Don’t let the looming cruel summer scare your planting plans. My zone-by-zone guide is on fire, no matter if it’s hot in the city or the countryside!
So when the heat of the moment hits, these sweet 16 annuals will prove some like it hot, thriving where others wilt. Plant them with peace of mind and let the heat bring out their best!
My Special Tips for Growing Annuals in Heat
So, your first smart move when choosing heat-tolerant annuals is to go for the sun lovers. Honestly, they’re just built for this. They soak up the warmth and reward you with tons of flowers.
Now, to get them well established, give them a good, deep drink, but don’t water again until the top inch or so of soil feels dry. This pushes those roots down deep, which is essential for handling the heat.
You can simply use the famous, gardener-approved Finger Test.
Gently push your index finger straight down into the soil near the base of the plant. If it feels dry to about that first knuckle (roughly 2.5 cm), it’s likely time to water. If it feels moist, even slightly cool, hold off on watering.
Trust me, mulch is your friend here, too! A layer around your plants will keep the moisture in the soil, meaning less watering for you.
And one last tip: try to get them planted in the ground in the early morning or evening. It’s just a gentler way for them to settle in without the shock of the midday sun.
16 Heat-Tolerant Annuals to Plant in Late Spring by Zone
If you’re eager to fill your late spring garden with flowers that shrug off the summer heat, get ready for some sun-sational news!
Zones 3–5 (Cooler Climates, Shorter Summers)
Are you gardening in zones 3–5 with those cooler springs and shorter summers? Don’t think that means you can’t have a garden bursting with color. Some real champs love that milder early heat:
Pick a few of these, and you’ll have a garden full of life as things warm up!
Zones 6–7 (Mild to Hot Summers)
Dealing with summers that can range from mild to pretty hot means you’re in zones 6 or 7. The good news is, there’s a fantastic bunch of annuals that thrive in that kind of warmth:
Get these in your planting mix, and you can count on a flower-wealthy summer garden that can truly take the heat!
Zones 8–10 (Hot to Very Hot Climates)
Let’s say you’re gardening where it gets seriously hot, in zones 8 through 10. As a true gardening warrior, you deserve a great selection of annuals that adore the heat:
Grab some of these tough cookies for your garden plate, and they’ll thrive no matter how much baking it gets!
Combine Annuals for Layers of Color
Wondering if your carefully chosen annuals can survive the 500 days of summer in your specific zone? Of course not, they’re annuals. But, layering can give them a much better chance to flower happily during the summer days your zone experiences.
You can start by positioning taller varieties to create a backdrop, then fill in with mid-height bloomers for continuous color, and finally, let trailing plants cascade over the edges.
And don’t think I don’t know what you did last summer. Avoid tragic underwatering or overwatering by grouping plants with similar water needs. If everyone gets the right amount of moisture, it means no horror scenarios for your summer garden.
