Every time summer rolls around, I used to watch my flowers die in the heat. It was so frustrating!
But after lots of ups and downs in my garden, I finally found 15 amazing flowers that actually love hot weather.
Let me show you my favorites!
1. Angelonia
I fell in love with Angelonia because it’s truly unstoppable. When other flowers take a break during peak summer heat, this snapdragon lookalike keeps blooming like a champion.
The Angelonia Angelus Steel Blue variety is my top pick. It adds the most beautiful touch of blue to any garden setting.
Ways I Use Angelonia:
- As a mass bedding plant
- For pathway edging
- Mixed in containers with other annuals
2. Black-Eyed Susan
This prairie native has become my garden’s backbone. It’s exceptionally hardy and thrives in most zones – perfect for both beginner and experienced gardeners.
The Goldstorm variety is my go-to choice. It grows more compactly than traditional varieties and rewards me with larger flowers.
3. Canna Lily
When I want to add dramatic flair to my garden, Canna Lilies are my secret weapon. Their tropical-looking foliage with banana-like leaves instantly transforms any space.
I especially love how versatile they are – you can find them with green, colored, striped, or patterned varieties. They’re stunning in both borders and containers.
4. Coneflower
Being a North American prairie native, I’ve found coneflowers to be incredibly carefree in my garden. Thanks to hybridization, I can now enjoy them in countless colors.
My pollinator garden wouldn’t be complete without these hardy perennials. They pair beautifully with Russian sage, agastache, and bee balm.
5. Cosmos
As a busy gardener, I adore how low-maintenance cosmos are. Their cheerful daisy-like blooms keep coming all summer long without any fuss.
The Seashells variety has become my favorite for cutting gardens. Those unique fluted tubular petals make the most stunning bouquets.
6. Dahlia
Mid-summer is when my dahlias steal the show. With hundreds of varieties available, I can never choose just one!
I love growing them in both containers and borders. The best part? I dig up the tubers each fall, store them in my basement, and replant them the next year – it’s like getting free plants!
7. Flowering Tobacco
This was one of the first annuals I grew from seed, and it’s still a favorite. Whether you start from seeds or plants, it provides quick color satisfaction.
The bell-shaped blooms attract hummingbirds to my garden. I use shorter varieties for bedding and taller ones in my meadow-style borders.
8. Fuchsia
Every Mother’s Day, I treat myself to a new fuchsia plant. Their delicate dangling flowers never fail to make me smile.
The Swing Time variety, with its ruffled petals and bi-colored blooms, looks spectacular in my hanging baskets and window boxes.
9. Hydrangea
These sturdy shrubs are the backbone of my summer garden. From dwarf varieties in my small spaces to tree forms as focal points, hydrangeas never disappoint.
I’ve used them for everything – standalone specimens, mixed borders, hedging, and even controlling erosion on my backyard slope. The blooms are amazing in both fresh and dried arrangements.
10. Lavender
My herb garden wouldn’t be complete without lavender. Beyond its beautiful purple blooms, I use it for cooking, making homemade soaps, and aromatherapy.
It’s incredibly versatile in the landscape – perfect along pathways, as hedging, or mixed into borders.
11. Petunia
My summer containers would be lost without petunias. With regular feeding and warm temperatures, they reward me with non-stop color.
I love combining them with verbena, sweet potato vine, and pelargonium for stunning container displays that last all season.
12. Queen of the Prairie
The ethereal foamy flower plumes of this native plant bring such elegance to my early summer garden. Its deeply lobed leaves and graceful habit add height and drama to my borders.
13. Sea Holly
When I want to add unique texture, sea holly is my go-to plant. Its blue-shaped flowers with spiny bracts in white, silver, green, or blue always draw attention.
I’ve found it pairs beautifully with coneflower, teasel, and drumstick alliums. The bees absolutely love it!
14. Sneezeweed
Don’t let the name fool you – this tough native brings cheerful daisy-like blooms from mid to late summer. The red, orange, and yellow varieties light up my garden.
It looks stunning combined with black-eyed Susans, Joe-pye weed, Russian sage, and ornamental grasses.
15. Sunflower
No summer garden is complete without sunflowers! Whether I’m growing annual varieties, perennial types, or dwarf options for my urban spaces, they never fail to bring joy.
They’re perfect for cottage-style borders and kitchen gardens. Beyond their stunning visual impact, I love how they attract birds and bees, adding vital ecological value to my garden space.