Top 5 flowers for hot summer weather

Flowers are a true summer delight. It’s a time when you can see a gorgeous blossom almost everywhere you look, no matter where you live. And it’s a special season because it’s the only time all year that we get to see naturally blue flowers – cornflower, delphinium, hydrangea.

That said, summer heat and humidity can wreak havoc with your garden. I hate to say it, but there really is such a thing a delicate flower. Luckily, there are so many to choose from. Here are my choices for the top 5 flowers that can tolerate heat.

Cosmos
Nope, it’s not a cocktail. :) The fragrant cosmos flower graces many a summer garden. Put one in your back yard and you’ll likely attract hummingbirds as well as humans. The plant can grow as high as 5 feet and is available in many colors, even some striped varieties. The name cosmos comes from the Greek word for an ordered universe. Apparently those Greeks were majorly impressed with the flower’s symmetrical petals.

Hibiscus
This Asian and pacific native is the state flower of Hawaii and the national flower of Malaysia. Relatives are the rose-of-sharon, okra, cotton and hollyhock, among others. There are thousands of colors and the plant can reach 15 feet in height. For more info, see: trop-hibiscus.com/agnlinfo.html.

Marigold
Easy to grow and ever-cheerful, marigolds are another summer favorite. Marigolds like full sun, natch, and bloom into late fall. There are several cool varieties – African, French, Spanish Tarragon, Irish Lace – to name a few. They are also the wedding flower in India.

Sunflower
Native to North and South America, the sunflower turns to follow the sun (smart flowers!). Clearly, the bloom has plenty of vibrant color, but a lesser-known fact is that it has no fragrance. It’s the state flower of Kansas and the 3rd wedding anniversary flower.

Zinnia
One of the reasons I love zinnias is that they come in so many colors, including yellow, white, orange, purple and red. There are about 100 varieties of the flower. Zinnias are popular with gardeners and they’re a hit with butterflies, too. And the name? That’s in honor of 18th century German botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn.

Btw, sunflower, zinnia, marigold and cosmos are all in the Asteraceae family as are daisies. For specific information about growing these flowers in your region, check the non-profit National Gardening Association: garden.org.

Let me know what your favorite summer flowers are and I’ll send you a coupon for 10% off your next Teleflora bouquet.

Flower Fact of the Day: To learn how cosmos inspired an amateur (but extremely talented) gardener, visit livingstondaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080710/NEWS01/807100314.

Jacqueline - Editor

July 16, 2008

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GladysMP

I am a flower "nut." I spend so much of my time working in my yard; but this summer has truly been a tough one on flower gardeners. We had an exceptionally long dry spell without a drop of rain. Then one afternoon we got an inch of rain and that seemed to just dampen everything and when the sun came out with 90-plus degree temperatures, many of my flowers seemed to cook. I lost gerbera daisies that had survived for years. They are one of my husband's favorite flowers and I make a special effort to grow them for him.

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