When summer temperatures climb into the 90s, many plants begin to show signs of stress. Leaves wilt, flowers fade more quickly, and lawns can start to turn brown. Fortunately, not every plant struggles in the heat. Some plants actually thrive during Minnesota’s hottest days, providing beautiful color and dependable performance when other plants begin to fade. If you’re looking for low-maintenance plants that can handle summer heat, these five are excellent choices.
1. Coneflower (Echinacea)
Coneflowers are one of Minnesota’s toughest native perennials. Once established, they tolerate heat, periods of drought, and full sun with ease. Their large, colorful blooms attract butterflies and pollinators throughout the summer, while their seed heads provide food for birds later in the season. Coneflowers are available in shades of purple, pink, white, orange, and yellow, making them a versatile choice for almost any landscape.
Best growing conditions:
- Full sun
- Well-drained soil
- Moderate watering while establishing
2. Russian Sage (Perovskia)
If you want a plant that seems to thrive on hot, sunny days, Russian sage is hard to beat. Its silvery foliage and airy spikes of lavender-blue flowers provide months of color while requiring very little maintenance. Once established, it handles drought exceptionally well. Russian sage also attracts bees and butterflies while deer generally leave it alone.
Best growing conditions:
- Full sun
- Well-drained soil
- Low to moderate watering
3. Sedum (Stonecrop)
Sedum is one of the easiest perennials to grow in Minnesota. Its thick, succulent-like leaves store water, allowing the plant to remain healthy during extended dry periods. Late in the summer, clusters of flowers attract butterflies and other beneficial insects just as many other plants begin winding down. Many varieties also provide attractive seed heads that add winter interest.
Best growing conditions:
- Full sun
- Well-drained soil
- Minimal watering once established
4. Daylilies
Daylilies have earned their reputation as one of the most dependable landscape perennials for good reason. They tolerate heat, humidity, and changing weather conditions while producing colorful blooms throughout the summer. Although each individual flower lasts only a day, healthy plants produce dozens of buds that continue opening for weeks. With hundreds of varieties available, there’s a daylily for nearly every landscape.
Best growing conditions:
- Full sun to partial sun
- Average garden soil
- Consistent moisture during establishment
5. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
Black-eyed Susans brighten late summer landscapes with cheerful golden-yellow flowers that continue blooming well into fall. These hardy perennials are both heat and drought tolerant once established, making them an excellent choice for sunny landscape beds. They’re also favorites of butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.Their long bloom season provides dependable color just when many spring-blooming perennials have finished flowering.
Best growing conditions:
- Full sun
- Well-drained soil
- Moderate watering during the first growing season
Help Your Heat-Loving Plants Thrive
Even the toughest plants benefit from a little care during extreme weather.
To help your landscape perform its best:
- Water deeply instead of lightly and frequently.
- Apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch to help conserve soil moisture and keep roots cooler.
- Water early in the morning whenever possible to reduce evaporation.
- Avoid heavy fertilizing during periods of extreme heat, as it can place additional stress on plants.
- Remove spent blooms from plants that benefit from deadheading to encourage continued flowering.
Visit Pahl’s Market
If your landscape needs a little extra color this summer, stop by Pahl’s Market. We continue to stock a wide selection of heat-tolerant perennials, trees, shrubs, and other landscape plants throughout the growing season. Our knowledgeable staff can help you choose plants that fit your landscape, growing conditions, and maintenance preferences. Whether you’re filling an empty garden bed or replacing plants that struggled during the heat, we’re happy to help you find the right fit. With the right plant in the right place, your garden can continue looking beautiful, even during Minnesota’s hottest days.
References
- University of Minnesota Extension. Gardening in Hot Weather and perennial gardening resources. Guidance on watering, mulching, and managing plants during periods of high temperatures.
- University of Minnesota Extension. Watering Established Trees and Shrubs and landscape watering recommendations.
- Chicago Botanic Garden. Plant evaluation studies for heat and drought tolerance of landscape perennials.
- Missouri Botanical Garden. Plant Finder database for cultural requirements and heat tolerance of coneflower, Russian sage, sedum, daylily, and black-eyed Susan.
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