The 12 Best Flowers for a Gorgeous Texas Summer Garden

Texas summers are famously hot, with temperatures often exceeding 100°F. While the intense heat and sunlight can be challenging for gardens, certain flowers actually thrive under these demanding conditions.

By choosing the right varieties you can create stunning gardens that flourish all summer long in the Texas climate. This article covers 12 of the best flowers for Texas summer gardens, along with tips for success.

Heat and Drought Tolerant Flowers

The key to growing gorgeous flowers through Texas summers is selecting varieties that evolved to handle heat, drought, and full sun exposure. Native plants and those from hot, dry regions are naturally adapted to these conditions. Here are some exceptional choices.

Pentas

Pentas produce dense clusters of colorful star-shaped blooms that attract pollinators. Their flowers come in shades of pink, red, purple, and white Pentas thrive in heat and only need moderate water once established. Give them full sun and well-draining soil to prevent soggy roots.

Lantana

Lantana is a tough, rugged plant that pumps out flowers nonstop all summer. The small blooms come in combinations of red, yellow, orange, pink, and white. Lantana tolerates heat, drought, humidity, and poor soil. Plant in full sun. Butterflies flock to its nectar-rich flowers.

Globe Amaranth

Also called gomphrena, globe amaranth has clover-like blooms that hold their color when dried. It comes in purple, pink, orange, red, white, and yellow. Globe amaranth thrives in heat and sun, delivering vivid color right through summer into fall. Pinch back spent blooms to encourage new flowers.

Marigolds

A legend in Texas gardens, marigolds bloom abundantly from spring through fall. Their flower colors include classic yellow, gold, orange, red, and multi-tones. Marigolds tolerate almost any condition – heat, humidity, drought, and poor soils. Deadhead to prolong blooming.

Verbena

Verbena produces carpets of lush foliage covered in satiny cupped flowers. Their blooms come in shades of red, pink, orange, yellow, and white. As a low growing annual, verbena works beautifully as a colorful groundcover and in containers. It flourishes in full sun with average moisture.

Zinnias

Zinnias are incredibly easy to grow, producing loads of daisy-like blooms all summer into fall. Flower colors range from common red to orange, pink, purple, yellow, white, and green. Give them full sun and well-drained soil. Zinnias tolerate heat, drought, and lean conditions beautifully.

Sun Loving Summer Favorites

Some classic summer flowers need full sun to really thrive and produce their best floral displays. Be sure to situate these varieties where they’ll get sufficient sunlight.

Sunflowers

Towering sunflowers with sunny yellow petals are iconic summer flowers. For small spaces, choose dwarf types under 5 feet tall. Sunflowers relish heat and full sun. Plant in the back of beds and borders to allow room for their spreading habit. Birds love their seed-filled centers.

Dahlias

Dahlias produce showy flowers in shades like burgundy, pink, orange, yellow, white, and purple. Give them full sun and consistently moist, nutrient-rich soil. Add compost or fertilizer regularly. Dahlias grow up to 4 feet tall depending on variety. Use as focal points or cut flowers. Deadhead to extend blooming.

Salvia

Salvias bear long lasting spires of tubular flowers loved by hummingbirds and butterflies. Red varieties are most popular but they also come in pink, white, purple and blue. Salvias bloom spring into fall, providing color when other flowers fade in summer’s heat.

Celosia

Also known as cockscomb, celosia has huge, velvety blooms in bright colors like red, orange, pink, yellow, and purple. It thrives in heat and sun, unaffected by soaring temperatures. Celosia grows 1-3 feet tall depending on variety. Use in beds, borders, and containers.

Long Blooming Stars

Some flowers shine all summer long, producing continuous waves of color from spring until fall. These vigorous bloomers are garden workhorses.

Petunias

Petunias are a beloved annual that bloom exuberantly into early fall. The popular Wave series is low maintenance with no deadheading required. Give them full sun, well-drained soil, and ample water. Heat brings more blooms. Great for beds, baskets, and boxes.

Vinca

Vinca produces mounds of glossy foliage covered in saucer-shaped blooms. It comes in white, pink, red, and purple. Vinca thrives in heat, drought, and humidity. Let it spread as a colorful groundcover or trailing from containers. New plants need frequent watering.

Portulaca

Also known as moss rose, portulaca displays semi-succulent foliage and satiny single blooms. The flowers come in vivid shades like fuchsia, coral, yellow, white, and orange. Portulaca thrives in poor, sandy soils and full sun with little water or maintenance. Use as a groundcover.

Cosmos

Cosmos are delicate-looking annuals that bloom prolifically in summer heat. The daisy-like flowers come in shades of pink, purple, orange, yellow, and white with bright yellow centers. Give them full sun and average water needs. Deadhead to encourage more blooms.

Best for Pollinators

Attract beneficial pollinators like butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds to your garden with these nectar-rich flowers.

Pentas

Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds flock to the dense clusters of star-shaped blooms produced by pentas all summer. For nonstop color and happy pollinators, plant plenty of this vibrant flower.

Lantana

Lantana’s long bloom period provides an ongoing nectar source for butterflies and hummingbirds from early summer into fall. Its bright clusters of small, tubular flowers draw in winged visitors.

Zinnias

Bold and colorful zinnias attract all types of pollinators. Plant en masse for a spectacle of dancing butterflies floating among the flowers. Cut zinnias also make great gifts.

Salvia

Hummingbirds zoom to the tubular red blooms of salvia. For nonstop hummer activity in your garden, include this sizzling summer flower. Plant in beds and containers where you can enjoy the show.

Best for Containers

These flowers thrive in patio pots, window boxes, hanging baskets, and urns for gorgeous summer container gardens.

Calibrachoa

Also called million bells, calibrachoa produces hundreds of petite petunia-like blooms. Colors include blue, purple, pink, yellow, orange, red, and white. Give them sun and use trailing types in baskets and mixed containers.

Angelonia

Angelonia looks graceful and delicate but withstands heat incredibly well. The spikes of orchid-like flowers come in purple, white, pink, and blue. Angelonia grows 12-24 inches tall depending on variety. Use in combinations.

Scaevola

Fan flowers have an airy, open habit with delicate blue or white blossoms. As a trailing plant, scaevola is ideal for hanging baskets, window boxes, and edges of patio containers. Grow in full sun with average water.

Lantana

The vibrant flower clusters of lantana create fantastic summer color in containers. Let them trail over the edges for bold texture and color. Give them sun and minimal water once established.

Tips for Growing Flowers in the Texas Summer Heat

• Select heat and drought tolerant varieties adapted to the demands of Texas summers.

• Grow flowers in well-draining soil amended with compost or other organic matter.

• Use a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch to help retain moisture in beds. Replenish as needed.

• Water deeply and infrequently to promote deep roots. About 1-2 inches per week is sufficient for most flowers.

• Provide partial afternoon shade if possible to prevent wilting.

• Use light colored containers which stay cooler than dark ones.

• Fertilize regularly with a bloom-boosting plant food to support flowering and health.

• Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowers.

• Monitor for pests like aphids which thrive in heat and humidity.

With the right selections and care, you can cultivate stunning gardens overflowing with colorful flowers all summer long, even in the Texas heat. The vibrant blooms will attract pollinators and add beauty to your landscape.

Annuals for Full Sun