Flower Gardening : The best annuals for hot climates

Read : Flowers Gardening : Controlling common problems with annuals

One of the most critical considerations for a successful garden is choosing the types of plants that will grow the best in your particular environment.  Matching the plants to the climate in which they will be grown is the best way to ensure your garden will thrive.

Those who live in hot, dry climates often think that they will be unable to enjoy a lush garden without constant watering and attention.  Fortunately, however, there are a great many annuals that love just such a climate.  The list below is a sample of annuals that can take the heat.

Annuals best suited for hot and dry climates

While all types of annuals and other plants require regular watering and close attention as they become established, the annuals listed below are much more able to tolerate consistently dry conditions once they have established their root system.

• African Daisy (Dimorphotheca) 

• Annual Vinca (Cataranthus roseus) 

• Calliopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria) 

• Cosmos (Cosmos species) 

• Creeping Zinnia (Sanvitalia procumbens) 

• Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria) 

• Gaillardia (Gaillardia pulchella) 

• Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena globosa) 

• Gloriosa Daisy (Rudbeckia hirta) 

• Gold Medallion (Melampoddium paludosum) 

• Moss Rose (Portulaca grandiflora) 

• Snow-on-the-Mountain (Euphorbia marginata) 

• Spider Flower (Cleome hasslerana) 

• Verbena (Verbena species) 

• Zinnia (Zinnia species)

Heat seeking varieties of annuals

The annuals is the list below are generally able to tolerate very hot conditions, but they do usually require additional moisture.

• Blue Daze (Evolvulus glomerata) 

• Castor Bean (Ricinus communis) 

• Cockscomb (Celosia argentea) 

• Cypress Vine (Ipomoea quamoclit) 

• Dahlia (Dahlia species and hybrids) 

• Fan Flower (Scaevola aemula) 

• Flowering Tobacco (Nicotiana species) 

• Four o’clock (Mirabilis jalapa) 

• Hyacinth Bean Vine (Dolichos lablab) 

• Joseph’s Coat (Amaranthustricolor) 

• Mexican Bush Sage (Salvia leucantha) 

• Mexican Heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia) 

• Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia) 

• Moon Vine (Ipomoea alba) 

• Morning Glory (Ipomoea species) 

• Salvia (Salvia species) 

• Silk Flower (Abelmoschus manihot) 

• Starflower (Pentas lanceolata)

• Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

A combination of the varieties of annuals listed above can be great choices for those people living in hot, dry climates.  These heat and drought tolerant annuals provide a wide variety of colors, sizes, shapes and textures, enough to meet the needs of any gardener.

Gardening in a hot, dry climate can provide a great many challenges, particularly when water use restrictions make providing supplemental moisture impossible.  Matching the types of flowers you plant to the climate in which they will be growing is one of the best ways to ensure a healthy garden and a healthy environment.

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