Vibrant Blooms for Arizona's Heat

When the Prescott summer truly settles in, bringing those intense sun-drenched days, your garden does not have to fade. In fact, many plants thrive in this heat, providing a spectacular display of color and life right through the warmest months. The key is choosing the right plants that are adapted to our unique high-desert climate.

 

Let me share some of my top recommendations for vibrant hot-weather blooms that will make your Prescott garden a standout.

 

 

First up is the Mexican Primrose, Oenothera berlandieri. This perennial groundcover is an absolute workhorse. It spreads quickly, forming a dense mat of delicate, pink, cup-shaped flowers that bloom from spring until the first hard frost. Ideal for those challenging, sunny spots where low-growing color is needed. Beyond its beauty, it is excellent for erosion control on slopes.

 

 

 

For a reliable shrub or small tree, you cannot go wrong with Crape Myrtle, Lagerstroemia indica. These deciduous beauties offer a show-stopping display of crinkled, papery flowers in shades of pink, purple, red, and white. They bloom from mid-summer into fall, providing continuous color when many other plants are winding down. Crape myrtles demand full sun and good air circulation, which we typically have in Prescott, helping to prevent mildew issues.

 

Closely related in bloom time and form is Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus syriacus. This deciduous shrub produces large, trumpet-shaped flowers, much like those of a tropical hibiscus, in a range of colors, including white, pink, purple, and blue. It is remarkably adaptable to various soil conditions and handles heat exceptionally well. Rose of Sharon grows more upright than crape myrtle, making it ideal for a vibrant hedge or a specimen plant.

 

 

For a true desert survivor with a graceful form, consider the Desert Willow, Chilopsis linearis. This small, airy tree, native to our region, offers stunning trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of pink, purple, or white, often with intricate markings. It blooms profusely from late spring through fall and is incredibly drought-tolerant, thriving in full sun and even poor soils. Desert willow is a hummingbird and butterfly magnet, adding dynamic life to your garden.

 

 

Adding unique texture and form, Smoke Bush, Cotinus coggygria, is an excellent choice. While its "blooms" are not traditional petals, the wispy, smoke-like plumes of spent flower clusters create a theatrical effect from summer into fall. Many varieties, especially 'Royal Purple', also boast deep burgundy foliage that holds its color beautifully through the summer heat.

 

Now, let's look at some groundcover and perennial stars.

 

 

Vinca, Catharanthus roseus, also known as annual periwinkle, is a yearly powerhouse of hot, sunny spots. It produces an abundance of cheerful flowers in white, pink, purple, and red. Vinca thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, providing continuous color all summer long with very little fuss. It is drought-tolerant once established and does not require deadheading.

 

 

Salvia is a vast genus, and many varieties are ideally suited for Prescott's heat. Look for tough, perennial types, such as Salvia greggii (Autumn Sage) or Salvia leucantha (Mexican Bush Sage). They offer spikes of beautiful flowers in red, pink, purple, or white, blooming from spring well into fall. Salvias are drought-tolerant, love full sun, and are irresistible to hummingbirds.

 

Lantana is another fantastic choice for continuous summer color. Available in both upright shrub forms and trailing varieties, lantana produces clusters of small, vibrant flowers in shades of yellow, orange, red, pink, and purple, often featuring multiple colors within a single cluster. It is extremely heat and drought-tolerant, loves full sun, and blooms non-stop from spring through fall, attracting butterflies.

 

 

 Rudbeckia and Black-Eyed Susan. These are often interchangeable common names for the same group of plants, most notably Rudbeckia hirta and Rudbeckia fulgida. These dependable perennials offer bright golden-yellow, daisy-like flowers with distinctive dark centers. They are adamant, blooming from mid-summer through fall, even in the most intense heat.

 

Finally, do not overlook Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea, and Blanket Flower, Gaillardia grandiflora. Coneflowers are known for their sturdy, daisy-like flowers with prominent cone-shaped centers, in shades of purple, pink, white, and yellow. They are incredibly drought-tolerant, thrive in full sun, and bloom from summer into fall, attracting pollinators.

 

Blanket Flower is another sun-loving perennial with vibrant, daisy-like blooms often in fiery shades of red, orange, and yellow. It blooms profusely throughout the summer, tolerating heat and poor soils, and is a magnet for pollinators as well.

 

By integrating these heat-loving, resilient plants, your Prescott garden will remain a vibrant, colorful oasis, even on the hottest summer days. They are all well-suited to our climate, providing beauty with minimal fuss. Each prefers being planting after the summer sun has warmed the garden soil and root quickly with Arizona's monsoon summer rains.

 

 

Every Saturday @ Watters Garden Center

Join us every Saturday morning at 9:30 AM for our free garden classes, right here at Watters Garden Center on Iron Springs Road in Prescott. August is packed with valuable insights to help your garden thrive!

 

August 9 @ 9:30 Bug Free Blooms for Stunning Gardens - You'll have the tools needed to grow a stunning Prescott garden.

 

August 16 @ 9:30 – Hot Weather Blooms for Vibrant Prescott Gardens

We're diving deep into growing blooming summer favorites: the elegant Crape Myrtle and the dazzling Hibiscus.

 

August 23 @ 9:30 - From Newbie to Garden Pro in Arizona

We'll cover everything from understanding Arizona's garden zones and those crucial frost dates to best watering practices and soil preparation that works for our local conditions.

Come learn something new and connect with fellow gardeners!

 

Until next week, I'll be helping gardeners with plants for the heat, here at Watters Garden Center.