This Heat-Tolerant Flowering Plant Can Still Be Planted And Thrive This Summer

Without a doubt, there is one pot of flowers that is the most colorful on my patio right now. The surprising news is we just recently potted it despite the hot summer heat we're experiencing. I’m in steamy Alabama, with record humidity, so it’s a soupy, sticky, kind of hot here outdoors. Daily watering of many of my plants in the summer heat is simply is a must. 

Unfortunately, when creating our springtime arrangements in pots, I had one lone pot perched on the brick wall on my patio that we had missed, and my husband—who has the true green thumb in my household—ventured to find something for it this summer. We both knew we had to choose a plant that would be hardy and heat tolerant with the upcoming scorching summer months, but I wanted something with color that would last.

We settled on Citrus Lantana, known for its hardiness, heat tolerance, and lovely blooms, and the one that is vibrant and currently blooming beautifully in its pot on its perch. “Lantana produces bright, colorful flowers that bloom continuously through the summer, and it is low maintenance, requiring minimal care once established,” explains Niki Irving, author of Growing Flowers and owner of Flourish Flower Farm, a boutique flower farm and floral design studio located in Asheville, North Carolina. 

Lantana Thrives in the Heat 

I’m realizing this plant thrives in the heat. “It can also withstand dry conditions, so if you miss a watering session, the plant will still be fine,” Irving says. So that time I missed watering the Lantana when on a short vacation; luckily, it didn’t miss a beat, and the blooms were still vibrant and healthy when I returned. Lantana can often last until the first frost, so it should still look lovely throughout cooler autumn months, assuming cooler weather does arrive in the fall. 

Lantana Can Be Planted in a Pot or in the Ground

Although I opted for a small Lantana plant in a pot, it can be planted elsewhere in your yard. “Lantana is a vigorous grower and works well in a mass or in a mixed planting,” explains Adam Millhouse, Owner and Landscape Designer of Millhouse Howell Landscape in Mountain Brook, Alabama. There are many different colors and varieties so taking a stroll through a nursery might be the best way to get the color and look you want. Typically, most nurseries will carry the plants well into the summer because of their resistance to drought conditions.

Other Heat Tolerant Summer Plants

Since I live in a very hot area, I tend to gravitate toward the plants that will look fresh all summer and stay blooming right into fall. Springtime blooms are lovely, but they only last so long. Zinnias have become a favorite lately, and I’ve been cutting and using them often in bud vases in my home. “Zinnias are easy-to-grow annuals that bloom profusely in the heat and come in an array of colors and bloom sizes, and they also attract pollinators,” says Irving. Additionally,  Portulaca or Moss Rose is another good option as a heat-tolerant, hardy flower. “It is known for its bright, colorful flowers and succulent-like foliage, and like lantana, it is highly drought-tolerant and thrives in hot, dry conditions,” Irving says. 

Pair Lantana with Other Plants 

Although I only have Citrus Lantana in a pot by itself, other plants pair well with it and could be planted in the same pot to complement it. “In a container, Lantana is paired well with Salvia, Angelonia, Euphorbia, and Sweet Potato Vine,” suggests Millhouse. Regardless of what you plant along with the Lantana, just ensure that the plants are equally heat tolerant to ensure all the plants in the pot thrive. 

Ensure Your Lantana Thrives

Despite the hardiness of the lantana, there are a few tips to remember if you choose to plant lantana over the summer. Watering most plants initially—even if they are heat-tolerant—will help the plant establish itself well. Millhouse suggests keeping Lantana watered for the first couple of weeks, then it should begin to take care of itself so long as it does get some rainwater from time to time. Also, if the soil is old in the pot, take care to either replace the soil completely or mix in some fresh potting soil with the old. The newer soil will retain moisture better, allowing the plants a better chance to thrive.