract pollinators all season long, and bloom like crazy without getting too crowded.

4. SUPERTUNIA MINI VISTA® Hot Pink Petunia

The bloom power of this new Supertunia Charm petunia is remarkable, as the plant is completely covered with bright pink flowers from spring to fall. There is no need to remove faded flowers; these petunias are self-cleaning. Supertunia Mini Vista varieties have a very bushy, mounding form, so they are ideal for upright containers, hanging baskets, and planting in the garden, where they make a good alternative to Calibrachoa. They thrive in heat and humidity, so even gardeners in the South can enjoy their amazing bloom power all season long.

5. SUPERTUNIA® Lovie Dovie Petunia

Patterned petunias are back in style! This beautiful, curly, white petunia is adorned with a magenta pink star pattern on each flower. Don’t let its beauty fool you: This beautiful petunia is as long-lasting and blooms like our Supertunia petunias, blooming like crazy from spring to fall without having to remove spent blooms. Grow it alone or in combination with your other favorite flowers in your hanging baskets, raised containers, and window boxes.

6. INTENSIA® Red Hot Phlox drummondii

We’ve found the perfect plant to add to your Patriot flower pots and window boxes this summer! This stunning plant will be covered in true red flowers from early spring to fall without removing spent blooms. Its mounding form and vigorous growth make it a quick addition to hanging baskets, raised containers, and landscapes. This type of phlox is very tolerant of sun, heat, humidity, and drought, so it can easily withstand the heat of summer when some other plants might struggle. You can grow it like a succulent, but expect amazing bloom power.

7. INTENSIA® White Phlox drummondii

Intensia® Phlox are easy to grow in containers and in sunny landscapes, where they play well with other medium-hardy varieties. They bloom from late spring to fall in mounding plants that exhibit excellent disease resistance. You’ll be impressed by their heat, humidity, and drought tolerance.