37 Heat-Tolerant Container Gardens Ideas For Summer

These hardy plant compositions can survive the summer sun.

ROBBIE CAPONETTO; STYLING: CARMEN JOHNSTON

You're doing your best to beat the heat this summer—shouldn't your containers do the same? Sweltering temps can take a toll on your favorite potted plants, but we have a few ideas for container gardens with heat-resistant plants that will thrive even in triple-digit temps. These plants will help your garden coast smoothly through the dog days—cool, calm, and collected.

Many of the featured plants hail from tropical locales, meaning they can take the swampy humidity. Others come from dry environments and require minimal watering, which is essential in high heat. Most thrive in full sun, but we provided a few options for shade as well. Just make sure to give these plants good drainage and room to breathe, and then kick back and enjoy your heat-tolerant container garden all season long.

ROBBIE CAPONETTO; STYLING: CARMEN JOHNSTON

The larger your potting vessel, the more moisture it is able to hold onto, which will help the plants stay hydrated longer between waterings. Keeping the soil moist to the touch is key to keeping your plants happy in the heat. Here, landscape designer Carmen Johnston filled the trough-style container with a ‘Kimberly Queen’ trailing fern in the middle for height and added smaller caladiums and ivy around it for more color and texture.

You'd never guess that a plant so pretty would be so hardy. But lantana can stand up to the sunniest, hottest, driest conditions with ease. Plus, its multicolored flowers bloom prolifically until the first frost—a real draw for butterflies. Plant in well-drained soil, and water regularly at first to get the roots established. Then leave it be, except to water once a week during dry spells. Many varieties are perennial in USDA Zones 8 through 11.

Mint is a great addition to a container garden, which will hold its aggressive, spreading nature in check. Not only does mint smell divine, but it is also a tough plant that thrives in full sun or partial shade (protection from the afternoon sun is beneficial in hotter climates). Mint prefers moist soil and should be watered consistently. Set some near your patio so you can pick sprigs for summertime cocktails.

This resilient trio of containers makes the most of heat-tolerant plants like geraniums, calibrachoas, and mecardonias. Choosing tough plants with gorgeous, bright blooms brings the best of both worlds to your container—they're easy to care for and visually captivating. Water regularly and deadhead faded flowers for nonstop blooming all season long. These plants are grown as annuals in most climates but are winter-hardy in USDA Zones 10 and 11.

Boxwoods are a sturdy evergreen that can be planted in containers and sheared to your desired shape, adding a touch of class to any garden. Combine them with heat-loving annuals like the white flowering vinca pictured here for seasonal color. Boxwoods will grow in full sun but benefit from afternoon shade in hotter climates. Plant in well-drained soil, and water weekly during hot, dry weather.

Flowers aren't required to create a captivating summer container garden. Here, the swordlike foliage of cast iron plant contrasts with frilly apple-green coleus, blood-red caladiums, airy asparagus fern, and variegated ivy. All of these plants do well in full or part shade—and protection from the sun's rays means less watering is required to keep the soil slightly damp.

We used Chinese fan palms for bold architectural interest and added color with scarlet bromeliads and gold-variegated aucuba and ivy. For those who prefer a native species, silver saw palmetto (Serenoa repens 'Cinerea') is another great heat-tolerant option for containers. Both can grow in full sun or part shade, while bromeliads prefer dappled light or full shade. These palms are officially hardy in USDA Zones 8 and warmer, though some have been known to survive in cooler climates. You can bring these plants indoors in winter to ensure their survival.

Surround an architectural feature of your home, like this window, with pots of tropical mandevilla vine. Mandevilla is an ideal choice for color in even a "this-is-the-hottest-summer-ever" climate. It prefers full sun and will thank you by blooming profusely until the weather cools in fall. Plant in well-draining soil, and water when dry. Give it a support to grow on—a bit of wire can do the trick. It's perennial in USDA Zones 10 and 11.

Heat up your container by adding glowing red geraniums (popular bedding flowers that also come with pink or white blooms) and lobed or scalloped foliage. Geraniums (Pelargonium sp.) can survive periodic dryness but will bloom best if watered when dry. These plants flower generously in full sun, but set them somewhere with afternoon shade during extreme heat.

An ideal choice for a humid, sweltering clime, this cheery planter combines 'Tropical Salmon' SunPatiens, foxtail asparagus fern, and 'Neon' pothos. It's a cheery dose of bright hues for hot days and warm nights. SunPatiens can grow in sun or shade, while pothos prefers full or part shade. Water these plants regularly.

These planters showcase waxleaf privet (Ligustrum japonicum) topiaries that add instant elegance to the entry. Creeping Jenny and a selection of peachy annual flowers add adornment to the base. Waxleaf privet can grow in full or part sun and is perennial in USDA Zones 7 through 11.

Include heat-loving plants that hail from far and wide to create a globe-trotting garden. Here a 'Vogue Audrey' mandevilla takes center stage among 'Baby Tut' dwarf papyrus, a South Asian elephant ear plant, and a South American 'Blackie' sweet potato vine. All of these plants thrive in full sun; papyrus prefers moist soil.

This exuberant mix is reminiscent of wild meadows and cottage gardens. A rustic container planting combines lantana, impatiens, and coleus with maroon Joseph's coat and creeping Jenny in a charming arrangement that will last all season. This combination will do well in full or part sun.

It wouldn't be summer without the cheery blooms of zinnias. These butterfly magnets come in almost every color of the rainbow, flower from late spring until frost, and (depending on the variety) grow from a few inches to several feet tall. Zinnias do best in full sun and if watered when dry. Cut the long stems for a summery bouquet—the plants will branch and produce more flowers.

ROBBIE CAPONETTO; STYLING: CARMEN JOHNSTON

The base of this summer-loving pot is a ‘Kimberly Queen’ fern with trailing kangaroo paw ferns, light variegated ivy, ‘Florida Moonlight’ caladiums, and maidenhair ferns tucked around it. “Be sure to fertilize,” advises garden expert Carmen Johnston. In the sweltering heat, she feeds her plants about every four to six weeks to keep them happy. “I love to use 1 tablespoon of Epsom salts mixed with 1 gallon of water to help them stay healthy, green, and lush,” she notes.

Fill a hanging basket with succulents for a drought-tolerant container that can last throughout summer and then be brought indoors for winter if you don't live in a frost-free area. The rosettes of echeverias are every bit as ornamental as flowers, while trailing succulents like string of beads or sedum can be used to spill out of the basket. Echeverias can take full or part sun, while other succulents typically grown as houseplants may prefer filtered sun or bright shade.

You can also mix and match your favorite succulents in a terra-cotta pot filled with a bed of gravel for an easy, super tough, well-drained container garden. These succulents will enjoy basking in the sun while you do.

Plant impatiens after all danger of frost has passed in spring, and it will thrive throughout the months of heat and humidity. Here, the homeowner chose to place impatiens by the poolside in large containers, giving them room to take off and produce large masses of colorful blooms. With the exception of SunPatiens, all impatiens appreciate part shade. Water regularly to keep the flower show going.

These sturdy urns are planted with sago palm (Cycas revoluta), a wonderful container plant with dramatic foliage and a Jurassic feel. This slow-growing "palm" is actually a prehistoric cycad that is hardy in USDA Zones 9 and warmer. Sago palm doesn't like wet feet, so water when the container is mostly dry. It can grow in full sun or part shade.

Purchase hens and chicks (Sempervivum) and plant them for a container that couldn't be easier to maintain. Note that this pot is lifted off the ground for good drainage. These succulents do best when planted in cactus potting mix or gritty soil in full sun or light shade, where they will produce offshoots and keep your brood growing. Even better, hens and chicks are winter hardy in USDA Zones 3 through 8.

In this container, we combined 'Maui Gold' elephant's ear, orange SunPatiens, citronella plant, Persian shield, and angel vine for a tropically inspired planter in a palette of vibrant hues. Place in full sun or part shade, water regularly, and dream about your next beach vacation.

Make your containers do double duty by planting sun-loving herbs like basil and rosemary. For a tall thriller plant, try citrus-scented lemongrass. This will add a savory perfume to the garden and spruce up a weeknight dinner too. Woody plants like rosemary tend to be drought tolerant, while more tender herbs like basil do best with regular watering.

This Southwest-inspired container includes heat-resistant succulents in a variety of textures, shapes, and colors for an eye-catching combination. Variegated yucca, the red blooms of kalanchoe, and a trailing sedum all thrive in full sun with minimal watering.

The fiery hues of coleus combined with a trailing, sunny yellow lantana will cheer you up when it's as hot as blue blazes outside. Set on a sunny stoop and water when the soil dries. The lantana's blooms will attract bees, birds, and butterflies until first frost, while the coleus also will feed pollinators if you allow it to bloom in the fall.

Take advantage of life's tenacious ability to thrive in every available crevice for a creative succulent garden. Keep things interesting by arranging containers in different sizes and styles, like this old-fashioned strawberry pot and giant clamshell. Plant with a rowdy mix of succulents in different sizes, shapes, colors, and textures for a stunning effect.

If you really can't be bothered with watering, agave is the way to go. The succulent foliage of the "century plant" can be variegated, green, blue, or silver. It's sometimes hairy and often rimmed with spikes. Plant in gritty soil in shallow, unglazed terra-cotta planters for good drainage. Some agave plants are winter hardy to USDA Zone 7 but must be protected from excessive moisture to survive until the next blazing-hot summer.

Add an assortment of cacti into your arrangement for a drought-tolerant accent. If they can thrive in desert climates, surely they can survive in your yard—at least when planted in sharply draining soil in full sun. Bring them indoors for the winter, and place in a sunny window.

This wall-hanging container garden brings a taste of the tropics to the porch. On the far left, we filled the planter with Mexican shrimp plant and 'Aquamarine' pilea, which hails from the rainforests of South America, along with pteris fern, selaginella, sword fern, and arrowhead vine.

The middle container features asparagus fern, 'Triostar' stromanthe, and 'Neon' pothos. The latter two are tropical plants, while the first is winter hardy in USDA Zones 9 and warmer. In the rightmost container garden, we used the tropical 'Neon' pothos, humidity-loving arrowhead vine, and selaginella, which is hardy in most of the South. This trio can grow in part sun or bright shade.

This summery combination is worthy of a wedding in June. The containers were planted with Australian, heat-loving white fan flower (Scaveola). South African blue plumbagos add a burst of color and thrive in the heat, as do the flapjack plants. Then we added the bluish rosettes of 'Lucita' echeverias, being sure to use a container with good drainage.

This container garden stands tall and proud, making certain we take notice of even the most diminutive plants. The planters are filled with string of pearls, purple calibrachoa (known as million bells), blue ageratum, ivy, and other fine-textured plants for a pretty display. Blue ageratum is heat-tolerant but can be susceptible to powdery mildew in high humidity. Spacing plants for good circulation can help.

Add lushness to your window box planter with this combination of holly fern, 'Aaron' caladium, 'Key Lime Pie' heuchera (coral bells), 'White Nancy' dead nettle, and a light pink vinca. All will grow in part sun and are winter hardy around the South (with the exception of caladiums, which are perennial in USDA Zones 9 through 11).

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A cheerful pot of sunny yellow or bright orange marigolds always brings a smile to our faces. Plus, these dependable bloomers love the heat, rarely wilt, and flower for months until the first frost. Marigolds prefer full sun and well-drained soil. Deadhead the plants to encourage abundant flowers.

Red flower clusters dangle from Dragon Wing begonia in this summer-proof pot. Dragon Wing begonias are heat-tolerant, vigorous growers thanks to their glossy leaves but do best in partial sun or shade. They love humidity, can climb to a couple of feet tall over the course of a summer, and will bloom nonstop until fall.

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With so many colorful varieties, you can easily find flowers to coordinate with a container of calibrachoa, or million bells. Million bells loves heat and sunshine and can even stand up to dry soil, making it a great selection for the South.

Every patio needs a pot of hardy hibiscus in summer. Often grown in topiary form, hibiscus' massive blooms and hot colors set a tropical tone all summer long. It thrives in heat and humidity but must be watered regularly to keep the soil moist.

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Portulaca flowers may look delicate, but those succulent stems mean this plant can hold its own on hot, dry days. Also known as moss rose, portulaca prefers fast-draining or sandy soil, light watering, and plenty of sunshine. Use it as a "spiller" plant in containers and hanging baskets, or plant it along the edges of pathways.

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Containers are a great way to grow summer vegetables, especially if you don't have good soil or space in the garden. Garden centers sell many patio, bush, and dwarf versions of summer vegetables (peppers and eggplants are exceptionally heat tolerant). Provide extra space for roots to grow, and keep the soil evenly moist.

In terms of watering and care, succulents like echeverias and hens and chicks (Sempervivum sp.) require little attention. Both can be grown in sun or part shade, but echeveria is only winter hardy in USDA Zones 9 through 12.

Ornamental shrubs like boxwood and holly will survive winter in a container. In much of the South, cool-weather flowers like violas, pansies, and cyclamens can also be grown throughout winter.

This depends on the plant and the season, but many outdoor potted plants require watering on days it doesn't rain in summer. For most plants that aren't drought tolerant, it's best to water when the top inch of soil is dry.

Most plants don't like to live in soil that is constantly soggy, which can suffocate roots and lead to the spread of disease. Allow the top of the soil to dry slightly, and remove saucers after heavy rains. Yellowing leaves and the persistence of wilting after you water can indicate your plant is getting too much water.