Summer is here, and with it comes the sweltering heat and unpredictable rainfall. But don’t let the sun and dry spells get the best of your garden. Native plants are the unsung heroes of the plant world, adapted to thrive in the harshest conditions.
Here are some of the most resilient and heat-tolerant native plants that will keep your garden looking alive in all seasons.
1. Firebush
Firebush (Hamelia patens) is a large shrub that lights up the garden with its bright red to orange tubular flowers. It can grow quickly up to 12 feet tall, and it’s tolerant of pruning. Firebush needs very little water or care once established, making it the perfect choice for busy gardeners. It’s also a favorite of mockingbirds, which love to feast on its round purple fruit.
2. Beautyberry
Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a shrub that’s hard to miss, with its large clusters of bright purple berries clinging to the stems. It’s a hardy plant that will grow in most soils with good drainage and needs minimal care once established. Beautyberry is even salt-tolerant, making it a great choice for coastal gardens. The long-lived berries provide food to birds and other wildlife well into the winter.
3. Spiderwort
Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) is a perennial that’s known for its delicate three-petaled flowers and a thick tangle of long, leggy leaves. It’s a resilient plant that will thrive in full sun to partial shade and can grow in most soil types. Spiderwort is also attractive to native bees and will bloom profusely from early spring to late summer.
4. Scarlet Sage
Scarlet sage (Salvia coccinea) is a perennial that’s a magnet for butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. It’s easy to grow and will quickly spread and form thick spikes of colorful, red flowers. Scarlet sage thrives in full sun, partial shade, or full shade in most soil types. It’s also a great choice for gardeners who want a low-maintenance plant that will attract pollinators.
5. Culver’s Root
Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum) is a perennial that produces spires of pink or white flowers. It’s a handsome plant with interesting leaves that “whirl” around the stem. Culver’s root is well-behaved and won’t crowd its neighbors. It’s also attractive to butterflies and bees and can grow up to 5 feet tall (ref).
6. Rattlesnake Master
Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium) is a perennial with yucca-like leaves and flowers that resemble thistles. The entire plant is a greyish-blue-green color, making it a unique addition to any garden. The rattlesnake master is drought-tolerant and attracts all types of pollinators.
7. Anise Hyssop
Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) is a perennial that’s known for its fragrant leaves and pink puff flowers. It’s a fast grower and can thrive in poor soil that must be well-draining. Anise hyssop is attractive to bees and birds and can grow up to 3 feet tall.
8. Indian Pink
Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica) is a perennial that produces tubular red flowers topped with yellow, star-shaped petals. It’s a well-behaved plant with lush green leaves and is a favorite of hummingbirds. Indian pink can grow in deep to light shade and is a great choice for woodland gardens.
9. Smooth Hydrangea
Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) is a perennial shrub that produces puffy blooms on new wood. It’s a great choice for gardeners who want a low-maintenance plant that will thrive in heat and humidity. Smooth hydrangea can grow up to 5 feet tall and is a great companion plant for other native perennials.
10. Hairy Alum Root
Hairy alum root (Heuchera villosa) is a perennial with hairy leaves and white flowers in the summer. This is a low-maintenance plant that can thrive in poor soil and is a great choice for gardeners who want a plant that will attract pollinators.
11. Butterfly Weed
Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a perennial that’s highly drought-tolerant and is easily propagated by seed and rhizome cuttings. It’s a favorite of the Monarch butterfly and is a great choice for gardeners who want to support local pollinators.
12. Thread-leaf Coreopsis
Thread-leaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata) is a perennial that’s perfect for poor, rocky soils. It’s a low-maintenance plant that can be used as a border or in a native landscape. Coreopsis verticillata is also a favorite of butterflies and is drought-tolerant.
13. Foxglove Beardtongue
Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) is a perennial that has purple/green leaves and produces upright purple late-spring blooms. It’s a drought-tolerant plant that will spread in your garden and can be divided over the years. Foxglove Beardtongue is also an excellent choice for gardeners who want a plant that will attract pollinators.
14. Pale Purple Coneflower
Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida) is a perennial that’s easy to grow and can handle just about anything. It’s a low-maintenance plant that will self-seed and come back year after year. Pale Purple Coneflower is also a great option for gardeners who want a plant with medicinal uses.
15. Little Bluestem
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is an ornamental grass that’s native to eastern North America. It can take the heat and is a beautiful way for gardeners to fill a space in their garden with color. Little Bluestem is a low-maintenance plant that can be cut back to the ground in late winter or early spring.
16. Mose Rose
Moss Rose (Portulaca grandiflora) is a low-growing, spreading ground cover that produces small, delicate flowers in shades of pink, yellow, and white. It is an excellent choice for areas with poor soil and can thrive in full sun to partial shade. Moss rose is also relatively low maintenance and can survive with minimal watering.
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Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.