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Arizona Gardening

Full sun - heat tolerant plants

17 years ago

I am looking for suggestions for flowering type plants that can take the sun and heat - besides marigolds, sage and zinnias. (annuals or perennials) I can provide amended soil and irrigation. Does anyone know if gallardias really can take our sun? What about primroses? I'd hate to put them out there and watch them suffer but I really want to add more variety.

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Comments (5)

saguaro
17 years ago
Cosmos do fine as do salvia and penstemons.Columbines and primroses should do OK on North or east side of the house with lots of water in the heat of the summer. Also try daisies. I have only grown gallardias 1 year. They did OK but suffered from lack of water in their bed.The verbena is worth a try for low color all summer. I personally don't think you can beat Zinnnias. Good luck and stay out of the mid-day sun.
deanna_phx
17 years ago
Vinca and Moss Rose (portaluca) do well in the summer with afternoon shade. All the nurseries have them this time of the year.
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the_adams
17 years ago
I have had great success with Gaillardia's in full sun, but they do need regular water. My fav variety is Fanfare:

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Also, Tecoma Stans (Yellow Bells), Crape Myrtyl, Pineapple Guava Bush and Butterfly Bush.

Vines: Purple Leafed Honeysuckle and Caralonia Jesamine (both of which smell great).

Vitex (Chaste Tree), not sure of the variety, gets small purple flowers but has beautiful foliage with a purple underside.

These are all have been doing well in my full, full sun, west facing yard!

While they don't strive, my Day Lillies survive.

These are all have been doing well in my full, full sun, west facing yard!
tomatofreak
17 years ago
I don't know about magicgarden, but you've sold me on that gallardia! Beautiful!
jane1802
17 years ago
I had to put in a good word for cosmos sulphureus (not the regular pink cosmos, these are yellow, orange or red.) I've found that I can scatter seeds for them at any time during the summer (and they set a lot of seed) and they grow and bloom. They are my absolute favorite annual for full sun along with zinnias.

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