Scorching hot days are looming, but that doesn’t mean your landscape has to fry. Now’s the time to perk it up with some heat-hardy plants! Here are some examples of warm season annuals that are easy to grow and don’t take a lot of water to keep them happy and showy! You can use them in beds or containers.

Marigold – These showy annuals thrive in hot weather and bright sun. Deadhead fading flowers and gangly stems to keep them blooming all summer long, but eventually spider mites feast on them.

Pentas – Butterflies and hummingbirds love dining on the clusters of tiny flowers. Pentas favor the shade but do well in morning sun.

Periwinkle – This popular sun- and heat-loving flower, also known as Vinca, can be found in a rainbow of colors. It’s highly drought-tolerant and pest-resistant. Look for the ‘Cora’ series.

Portulaca – Sometimes called sun rose or moss rose, portulaca thrives in full sun and is exceptionally easy to grow, even for beginners. Use cuttings for young children to grow their first plant.

Purslane – This low-growing annual scoffs at dry, hot South Texas summers. Originally from India and Persia, purslane also looks striking in a hanging basket.

Of course, instead of these annuals you could plant a new bed of hardy drought-tolerant perennials that can survive the summer heat and winter cold with little to no water — and use our WaterSaver Landscape Coupon to help defray some of the cost. You can also use the Outdoor Living Rebate to replace the lawn with a pervious patio!

Short on ideas? Visit Milberger’s Nursery and chat with the South Texas gardening experts. They will have options and solutions for your garden and lansscape.