They also love the heat and never stop blooming.
Weeding and watering are my two least favorite gardening activities, especially in summer.
Thoroughmulchingtakes care of the first issue, but reducing the second also requires choosing the right plants.
Credit: Steve Bender
I prefer those that sip, not gulp.
like understand that I am talking about plants that are growing in the ground, not containers.
Just give them plenty of sun and well-drained soil.
Credit: Van Chaplin
TheSouthern LivingPlant Collection includes ‘Sunset Celebration’gaillardia, which is red and yellow and resists fading.
The daisy-like ‘Mesa Yellow’ features sunny petals and a golden center.
Both grow 14 to 16 inches tall and wide.
Clip old seedheads to keep new flowers coming.
Summer Snapdragon
Old-fashionedsnapdragons(Antirrhinum majus)hate summer heat.
Summer snapdragons (above) love it.
Credit: Getty Images
These tropical natives come in two forms: upright and trailing.
Spikes of blue, purple, lavender, red, pink, or white blossoms adorn the foliage.
Plants need only occasional deadheading.
Credit: Alison Miksch
Butterflies like them, but deer don’t.
If flower production wanes a bit, give them a drink of liquid fertilizer.
Clover-like blooms in pink, purple, white, orange, and red appear nonstop.
Credit:Westend61/Getty Images
They make great cut flowers, as they hold their colors when they dry.
Some types, like ‘Strawberry Fields,’ can grow 2 feet tall.
My favorite, though, is ‘Buddy,’ a purple dwarf that reaches only 6 to 8 inches.
Credit: Remedios/Getty Images
Plants don’t need deadheading, and deer don’t eat them.
Flowers open in the morning and close in the evening.
Butterflies like it, but deer don’t.
Credit: Getty Images
Minimal attention is requiredjust don’t water too much.
Lantana
Why do you seesweeps of lantanaplanted so often at shopping malls and neighborhood entrances?
Because they supply continuous color with just about zero care.
Credit: Westend61/Getty Images
It needs no deadheading.
Check the label for height and spread, as some grow large and mounding while others hug the ground.
Butterfly Bush
Westend61/Getty Images
Add a lushbutterfly bushto your garden for color from spring through summer.
Credit: AlpamayoPhoto / Getty Images
The fast-growing shrub features pink, purple, yellow, or white flowers that attract pollinators.
This plant can go for a couple of weeks without water during extremely dry weather once established.
Lavender
Give this sun-loving plant a bright spot in your garden.
Native to the Mediterranean,lavenderis not afraid of the summer heat.
Flowers planted in garden beds need to be watered only during prolonged periods of drought.
Watering every couple of weeks will satisfy this fragrant perennial.
Purple Coneflower
A patch of these tall flowers can add color to your garden all summer long.
Theyre easy to grow in almost any soil, as long as its not wet.
The drought-resistant blooms attract pollinators to your yard.
Deadheadpurple coneflowersto encourage new growth.
If you dont deadhead, the dying cones will provide seeds for finches who come to your garden.
Dianthus
These mounding plants are easy to care for.
Theyre drought tolerant but dont like extreme midsummer heat.
Aim to water them weekly, but avoid overwatering and creating soggy soil.
Deadheading these brightly colored perennials will help them bloom again.
Catmint
Bring color to garden borders.Catmintblooms all summer and doesnt mind Southern summers.
Once established, it is drought tolerant.
Small purple flowers attract bees and butterflies, but deer typically stay away.
