Skip Petunias—Plant These 15 Heat-Loving Flowers Instead

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Petunias can look nearly perfect in late spring. Then the real summer heat arrives, and suddenly they are stretched, sticky, faded, and producing fewer flowers than leaves.

You can trim them back, feed them, water them, and wait for a comeback. Or you can plant flowers that seem to enjoy the weather that makes petunias miserable.

These heat-loving choices can keep beds, pots, and hanging baskets colorful well into late summer. Just remember that even drought-tolerant plants need regular water while their roots are becoming established.

Pet owners should also use a little caution. Lantana and annual vinca can be toxic when eaten, while ornamental peppers can cause painful mouth and stomach irritation. Keep tempting plants away from dogs, cats, and young children who may chew them.

Table of Contents show

1. Lantana

A round cluster of pink, peach, and yellow lantana flowers surrounded by textured green leaves

When the afternoon sun feels brutal, lantana often looks like it has finally found its favorite weather. Its rounded flower clusters can contain several shades at once, including yellow, orange, pink, red, and purple.

Plant lantana in full sun and well-drained soil. Once established, it handles dry spells far better than petunias and usually does not need constant deadheading. Butterflies frequently visit the flowers, too.

Lantana can spread aggressively in some warm climates, so check local recommendations before planting it in the ground. The leaves and berries can also be toxic if eaten by pets or people.

2. Zinnias

A bright pink zinnia flower with a yellow ring around its dark center

Zinnias are among the easiest ways to fill an empty, sunny bed with color. They grow quickly from seed and begin flowering when many spring plants are starting to look exhausted.

Give them full sun, decent airflow, and room between plants. Cutting flowers for bouquets or removing faded blooms encourages the plants to keep producing new ones.

Try to water near the base rather than soaking the leaves. Crowded plants and constantly wet foliage can encourage powdery mildew late in the season.

3. Angelonia

Pink angelonia flower spikes rising above narrow green leaves

Angelonia is sometimes called summer snapdragon because its upright flower spikes resemble small snapdragons. Unlike traditional snapdragons, however, angelonia does not fall apart as soon as hot weather arrives.

It is especially useful in containers where you want some height without planting something that constantly flops over the edge. Angelonia handles heat and humidity while keeping a relatively tidy shape.

Plant it in full sun and water when the upper soil begins to dry. Avoid soil that remains wet and heavy for long periods.

4. Annual Vinca

Pink annual vinca flowers growing among glossy green leaves

Annual vinca, also called Madagascar periwinkle, is one of the toughest bedding plants for a hot, exposed spot. Its glossy foliage stays attractive while the pinwheel-shaped flowers keep appearing without much cleanup.

The biggest secret is drainage. Vinca enjoys heat but strongly dislikes sitting in cold, soggy soil. Wait until the ground has warmed before planting it.

Annual vinca is Catharanthus roseus, not the creeping ground cover commonly sold as vinca vine. It can be toxic when chewed, so place it beyond the reach of curious pets and children.

5. Pentas

Clusters of small pink pentas flowers growing above broad green leaves

Pentas produce dense clusters of tiny, star-shaped flowers. Red and bright pink varieties are especially noticeable to hummingbirds and butterflies moving through the garden.

They perform well during hot, humid summers and can be planted in beds or large containers. Give them full sun for the heaviest flowering, although a little afternoon shade can help in extremely hot locations.

Water deeply when the upper soil begins to dry. Removing old flower clusters can keep the plant tidy and encourage additional blooms.

6. Portulaca

Red, magenta, and pale yellow moss rose flowers growing through succulent foliage

Portulaca, commonly called moss rose, is almost built for the places where other flowers struggle. It can grow in hot borders, shallow containers, sandy soil, and pots sitting beside heat-reflecting pavement.

The fleshy leaves hold moisture, allowing established plants to tolerate dry conditions. Too much water is usually a bigger problem than too little.

Portulaca flowers open most fully in bright sunshine and may close during cloudy weather or late in the day. Use it along container edges where its colorful stems can trail naturally.

7. Celosia

A deep red spiked celosia flower above dark green and purple leaves

Celosia brings shapes to the garden that petunias simply cannot match. Depending on the variety, its flowers may resemble flames, feathery plumes, wheat spikes, or rippled coral.

The bold flowers hold their color during hot weather and can remain attractive for weeks. Plant celosia in full sun with good drainage, then water consistently while the roots become established.

The flowers also work well in dried arrangements. Cut them while they are still colorful and hang the stems upside down in a dry location with good airflow.

8. Globe Amaranth

A close-up of a rounded purple globe amaranth flower

Globe amaranth produces small, rounded flowers with a dry, papery texture. Purple is the classic color, but white, pink, red, and orange varieties are also available.

This is a dependable choice for a sunny bed that becomes hot and dry in July and August. Established plants need less attention than many traditional annuals, and the flowers attract a steady stream of pollinators.

The blooms hold their shape after drying, making globe amaranth one of the easiest flowers to save for fall wreaths and arrangements.

9. Mexican Heather

Small purple Mexican heather flowers scattered through glossy green foliage

Mexican heather forms a low, rounded mound covered with small purple, pink, or white flowers. It is a useful replacement when you want a tidy border instead of a flower that spills in every direction.

Once summer arrives, the plants handle heat and humidity surprisingly well. Use them along walkways, around taller flowers, or near the front of a mixed container.

Water during extended dry periods, especially when Mexican heather is growing in a pot. It behaves as a perennial in very warm climates but is usually grown as an annual where winters freeze.

10. Salvia

A compact scarlet salvia plant with red flower spikes and green leaves

Salvia replaces petunias’ soft mounds with upright flower spikes that add height and movement. Red varieties are hummingbird magnets, while blue and purple varieties mix easily with yellow, white, and orange flowers.

There are many different salvias, including annual and perennial types, so check the plant tag before buying. Most flowering salvias perform best in full sun and soil that drains freely.

When a flower spike is completely finished, cut it back to a healthy set of leaves or a developing side shoot. Many varieties will respond with another flush of flowers.

11. Verbena

Tall airy verbena stems topped with small purple flower clusters

Verbena can fill several different roles. Trailing varieties spill over hanging baskets, while tall verbena sends slender stems topped with purple flower clusters above neighboring plants.

Both forms appreciate full sun and good drainage. Good airflow is important because crowded, damp plants can develop powdery mildew.

Shear back tired trailing plants when flowering slows. Tall verbena may self-seed enthusiastically, so remove finished flowers if you do not want seedlings. Check local guidance because some types can spread beyond the garden in certain regions.

12. Melampodium

A dense planting of small yellow melampodium flowers and green leaves

Melampodium deserves far more attention than it receives at garden centers. It forms rounded plants covered with cheerful yellow, daisy-like flowers during the hottest part of summer.

The plants generally stay neat without constant pinching or deadheading. They work especially well near the front of a sunny border, where the yellow flowers can brighten darker foliage.

Melampodium tolerates heat and humidity, but newly planted flowers should still be watered regularly. Once established, allow the upper soil to dry slightly before watering again.

13. Blanket Flower

Two red and yellow blanket flowers with a bee resting on the upper bloom

Blanket flowers look as though someone painted their petals with rings of red, orange, and yellow. The warm colors seem even brighter under intense summer sunlight.

Gaillardia performs best in full sun and soil that drains quickly. Established plants handle dry weather well, making them useful for beds that are difficult to water every day.

Do not overfeed blanket flowers. Rich soil and heavy fertilizer can create floppy growth instead of more flowers. Some types are annuals, while others are short-lived perennials, so check the label carefully.

14. Scaevola

A mass of pale purple scaevola fan flowers with green centers

Scaevola is often called fan flower because each bloom has petals arranged along one side, creating the shape of a tiny folding fan.

Its trailing growth makes it one of the best petunia alternatives for hanging baskets, window boxes, and the edges of large containers. The flowers keep appearing during hot weather without needing every faded bloom removed by hand.

Plant scaevola in full sun and use a potting mix that drains well. It handles short dry periods after establishment, but new hanging baskets should not be allowed to dry completely.

15. Ornamental Peppers

Black Pearl ornamental pepper plants with dark purple leaves and red and black fruit

Ornamental peppers provide color in a completely different way. Depending on the variety, the fruit may appear purple, black, cream, yellow, orange, or bright red—sometimes with several colors on one plant.

They love the same warm conditions as vegetable peppers and often look their best near the end of summer. Dark-leaved varieties such as Black Pearl add contrast even before the fruit changes color.

Keep ornamental peppers away from pets and young children. The fruit can be extremely hot and may cause painful mouth, eye, or stomach irritation. Do not treat nursery-grown ornamental peppers as food unless they were labeled and grown for edible use.

Whichever flowers you choose, give them a fair start. Water deeply during the first couple of weeks, add a light layer of mulch, and wait until the roots begin reaching beyond the original planting hole. After that, these plants can do what petunias often struggle to do in August: keep looking good without becoming a daily project.

Image Attributions

Lantana

Zinnias

Angelonia

Annual Vinca

Pentas

Portulaca

Celosia

Globe Amaranth

Mexican Heather

Salvia

Verbena

Melampodium

Blanket Flower

Scaevola

Ornamental Peppers