Plants for Those Hot, Sunny Places

"So what should I do?" a friend called in desperation. "There's got to be something that'll grow along that back wall." It gets nothing but blinding sun and hot...

Achillea ageratifolia
Item # 10010 		Achillea ageratifolia
Greek Yarrow

each $4.99
3 to 6 $4.79
7 or more $4.59
Salvia greggii 'Wild Thing'
Item # 84738 		Salvia greggii 'Wild Thing'
'Wild Thing' Bush Sage

each $5.99
3 to 6 $5.79
7 or more $5.59
Salvia greggii (Furman's Red)
Item # 84735 		Salvia greggii 'Furman's Red'
Furman's Red Texas Sage

each $5.99
3 to 6 $5.79
7 or more $5.59
Scutellaria resinosa
Item # 88540 		Scutellaria resinosa
Prairie Skullcap

each $5.99
3 or more $5.79
  • Topic: Plant Selection
  • Author: Cindy Bellinger
  • Keywords: hot sun, full sun, south, walls, Site Solutions
  • Date: June 2003

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“So what should I do?” a friend called in desperation. “There’s got to be something that’ll grow along that back wall.”

I’ve seen her back wall. It gets nothing but blinding sun and hot, hot heat. It’s dry and the soil is that miserable lovely clay we have way too much of here.

“I just don’t want to plant a yucca and leave it at that,” she moaned. “Is there anything that will grow there?”

To be diligent about this, because I know lots of other people have those south and west facing walls, I spoke with David Salman, the president of Santa Fe Greenhouses, to find what plants he recommends. Then I toured the grounds here looking for even more. All of the plants listed in the following categories are good for those hot, dry places.

But first, the soil needs a bit of consideration. Amazingly, some plants don’t mind clay, but when transplanting it’s still important to take time to amend it. Mix a third of the clay you dig out of the planting hole with 2/3 compost. This will give clay-loving plants a good start to establish themselves before the roots begin traveling into the clay. If the plants like more loamy conditions, you might want to leave out the clay altogether. Consult with our staff.

Low-growing plants

  • Ruby Glow Sedum , 8”, Zones 3-10.
  • Goblin Blanket Flower (Gaillardia grandiflora ‘Goblin’), 12”, Zones 3-9.
  • Prairie Skullcap (Scutellaria resinosa), 10”, Zones 4-8.
  • Greek Yarrow (Achillea ageratifolia), 4-6”, Zone 5.
  • Silver Brocade Sage, 8”, Zones 3-9.
  • Poppy Mallow, 8”, Zones 4-5.

Medium height plants

  • ‘Blue Queen’ Blue Sage (Salvia x superba), 24”, Zones 4-9.
  • Texas Bush Sage (Salvia greggii ‘Wild Thing’, ‘Furman’s Red’)
  • Golden Fleece Dwarf Goldenrod, 15”, Zones 4-9.
  • Licorice Mint Hyssop (Agastache rupestris), 36”, Zones 5-9.
  • Miniature Hollyhocks, 24”, Zones 5-9.
  • Giant Four O’Clock, 18”, mounds, Zones 4-5.

Tall plants

  • Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea), 2-5’, Zones 5-9.
  • Red Yucca, leaves 3-4’; arching flower stems 4-5’, Zone 5.
  • Torch Lily (Kniphofia hybrid), 30”, Zones 5-8.
  • Maximillian Sunflower, 2-8’, Zones 4-9.

Shrubs

  • Yukon Bell Pyracantha, 6-10’, Zone 5.
  • Woods Rose, 3-5’, Zone 3.
  • New Mexico Privet (Forestiera neomexicana)15’, Zone 4.
  • Scotch Bloom, 3-4’, Zone 6.
  • Lilac (Syringa spp.), 10’, all zones.
  • Apache Plume (Falugia paradoxa), Zones 5-8.

Vines

  • Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans), 40’, Zones 5-8.
  • Japanese Honeysuckle Zones 4-9
  • Silver Lace, (Fallopia aubertii), 40’, Zones 4-8

It’s not impossible to find plants to grow in those glaring hot egions around our houses. It just takes a little bit of poking round the nursery and some experimenting to see what works.