Most heat-loving plants need full sun to flower. Wood or ceramic planters are ideal for hot locations, avoid metal planters which may over-heat the soil in sunny locations:

Portulaca (rose moss)
4 in. to 8 in.
Red, magenta, pink, salmon, orange, yellow, white
Easy to grow from seed; rooted cuttings will overwinter.
Can't Tolerate: Humidity

Sanvitalia procumbens (creeping zinnia)
4 in. to 8 in.
Orange, yellow
Performs in partial shade, but plant close together for fullness.
Can't Tolerate: Poor drainage

Tagetes (marigold)
6 in. to 4 ft., varies with species
Maroon, orange, yellow, cream
Easy to start from seed. Deadhead for continuous bloom.
Can't Tolerate: Rich soil

Thymophylla tenuiloba or Dyssodia tenuiloba (Dahlberg daisy)
4 in. to 8 in.
Yellow
Short-lived, but reseeds.
Can't Tolerate: Poor drainage

Tithonia rotundifolia (Mexican sunflower)
30 in. to 8 ft., varies with cultivar
Orange, yellow
Shrublike in growth. Deadhead for continuous bloom.
Can't Tolerate: Rain; rich soil (yields floppy stems)

Verbena peruviana (Peruvian verbena)
3 in. to 6 in.
Red, pink, white
Good as groundcover and on slopes; performs in partial shade.
Can't Tolerate: Wet soil

Verbena tenuisecta (moss verbena)
8 in. to 12 in.
Pink, lavender, purple, white
Shear plants to 2 in. tall if they become leggy.
Can't Tolerate: Poor drainage

Zinnia angustifolia (narrow-leaved zinnia)
12 in. to 15 in.
Orange, yellow, white
Mildew-resistant.

Zinnia elegans (common zinnia)
4 in. to 4 ft., varies with cultivar
All colors except blue
Easy to grow from seed. Deadhead for continuous bloom.
Can't Tolerate: Wet soil; poor air circulation

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