Hi, I've got a really hot and sunny spot in my yard next to a wall. It is south facing and the sun heats up the wall and radiates heat into my bed all day. What are your favorite plants for high heat, strong sunny spots? Daylillies seem to do reasonably well here, but was hoping for something bushy that flowers. Any ideas? Thank you, Christina
Are you looking for a shrub or just bushy flowers? Geraniums love the heat as well as marigolds and petunias. I plant petunias in strawberry pots and that puts on quite a show. Shrub roses might do okay there.
I would like something tall, like a shrub or even a small tree. It's right near my front door, so a fragrant bloom would be great too. I really wanted to do a Brugmansia here, but I've been talked out of it since they prefer only partial sun.
You're right about the petunias and geraniums! I have both adjacent to the area pictured and they've not only loved the heat, but have bloomed all winter long. They don't look as good as they do in the summer, but I can't complain. :)
The problem with most flowering shrubs and trees is they don't flower for an entire season. I'd go for shrub roses. I've never ordered from them, but check out Jackson and Perkins. Lovely pictures. They even have these rose "trees" now, but personally, I don't like the looks of them, at least not all on their own. I put in Nearly Wild rose shrubs last year and they bloomed all summer long right up to hard frost. While those don't get real tall, you can get shrub roses that go up to 6 or more feet. Or how about a clematis vine or climbing rose or both?
I planted 4 'knockout' roses in February and they are in bloom. I was told
by our local nursery that the 'knockouts' will continue blooming thru our
sweltering summers when most other roses won't. I even saw them
bloom thru most of the winter here. The pink ones are beautiful. I will
post pics of mine soon.
Angela
I wish I loved roses, but I'm just not a rose kind of girl. They're so pretty as cut flowers, but I am not wild about the plant itself - especially the thorns. The clematis is a nice idea if I found an interesting trellis.
What about hibiscus? Would that do ok in hot sun?
Knockout is on my wish list, but not until I get all my front landscaping torn out. Maybe this summer....
Sorry, I don't know about Hibiscus, but do some research. Chances are if it likes full sun, it will do well there.
Move the philodendron over and put a dwarf orange or lemon tree there. Their fragrances are fabulous and the fruit is luscious. They actually take well to pruning and the lemon makes a good espalier. You could put a guava there, but the fragrance of the ripe guavas might be overwhelming. Papaya would enjoy the reflected heat and the flowers smell terrific. Grow from seeds from the next papaya you eat. Most landscape type hibiscus would get overly large for that area. My neighbor's grows above the roof of his house. The funky show hibiscus might be a little tricky. Cannas would fit nicely there. There are several salvias that would do well there. Jasmines are an option but the reflected heat in summer might be too much. Stephanotis on a small trellis would do well if the roots were in shade and there was adequate water. Murraya paniculata might do well but needs lots of water. Tecoma stans "yellow bells" is a shrub or small tree with beautiful fragrant yellow flowers. You can see some older specimans in Old Town. Melianthus major, "honey bush" interesting foliage that smells weirdly like peanut butter cookies.
It kind of depends on what sort of effect you are looking for. A tropical look, a mediterranean look, an old California look, a dry garden etc.
To get a really good idea go to a really good nursery like Buena Creek Gardens, Cedros Gardens or the like and see what they have. Also check out the gardens around Old Town and Mission Hills. Nice old houses and fantastic gardens. The zoo and Wild Animal Park are also good sources of ideas for gardeners.
How about some tomatoes and pepper plants? They are attractive and you get food as well.
For anyone you likes shrub roses check out High Country Roses. I have gotten six shrub roses from them and they are really nice. I really like that they all are grown on their own roots. I am getting an order together for them, but am having a hard time narrowing it down.
http://highcountryroses.com/http://highcountryroses.com/
beaker_ch they have lot's of roses for those of us in the North.
They have Knock Out.
Thank you thank you for all these great ideas! I'm excited to make a trip to the nursery and see what they have. I really like the guava idea. :)
Try an orleander. They come in different colors and do well in CA. Also they pretty well bloom all summer.
Autumn Sage Salvia greggii would be great if you don't mind it growing into your walkway. It loves the sun and will flower all year as long as you give it a couple of haircuts.
Great suggestions, thank you! I'll be able to use these in other areas too since I have a young garden without much shade until my trees get bigger. :) Keep the ideas coming if anyone has more!
