Bring on the Heat: Thriving Summer Plants

 

Watering porch plants the other day created a rainbow! That’s a Carolina Wren on the flag. It is the state bird of South Carolina. This wren is small, feisty and loud- just like South Carolina. 

We have been going through a heat wave with temperatures in the mid-90s that are pushed into triple digits when factoring in the heat index.

While many people, including myself, may only go outside in small doses, I have sought plants for the yard, porch and patio that seem to flourish in this kind of weather. 

This post features the different types I have acquired in recent weeks at places such as Lowe’s and Home Depot. 

My favorite summer plant is the caladium. These thrive in the heat as long as they have at least a few hours of sunshine to soak into their broad leaves. 

Caladium comes in a few different colors so that offers a variety of looks. 

They seem to reach for the sun while I may wilt in it. 

This pair of hanging Boston ferns have weathered all the seasons for two-to-three years in this backyard spot. 

As you see, pine straw, not grass, covers the backyard. Years ago I gave up on growing and keeping grass here. There used to be grass but over time the many trees and the sandy soil composition made it hard for grass to grow and survive. Years ago I resodded a time or two but it just didn’t keep. 

So to adorn the space we have lots of plants, decorative birds, cats, and other critters, not to mention bird feeders and baths. 

I enjoy photographing the birds that come to the feeders and baths. Here's one of my backyard bird posts.  There are many on my blog, birder that I am! 

A new addition this summer is the polka dot plant. The nearby Lowe’s has had a bunch of these. I bought two and they are doing great on the back porch. 

Sometimes called freckle face plants, according to the previous link, they seem to be hardy for humid conditions. And the three-quart pot size makes them small enough to look good on smaller tables. 

Below is a larger polka dot plant. We will see how these do as the dog days of summer continue. 

(Above) Two of these tropical-looking plants fit comfortably in this rectangular planter. These are called flax Lillies. 

This spiky plant is also well-suited to the heat and humidity. It is an agave purchased at Stacks Nursery on Dorchester Road in Summerville. Agave juice is used as an alternative to honey, in many medicines and some tequilas as well. 

This begonia red flowered plant requires a little more attention with watering. Another one hangs on the front porch. 

The front yard, along the sidewalk, is anchored by several large sago palms., which seem to love the hot, humid conditions. It was just a few months ago that the new fronds started to emerge soon after I cut off the previous growth cycles' fronds. 

Now the new ones are big and getting bigger by the week as they soak up the sun.

Female Sago Palms take longer to reproduce. They grow a cone that eventually can be cut away. In the photo below you see the quickly growing new fronds of the female sago palm. I broke off the long yellowish cone about one week ago. 

Here are a few pictures of the cone I’ve mentioned. These sago palms are in another part of my neighborhood. This cone just naturally gave way to new growth.

Finally, this small hanging fern is thriving on our front porch. 

So bring on the heat! At least my plants love it!