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Other plants for continous flowers in our terrible heat are: a. Hummingbird salvia, an annual that acts like a perennial, grows about 2 1/2 feet ht., has spikes of bright fire engine red flowers, attracts butterflys and hummingbirds. This garden has one two years old. No real insect problems, faded flowers need to be cut off regularly for best performance. b. Gallardia is an old fashioned flower, that takes tremendous heat and lack of care. At our local Seniors Center, I have seen them in the worst heat, without any care, blooming fiercely. This garden is testing a new one, that has solid burgundy flowers with a hint of bronze. This is a plant easily grown from seed, check your seed catalog or call:1-800-845-3369 for one to be sent to you. Dont even bother to go to their website. it promises what it does not deliver. c. Portulaca, or moss rose, another old fashioned flower is actually a succulent,(its leaves and flowers edible, high in Omega 3 oils.) Loves the sun, prefers poor soil and not too much water. Blooms are a soft soft look, in several colors, pink and fuschia the most striking, unless, you like red. Then theres its cousin purslane, wonderful for hanging baskets for a different kind of spreading nature. Flowers daily, bright and cheerful reminding one of miniature tulips. 4. AND A STAR is Mexican Primrose(Oenothera), for areas to be taken over, but producing masses of 18 inch ht. robust plants that will take ungodly amounts of lack of care, and stunning masses of shell pink buttercup like flowers all the way to fall. Plant it where it can spread, because it will. /There are other plants that do well, such as bouganvillea, a vine shrub that can attain wonderful bright colors, usually darkest red. Down the street, is a beautiful one that is white graced with pink, spectacular! Then theres the snail vine, with its curled blossums into itself, very exotic....cactus are alright, but why plant them, the deserts all around us are full of them... |
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