Flowers for garden planters that take the heat ~

Don't use dark colored or metal planters, as they tend to absorb and retain heat more than other materials. Be sure to soak terracotta and unglazed clay planters before planting to stop moisture from being robbed from the soil. Soak the clay planter when you water your plants.

Experiment with flower selections from the following heat-tolerant plants for container gardening:

Amaranthus (amaranth)
18 in. to 6 ft., varies with species
Red, orange, gold, green, purple
Resents transplanting. Direct-seed.
Can't Tolerate: Wet soil; shade

Arctotis hybrids (African daisy)
1 ft. to 2 ft., varies with cultivar
Red, pink, orange, yellow, white
Direct-seed after frost.
Can't Tolerate: Humidity; high night temps

Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle)
4 in. to 24 in., varies with cultivar
Red, pink, lavender, white
Difficult to start from seed. Buy plants instead.
Can't Tolerate: Temps below 60 degrees F

Celosia spicata (wheat celosia)
2 ft. to 4 ft., varies with cultivar
Red, pink, purple
Good cut flower, fresh or dried.
Can't Tolerate: Cold soil; cold water

Cleome hassleriana (spider flower)
3 ft. to 5 ft.
Rose, pink, purple, white
Easy to grow from seed; self-sows.

Cosmos bipinnatus
2 ft. to 5 ft., varies with cultivar
Crimson, pink, white
Easy to grow from seed; self-sows.
Can't Tolerate: Rich soil (yields few flowers)

Cosmos sulphureus
1 ft. to 4 ft., varies with cultivar
Scarlet, orange, yellow
Easy to grow from seed; self-sows.
Can't Tolerate: Rich soil (yields few flowers)

Cuphea micropetala (cigar plant)
3 ft. to 4 ft.
Red
Buy transplants.

> More Heat Tolerant Flowers

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