Bedding plants for a very hot south-facing bed and large pots

[Housesellerinapoormarket]

Hi All,

I was wondering if anyone can suggest any bedding plants that will cope with a lot of heat/sun. Previous attempts have withered away and died, despite regular watering. it’s for a south facing position that gets all day sun and v hot.

I’ve got a few gaps in a bed where I’m not sure what my plan is long term, and two very large pots that are looking a bit empty. We completely changed the front bed two years ago, aiming for plants that could cope with being baked.

The only bedding type plant not to shrivel up and die have been geraniums last year. I could go for the same again but just wondered if there are any other options.

Perennial plants that cope well in the same area over the summer have been pony tail grass, another larger grass but I’ve lot the tag, verbena lollipop and bonaris, salvia, allium drumstick, and lambs ears, oh and a low sedum. Despite what the internet says we’ve lost a couple of echinacea that supposedly should have been happy there.

Thank you!

I wouldn't bother with bedding plants, they're terrible for the environment unless you grow them yourself. Just stick some more mediterranean perennials in there?

Echinaceas are often short lived.

Erigeron would grow well there too https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/32487/erigeron-karvinskianus/details

Just go with perlargoniums again. No point in trying anything else. They do come in a variety of colours, and some have lovely patterened leaves as well.

I would try cape daisy, Livingston daisy, gazania. They all do well for me with little watering as well as geraniums. Ivy leaf geraniums are pretty and in some garden centres you can get them with scented leaves.

I live where it gets baking hot. In my pots I buy potting soil with moisture retaining features plants; petunias multiple varieties, verbena, sweet potato vine and maltese cross. Nasturtiums never fail me despite 30-40C temps.

Geraniums are very drought and heat tolerant, so maybe just more of those!

Totally agree about bedding plants. An expensive and environmentally unfriendly way to buy something you'll throw away year after year.

How about Mediterranean herbs? Rosemary and oregano with trailing thyme would look good and thrive there. You can use them for cooking, they give colour year round and last years. Lots of garden centres do small herbs 5 for £10 type deals so a cheap way to fill pots.

Or succulents, Agapanthus or Lavender?

Creeping thyme might be good?

Rock rose for a permanent solution?

How about palm trees or yucca elephantipes for your large pots? You could embrace a Mediterranean planting style. Alternatively, set up an irrigation system with soaker hoses in your border.

Not bedding plants but I have lavender, salvia ‘hot lips’ and rosemary in mine. The rosemary has small blue flowers which look pretty in spring. It has become an absolute beast though so I’m thinking of removing it. Will look at some of these ideas.

I have a similar bed and dahlias did really well last year, I don't grow them but my very generous neighbour does, I saved some by potting and bringing in over winter. Cape daisies I have in the same area in old chimney pots and they're thriving

lemon trees and olive trees both love south facing heat and the latter are only £12-13 in Lidyl at the moment!!

I agree with everyone re bedding plants.

I have a hot south facing border.
nepeta
roses
verbena (all varieties)
sedum
lychnis
hydrangea anabelle
bearded iris
agapanthus
salvia all varieties
daisies all varieties
nicotinia
margoram
grasses - ponytails - stipa tenuissima. Calimagrostis Karl Forster
aquilegia
asters
poppies
allium

lots of self seeders there. Sow densely to keep the ground covered and retain moisture.

We have an exposed west facing garden that gets incredibly hot.

Salvia Hot Lips do the best in very hot pots with relentless sun. They grow quite big & flower for months.
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Rosemary struggles and bleaches in our pots as it’s simply too exposed to the sun. I’ve had to move them into the garden as they simply don’t cope.

Happiest plants we have are roses, hardy geraniums, sedum Autumn Joy, perovskia, salvia and loads of lavender.

Sage and salvia grow like mad in my south-facing beds.

I have salvia Greggi in a terraced patio bed in the full sun - it’s a very hot garden with little shade! It’s lovely and flowers for most of summer. I also have some stipa in there which is very happy. Elsewhere in a sunny bed I have some campanula which is doing very well!

I have a very hot south facing garden. I plant geraniums and lobelia in pots. Also have some peonies. In my beds roses and hydrangea do well.

Try mirabilis jalapa. I grew it from seed last year in a pot; it's sprung up again this year of its own accord. Grows like a weed in my Italian garden, where it's a perennial.

Other drought tolerant plants in my garden include Russian sage (perovskia), lychnis, and echinops.

Thank you all, lots of ideas to think about and look up!

I have a very hot garden with little shade and my pollinator bed is full of plants that cope with the conditions without needing watering much at all. Favourites in there include erysimum bowles mauve, geranium rozanne, nepeta, foxgloves, allium, teasels, marjoram, eryngium planum, centaurea montana, lemon balm, aquilegia, primroses, salvia caradonna, yarrow, borage, nigella, nasturtiums, erigeron, purple toadflax, oregano, verbena bonariensis. There are others, but I can't think right now!