Is your garden ready for the fast-approaching Texas summer? Plant sizzling summer flowers that will thrive in our Texas climate! Warm-season annuals are tough, heat-tolerant flower varieties are ideal for planting this time of year. They add an instant impact of color and lush foliage, all season long.
At Calloway’s and Cornelius, we have a vast selection of gorgeous summer flowers for you to plant now. Need flower gardening inspiration? Check out these 6 fantastic options for your flowerbeds and container gardens.
Embrace the Heat: Vibrant Summer Flowers for Your Texas Garden
1: CORA® XDR VINCA
Plant color that fights back during our Texas summers! Cora® XDR Vinca boasts easy-to-grow blooms and is one of the best heat-tolerant plants that will survive our Texas summer. Plus, Cora® XDR Vinca has Extra-Disease-Resistance! They are highly resistant to blight and have the best-in-class genetic performance under disease pressure.
Cora® XDR Vinca are easier to grow than other Cora Vinca varieties. They have improved branching, uniformity, and large, showy blooms available in a wide range of vibrant colors.
Cora® Vinca flowers can be enjoyed throughout our Texas summer because they offer season-long flowering. They have an upright mounding habit making them ideal for filling flowerbeds or container gardens, and they thrive in our Texas sun.
Cora Vinca flowers are one of the most carefree annuals you can grow this time of year. They thrive in hot and humid weather which is perfect for our Texas gardens. Vincas can grow to a height of 14-16 inches with a 18-20 inch spread. They prefer a well-draining soil and appreciate an organic mulch topdressing to conserve moisture. Be sure to water regularly until established and once established, Cora® XDR Vinca can tolerate dry soils.
2: MARIGOLDS
Make your Texas gardens bright and merry with Marigolds! They enjoy full sunlight, well-drained soils and can withstand our Texas summers. Marigolds are cheerful and one of the best choices for summer flower gardening. Their blooms are lightly fragrant, making them a popular choice for friendly pollinators, and they are also an important companion crop. They are ideal for planting in your spring vegetable gardens to help repel harmful pests
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There are over 50 different species of Marigold flowers and one of the telling factors is the bloom shape. Taishan® Marigolds have big, tightly petalled blooms that look like pom-poms while the Durango® variety has uniformly shaped flowers with large petals.
They are drought-tolerant summer flowers that prefer getting watered at the base of the plant. Allow the soil to dry somewhat between waterings.
3: PENTAS
Pentas are the perfect plant for the summer because their star-shaped blooms dazzle and sparkle like fireworks on the 4th of July. They are low-maintenance and easy to grow in our Texas gardens.
Did you know the Penta flower is one of the best pollinator-attracting plants around? The flower clusters bloom all summer long, even during our hottest Texas summers, creating the ultimate landing pad for butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees.
This heat-tolerant flower variety comes in beautiful shades of red, pink, purple, and white. They prefer to be planted in full sun and perform best in a moist, well-draining soil. Pentas can dry out quickly, especially during dry spells. Supplemental waterings may be necessary.
4: ZINNIAS
If you are looking for drought-resistant summer flowers, try Zinnias! They are prolific bloomers and one of the easiest flowers to grow in Texas gardens. Zinnias are fast-growing, creating an instant burst of color in your flowerbeds and container gardens. They are a great choice for attracting beneficial butterflies to your landscape and they even work well as a cut flower.
There are many Zinnia flowers to choose from; Profusion Zinnias have daisy-like blooms with large centers and Magellan Zinnias have large, double flowers in bursts of bright colors. They are available in different heights too. The shorter options are great for filler plants in your container creations or to line your walkways or borders. While the taller Zinnia flowers create a focal point or they can work as a background plant to your other shorter summer annuals.
When planting Zinnias, choose a location that gets full sunlight with good air circulation. This is essential for bountiful blooms throughout the season. Zinnias can adapt to most soil conditions, but a well-draining soil is preferred. They are drought-resistant summer flowers, but to promote ample growth and bigger blooms, water regularly during dry periods.
5: ANNUAL SALVIA
Attracting hummingbirds to your Texas garden is easy with Salvia! Hummingbirds love the showy flower spikes and bright red color. The tubular blooms are ideal for a Hummingbird’s long bill and their vibrant display keeps these friendly pollinators coming back for more!
Annual Salvia is one of the best drought-tolerant blooms for your landscape. In fact, they can tolerate drought better than many other summer annuals. Salvia plants thrive in the hot and sunny conditions of our Texas summers, and they perform well in flowerbeds and container gardens.
Plant your Salvias in a sunny location with well-draining soil. New Salvia plants should be watered daily for a couple of weeks, but after that, watering can be adjusted to every two to three days, depending on the weather.
6: LANTANA
Another fabulous flower to grow this summer in our Texas gardens is Lantana. Lantana has long been favored for its extended bloom time. They produce non-stop blooms in cheerful clusters of bright and vibrant colors. They are low-maintenance and provide colorful texture to landscapes.
Flowering Lantana performs well in containers or in gardens. The bold clusters of Verbena-like flowers are a favorite of butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. Each Lantana bloom displays a spectrum of colors ranging from pink and red to orange and yellow.
Planting Lantana in a sunny location with a well-draining soil is preferred. They can adapt to many soil conditions, but they do best with a slightly acidic soil. Try adding Calloway’s Premium Organic Pine Bark Mulch as a top dressing. Newly planted Lantanas need frequent watering, but once they have been established, they become more tolerant of dry conditions. Try a deep watering once a week, depending on the weather.
Tips for Successful Summer Flower Gardening in Texas
Taking care of Texas gardens during the summer is so important. Maintaining proper watering for new and established plants is key. Follow the requirements that your specific plants need to thrive. If you have questions on specific plants’ water needs, make sure to ask one of our Texas Certified Nursery Professionals they are here to help!
Summer annuals need well-draining soils to establish a strong root system for continued growth. Use Calloway’s Premium Flowerbed Garden Soil in your garden beds and for container gardens, use Calloway’s Premium Container Potting Soil. Our specialized formulas help your plants get the best start for gardening success.
Keep all your annual blooms thriving with proper nourishment. Feed your plants with Calloway’s Premium Flower Food as directed. Our flower food promotes vibrant color and lasting blooms.
Garden with Ease
At Calloway’s and Cornelius, we have everything you need to prepare your garden for summer! Visit us today and explore our entire collection of seasonal blooms, fantastic pottery, indoor plants, fresh herbs, and so much more! Shop one of our 28 neighborhood stores, serving our loyal customers for over 35 years.
Have questions? Ask our Texas Certified Nursery Professionals; they are here to help!
