Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — It's hot. We're feeling it, and so are our yards. Horticulturist Jessica Berrett said we can work with the heat instead of fighting it.
She shared six plants that can handle the Utah heat.
"We have a lot of good options of flowers that will bloom, a lot of different colors, even in the hot, hot sun," Berrett said.
Angelonia
Angelonia is often called the summer snapdragon, but unlike traditional snapdragons which thrive in cooler temperatures, angelonia is built for summer.
"Our usual snapdragons only like cool weather," Berrett noted. "So this is kind of a nice substitute, and it does really well in heat."
To keep it blooming, she said it needs a little maintenance.
"We just wanna cut off the spent blooms when we can," she explained. "They'll regenerate… they'll go all summer."
Lantana
If a plant can handle tropical climates, chances are it can handle a Utah summer. That's one reason why lantana makes the list.
"This is a tropical plant that grows in South America and Africa," Berrett explained. "It does really well in hot sun."
Lantana is great for baskets or flower beds. She said while the blooms may look delicate they're actually very tough.
Gomphrena
Gomphrena has a unique shape and texture, and it's good for cutting.
"It's just kind of a different shape that you don't see very often," Berrett said. "You can cut it and put it in bouquets. You can dry it."
Salvia
Salvia comes in pretty colors, but deadheading is important with this plant.
"Our salvias come in kind of reds, whites, blues, purples," Berrett said. "We gotta cut off those dead flowers."
Trimming the blooms might feel counterintuitive, but Berrett said it's an important step to keep your flowers blooming.
"That is what sends a signal to the plant to keep going and blooming," she explained. "If you're walking by and you see a bloom… just do it."
Portulaca
Portulaca is a succulent, so it's a great choice for harsher parts of your yard.
"If you have the hottest, driest thing where you think a flower won't live, put that one in there," Berrett said.
Few flowering plants thrive as well with extreme heat and limited water.
Vinca
Vinca is a dependable flower known for its long-lasting blooms, and you can find it in a lot of colors.
"It's got really pretty green, shiny foliage that always looks nice," Berrett added.
Since it blooms all summer, it is a favorite for hot-weather gardens.
"It's just so great for hot, drought areas," Berrett emphasized.
Find more plant inspiration from Jessica Berrett on Instagram, @plant.geek.
This story was adapted from a TV broadcast script using artificial intelligence. Every story, including those adapted with AI, is reviewed by a human editor before publication to ensure that KSL's editorial standards are upheld.
