Phew, is it hot outside or what? I’ve lived in Sacramento my entire life and somehow the summer heat still manages to surprise me. There’s just something about that wall of heat that hits you in the face sometimes when you walk outside. But hey, at least it’s a dry heat…? Yay…?
Anyway, the summer may be in full swing, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to plant some beautiful flowers that love the heat more than a Merlino’s Freeze vendor! By the way, I grow here in Sacramento, which is zone 9B in the USDA Hardiness Zone system. That means the coldest it usually gets here in the winter is between 25 and 30 °F. Actually, I wouldn’t mind some temperatures like that right about now…
On to the list!
Zinnias
Zinnias are great because they love the heat and come in so many colors! I have some zinnias growing at my house right now and they are thriving in the heat. Seriously, zinnias don’t get enough love for how colorful, fun and hardy they are.
Sunflowers
If you want to get the most out of a small space, your mind might not go directly to sunflowers, but they can be planted surprisingly close together for maximum impact! Combine that with the fact that they come in a bunch of different colors, and you have the possibility for a summer flower with a ton of great “wow” factor.
Amaranth
Cody and I are big fans of The Simpsons and amaranth always reminds me of Sideshow Bob’s hair… But they aren’t all red! These are incredibly fast growing, and they are great to put in bouquets to add some fun texture.
If you end up growing any of these, please let me know! I would love to hear what’s growing in your gardens right now.
