container gardens that will look gorgeous throughout the summer

 Container Garden Plants That Can Handle Summer Heat

For container gardens that look great all summer long, try these drought-tolerant container plants for full sun and heat. When the hottest days of summer arrive, many container garden plants slow down in producing flowers and new leaves, even if you water them regularly. Beat the heat by filling your containers with these colorful plants that thrive when temperatures rise. Most come from warm places around the world, so they’re often grown as annuals in cooler regions. However, you can overwinter many of them indoors and bring them outside when warmer weather returns. Here are the best drought-tolerant container plants for full sun and heat.

1. Angel’s Trumpet

When in full bloom, a good-sized angel’s trumpet will stop you in your tracks. The drooping flowers are actually trumpet-shaped and can reach over 1 foot long, depending on the variety. The flowers also emit a sweet, pleasant fragrance after sunset.

2. Agave

Although not grown for its flowers, agave is a wonderful plant that adds an architectural flair to any container. There are striped and solid agave varieties in different shades of green and blue. Most varieties have very sharp leaf tips, so if you have small children or pets, you can cut off or cover the points to reduce the risk of injury.

3. Angelonia

This adaptable flower is sometimes called summer snapdragon. Its spikes of purple, white, or pink flowers appear all summer long, no matter how high the mercury rises. Some varieties of angelonia have large flowers, while dwarf varieties are the perfect size for container gardens.

4. Bamboo

While it can be a fast-spreading threat when grown in the ground, bamboo is a dramatic specimen plant when grown in a large container (where it can’t escape). It makes a perfect, fast-growing screen for privacy. When planting bamboo, make the planting hole twice as wide as the root ball; if you’re planting in a container, make sure it’s large enough to anchor the heavy plant.

5. Banana

With its large leaves, banana plants make a big statement in the landscape. Place the plant in the center of a garden bed or against a fence for a tropical height at the back of the garden. While most are plain green, look for varieties with speckled red or white edges for added interest.

6. Canna

Perfect for creating a lush, tropical look, canna offers large leaves (there are many varieties) and bright flowers in shades of red, orange, yellow, and pink. These plants are often found near water, so they need moist soil to be happy in a garden. You can overwinter cannas indoors, then bring them outside the following spring.

7. Lantana

Lantana, beloved by butterflies, produces multi-colored flowers in festive shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, and white. Some varieties have flowers that lighten or darken from the inside out, creating an ombre effect. Some varieties have variegated leaves that add extra color to your garden even when they’re not in bloom.