Now that spring has passed and summer is here, many of the plants in your garden are finished with their blooming seasons, especially due to the scorching South Georgia sun that can kill off even the heartiest of plants. Here are a few flowers for your summer garden that can stand the heat and bring some color to your backyard.

Low-Maintenance

This flower requires little work and is perfect for beginners. Black Eyed Susans are extremely drought resistant, so they’ll fare well in the South Georgia heat.

Black Eyed Susan

Botanical Name: Rudbeckia hirta

Sun Exposure: full or part sun

Soil Type: well-drained, moist

Soil pH: slightly acidic to slightly alkaline

Flower Color: red-brown, orange and dark yellow

Bloom Season: mid-summer to fall

Special Features: attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds; drought tolerant

High-Maintenance

Dahlias make for excellent flowers as they last about a week in the house, although a lot of work goes into growing them. These pointed flowers must be thoroughly watered once a week and pruned for optimal blooming. New growth is a favorite snack of snails and slugs, so be sure to plant slug and snail bait two weeks after planting your flowers and throughout the growing season.

Dahlia

Botanical Name: Dahlia pinnata

Sun Exposure: full sun

Soil Type: tolerates most types; prefers sandy, well-drained

Soil pH: slightly acidic

Flower Color: red, orange, yellow, purple, pink, white

Bloom Season: mid-summer to late fall

Native

These plants are native to North America and get their name from the hairy stamen that protrudes from the flowers’ centers. Plant them in mass, but give them plenty of space to grow so they don’t crowd each other or other plants. Grow them near windows for a glimpse of the hummingbirds they attract.

Beardtongue

Botanical Name: Penstemon palmeri

Sun Exposure: full sun

Soil Type: well-drained; tolerates dry soil

Soil pH: slightly acidic to neutral

Flower Color: red, yellow, blue, purple, pink, white

Bloom Season: early to mid-summer

Special Features: attracts hummingbirds

 

Quirky

The pineapple lily is part of the asparagus family and can be planted in your garden or a flower pot (either inside or outside). It is extremely sensitive to the cold, making it the perfect plant for South Georgia’s hot summers and mild winters.

Pineapple Lily

Botanical Name: Eucomis autumnalis

Sun Exposure: full sun

Soil Type: well-drained

Soil pH: mildly acidic to mildly alkaline

Flower Color: purple, cream, white

Bloom Season: July-September

Special Features: resistant to pests and diseases

 

Traditional

These bright beauties are drought- and heat-tolerant, and their seeds can be harvested for snacks. They’re also native to America and attract bees and birds.

Sunflower

Botanical Name: Helianthus annuus

Sun Exposure: full sun

Soil Type: well-drained, nutrient rich

Soil pH: slightly acidic to alkaline

Flower Color: red and yellow

Bloom Season: summer and early fall

Special Features: edible seeds, attracts birds and bees

---

Health Life – July-August 2017

Seasonal Plants

Written by: Anna Limoges