Earthly Delights By April Gonzales

In the Plant World, Some Like It Hot, Some Don't

Recent heat has shown us all where the faults in the irrigation system are. Brown patches of lawn and crisp leaves on the Astilbes indicate that the water has left now - and that it's hot. The hydrangeas wilt during the mid day sun and the lettuces bolt. But there are many other plants that love the heat and begin to strut their stuff in the high temperatures and sunshine.

Plumbago can be found up to 10' high in the Mediterranean, where it's often used as a mixed flowering hedge with bouganvilla. The pale true blue flowers bud up and bloom almost constantly in the heat. If you have a south facing brick patio with French doors and no awning, plumbago will just thrive. Mixed in with some white trailing lantana keeps things visually if not physically cool.

Lantana loves it hot. We planted four dark blue planters on an open white deck with cherry, yellow and peach lantanas, and we only water them twice a week. Lantana can dry out a bit and may actually rot if it is too wet. They love both heat and light and will get quite bushy. With so many fantastic colors now available, this annual has become a low care garden workhorse.

By now the cannas have shot up and have been in bloom continuously. We stuffed six dwarf orange cannas into a medium size pot on another hot brick patio and these tubers could not be happier. They make a strong vertical accent and throw off a lot of color if you keep them well fed. They do well in some shade too, and deer tend to stay away from them.

For shady spots, elephant ears can't be beat. We line the driveway with them, as the deer stay away from them also. For pots, Hilo Beauty is one of my favorites. It limps along all spring and then when it hits 85 degrees or so, suddenly leaves sprout like mad. I just picked up a new variety. Colocasia "rhubarb" has red stems and veins with dark green leaves that hang down. I am hoping that this variety will form a bulb so that I can over winter it in the basement.

Jasmine likes it really hot, but this tropical has not been shipped out of Florida for two years now due to disease quarantine restrictions. For great summer fragrance there is the perennial climbing Jasmine that may come back if you have a protected location. The fragrance is not as divine as the shrub form of Jasmine, but it compensates by flowering almost continuously.

What to Do Now

Rearrange the furniture for a different view of the lawn and gardens. If you cut flowers from the garden, remember to do it in early morning or evening and soak everything in a sink full of cold water before you arrange. Hydrangeas will benefit from this even if they have started to droop - leave them in up to a few hours longer and they will bounce back.

For more than 20 years, April Gonzales has been involved in garden design, installation and maintenance on the East End, as well as specimen plant scouting and site supervision for landscape architects.

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