The Heat is On! - Plants chosen for this category not only grow in our hot humid summers, but thrive in it as well.

Hibiscus - A tropical hibiscus in bloom is spectacular. It is a plant that loves the summer heat, but can sometimes become stressed with all that sun. If your plant is out in the sun ‘all day’ and seems stressed, a little shade during the heat of the day may reward you with more and larger blooms. Hibiscus plants do not like wet feet, but neither should they be allowed to dry out—especially in hot weather. Organic matter in the soil and mulch on top will help to maintain a constant level of moisture in the summer. Good drainage is a must. An occasional yellow leaf is normal, but if they appear in large numbers that is an indication of stress. It could be a sign of under or over watering or due to a large dose of fertilizer. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer lightly and often during the growing season.

Roses - The original Knock-Out rose was introduced in the year 2000. They were developed by Bill Radler, who was a Wisconsin Rosarian. We are showcased a pink knock out rose during our show because it coordinated well with Debi’s accessories (rose bag, rose in bag, rose umbrella and pink gloves).
Over the past 10 years, there have been six more eye-catching additions to The Knock Out® Family of Roses. All seven members of the Knock Out Family of Roses were selected for their disease resistance – especially against black spot, and because they require no pruning, deadheading or winter protection.
These roses will bloom and thrive in less than full sun, and an annual pruning at winter’s end is all that is needed to keep these roses within a 3-4 foot range.

Gold Mop Cypress - A Gold Mop Cypress is a drought resistant plant that requires little maintenance and will thrive in full sun to partial shade. The thread leaf foliage stays yellow all year long and almost seems to glow in the sunlight. Its naturally unkempt beauty is what makes this plant prized as a specimen or border planting for your landscape.
A gold mop will slowly mature to a stately 5’ tall by 7’ wide and with their fine texture, these thread leaf false cypress shrubs are invaluable for injecting interest into the yard.
Their golden foliage opens up some interesting options when developing landscape color schemes. They are deer resistant (Except in Debi’s Yard) and are not bothered by our hot humid summers. Few diseases or pests bother this plant.

Euphorbia Bonfire - Euphorbia ‘bonfire’ is another plant that thrives in the heat of summer. It emerges in the spring with leaves that are purple, red/orange and chartreuse that mature to maroon. In spring the yellow golden bracts against the colorful foliage provide a stunning effect. By early summer, ‘Bonfire’ begins to turn maroon, holding its color all season long. This plant grows to a height of 12” and is disease and wind resistant, drought tolerant, AND deer and rabbit resistant.
Interestingly enough, Poinsettias are also in the euphorbia family. And like poinsettias, their milky sap may cause skin irritation in some people.
Companion plants would be blue-flowering spring bulbs and perennials, roses or ornamental grasses.

Portulaca - Portulaca, also known as Moss Rose is a flower that thrives in the summer heat and sun. It produces vivid colored blooms in shades of rose, yellow, white, orange, red, purple and pink. The blooms close up at night, and may not fully open on cloudy days. Full sun, sandy soil and good drainage are a must for these plants. Needing little fertilizer once established they are notoriously good container plants that do not perish if you forget to water them one day. Portulaca seeds are edible raw or cooked. The seeds can be ground up and put into recipes, soups, and sauces.

Mauna Loa Daylily - Mauna Loa is our daylily to showcase. Daylilies are easy to grow in a sunny well-drained area. They are tolerant of our summer heat and humidity, but appreciate deep watering during periods of drought. Mauna Loa’s large flowers are amber gold and typically stand 22” tall. As with all daylilies, each bloom opens only for one day, but plantings of different varieties can provide a riot of color to your landscape for much of the summer. This striking plant blooms mid-season. Clumps of daylily’s fountain like leaves form attractive groundcovers even when not in bloom.

Rose of Sharon - Rose of Sharon blooms profusely in mid to late summer and its attractive flowers are its main selling point. It is reasonably drought tolerant and is another heat loving plant. Another feature giving the shrub value is its relatively late period of blooming. The Rose of Sharon is able to offer color when many shrubs have long ceased blooming. The plant prefers full sun and well-drained soil and can easily reach heights of 8-10 feet. Its flowers in colors of white, red, lavender or light blue are attractive to hummingbirds.
Don’t give up on this plant thinking it is dead because it has not leafed out in the spring. The Rose of Sharon not only blooms late, but leafs out late as well. Its blooms are attractive to bees while being fairly deer resistant.

Banana plants - Bananas are herbaceous plants that add a touch of the tropics to any landscape. They have large, exotic tropical leaves that can grow from a few feet tall to nearly 40 feet, depending on the variety. Banana plants are fast growing, generally putting out one new leaf once a week. They require a well draining soil and are heavy feeders. It is recommended that you fertilize very lightly every time you water during the growing season. Water when the soil is dry to ½”. Please do not expect this to be a plant that you water once a week. Most bananas should be grown in full sun, while some require filtered sun. Keeping their size in mind, bananas can be grown indoors near a sunny window without drafts.

Flights of Fancy - These are our plants that are very attractive to all things that fly.

Clethra - Clethra ‘Ruby Spice’ is known as a summer flowering shrub that readily naturalizes in the border. It also makes a good foundation shrub with a mature size of about 6’ tall and 5’ wide.
Clethra are somewhat unique among late summer-flowering shrubs because of their ability to bloom in shady locations. It is adaptable to full sun to full shade, but performs best in partial sun to partial shade in moist to wet, organic soils. Heavy pruning is easily accomplished without worry, as flowering occurs on the new growth of the current season. The dark green leaves turn an attractive yellow/gold brown in fall. Its fine-textured rose pink bottlebrush shaped blooms appear from late July to early September and last for about 4-6 weeks. Flowers give way to dark brown capsules that may persist well into the winter.
The fragrant blooms are attractive to butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.

Echinacea - One of the most popular herbs in America today is the Native American medicinal plant called Echinacea. Named for the prickly scales in its large conical seed head, the herb resembles the spines of an angry hedgehog (echinos is Greek for spiny). Rabbits think new Echinacea shoots are a tasty treat, so protect seedling and young plants.
Echinacea or Coneflowers prefer full sun but will tolerate partial shady conditions. It does well in average or poor soil.
The only thing they can be fussy about is too much moisture, and should never have to sit very long with its roots in wet, soggy soil. Deadheading coneflowers throughout the summer will keep blooms and butterflies coming for weeks on end.
Leaving the seed heads at the end of the season provides seeds that are highly attractive to native songbirds such as goldfinches.

Tardiva Hydrangea - Tardiva Hydrangea is a wonderfully dependable plant. It is best grown in organically rich, medium moist, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. It can easily reach heights of 8-12’, with panicles (blooms) up to 8” long of mostly sterile flowers. It blooms on the current season’s growth in late summer well into September. Pruning this plant should be done in late winter to early spring. The blooms on the plant look fresh for a long time, and even after they have faded, they look like white moths dancing around the tree.
It can be used in a mass or group planting in a mixed shrub border, and is effective as a lawn specimen, accent or hedge plant.
A Tardiva Hydrangea is attractive to bees, butterflies and birds.

Cosmos - Spanish priests grew cosmos in their mission gardens in Mexico. The evenly placed petals led them to christen the flower ‘Cosmos”, the Greek word for harmony or ordered universe.
Cosmos is drought tolerant, providing abundant blooms with less water than most other annuals.
Many people ‘over-care’ for their cosmos plants. Over-care means too much water, too much fertilizer and too much shade. Cosmos has so many uses in the garden because it is deer resistant, drought tolerant, and an excellent cut flower.
It is great for a children’s garden because of its large bright flower, and is attractive to butterflies.

Pentas - Pentas like moderately fertile soil that retains moisture well. It blooms better and is more robust in full sun, but will still bloom in shade and look good. During the growing season, water regularly (allowing soils to dry somewhat between watering), and feed monthly.
It also may be grown as a houseplant in a sunny room with high humidity. Pentas are an excellent plant for cut flowers. They also make attractive container plants for your combo planters.
All are extremely attractive to butterflies and the red and dark pink varieties delight hummingbirds. With Pentas planted in your landscape you will be the envy of the neighborhood. Believe me, the increase in your butterfly and hummingbird population also make you happy.

Passion Flower - The Passion Flower or rather Maypop is a common roadside weed, found through out many areas of the South Eastern United States where it often grows in ditches and open fields. It derived this early common name from the way it just seems to ‘pop’ out of the ground in May. Maypop’s were later given the name Passion Flower by missionaries in the early 1500s. They believed that several parts of the plants symbolized features of the crucifixion of Christ.
The Passion Flower begins blooming in July and will continue until frost. The vines can easily grow up to 15 feet in a season.
The fruit produced by this plant is an oval berry, slightly smaller than a kiwi fruit. The fruit is edible, but seedy. It can be used to make jelly, but its best usage may come from being a food source for several species of butterfly and their larvae.

Phlox - Tall garden phlox wants a full sun location or at the least a partly sunny spot. It will tolerate part shade but will get leggy if you don’t give it enough sun.
If you have a choice, I would recommend you put it in the morning sun so dew will be dried off the leaves as soon as possible. I would also put it in a well-ventilated spot in the garden.
This plant will get powdery mildew if allowed to stay damp and shady. It is the main weakness of this plant. Because this plant is a mid to late summer bloomer, deadheading will not extend the bloom. But deadheading will make the plant look better and will make the remaining blooms look better.
This plant is attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies ----and rabbits.

Jatropha - Jatropha is tolerant of a wide variety of soils as long as they are well drained. It performs best in hot muggy weather. It is drought tolerant, but easily damaged by frost. It would prefer full sun to partial shade. Jatopha’s clusters of waxy lipstick red star shaped flowers are borne above the handsome dark glossy green foliage in full view. It stems contain a milky sap that can irritate sensitive skin.
One of the best uses for jatropha is as a patio or sidewalk container plant where the flowers can be enjoyed at close range.
It attracts butterflies and hummingbirds as well as rave reviews from passersby.

Shady Characters - These plants love the shade. Full sun would just be too much for them.

Impatiens - Impatiens are a mainstay in medium shade to all but the heaviest shade, and look fabulous in mass plantings. They don't require much care other than well drained, but moist soil and adequate watering. If they start looking leggy late in the summer, trim off the top third of their foliage. This will promote the emergence of new impatiens flowers, making the plants look better overall.
The common name of ‘touch-me-not’ is in reference to their seed capsules. When the capsules mature, they ‘explode’ when touched, sending seeds several feet away. Impatiens also cascade beautifully over the sides of a container for a lush look that requires minimal effort on the part of the gardener.

Big Daddy Hydrangea - Giant 12-14” flower-heads are the hallmark of this charming Hydrangea. Pink in alkaline soils, and blue in acidic soils, ‘Big Daddy’ offers trouble-free garden grouping or commands attention just as an accent plant. Each gigantic flower-head is composed of masses of tightly-clustered florets that radiate bright color.
Perfect for fresh and dried arrangements, ‘Big Daddy’ will add intrigue and romance to the garden with blooms from early summer through out the fall. Even when not blooming, its dark-green glossy leaves are attractive in your garden.
Once established in good soil, the Hydrangea will prove to be a reliable performer with little need for special care. Over the top beauty doesn’t come along very often, and “Big Daddy’ makes a super addition to any garden setting.

African Mask - This fast growing plant has striking variegated dark green and white leaves. They thrive in average home temperatures but require high humidity. African Mask plants like bright filtered light, but not direct sunshine. Strong sun will burn the leaves. Feed once a month during the summer with a balanced water soluble plant food. Watering can be tricky on African Mask plants. The more foliage it has, the more water it needs. Avoid cold drafts, because if the plant is ever chilled or dries out, it will immediately drop its leaves and go dormant.
The good news is, if you correct the problem, it will grow out new leaves .

Incrediball Hydrangea - Incrediball Hydrangea is an exciting new hardy hydrangea that produced massive 12” blooms that are held upright atop sturdy thick stems that prevent flopping even in inclement weather. This vigorous growing hydrangea delivers big flowers that emerge lime green, change to pure snowy white and then fade to green, providing color all season long. It blooms on new wood, so even with pruning or extremes in the weather it will still produce summer flowers the next season. It is very adaptable, but thrives in rich, well drained moist soil with some afternoon shade protection.
With more blooms than its parent, Annabelle Hydrangea, the Incrediball Hydrangea is a beautiful addition to your landscape.

Heuchera - There are nearly 300 known varieties of heuchera, also called ‘Coral Bells’. In general, heuchera grow to about 18” tall (not counting the flower) and around 18” wide. Their blooms grow on spikes of delicate ‘bells’ in shades of red, pink white or purple. But it’s the foliage that makes them a winner. Purple, black, red, orange, brown, silver, chartreuse-you name it, you can most likely find a huechera in that color. Heucheras tend to be shallow-rooted, and will heave in the winter if there is a lot of freeze/thaw action. To prevent them from heaving, give them a good, three inch layer of mulch in late fall, but don’t put too much mulch up against the crown of the plant, or it will rot.
It also makes an excellent container plant, and as woodland plants they add dramatic color and form to any partially shaded garden.

Dragon Wing Begonia - Dragon Wing Begonia plants fill in fast to form lush garden beds that last up to the first frost. Place these bold beauties in pots, baskets and beds-and watch them fill in fast.
They tolerate our heat and humidity and thrive in partial to full shade or filtered sun. Like all begonias it does best in fertile, well-drained but never dry organic soil. To keep it growing throughout the summer, make sure it is fertilized with some regularity. This plant will even tell you when it needs more food. When the leaves turn a reddish-bronze color it is time to fertilize.
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

Hakonechloa "All Gold" - Hakonechloa ‘All Gold’ is a striking shade groundcover that provides 3 seasons of interest to the woodland garden. The light, delicate looking foliage lights up shady places. The shimmering clumps billowing in a breeze are a perfect way to create focal points that catch the eye. When massed, they make magnificent drifts of low maintenance ground cover. In deep shade it tends to be more open in habit with the color leaning towards shades of chartreuse and light green. Haconechloa grows extremely well in rich, moisture retentive soil, reaching heights of 10-14” and about 18” wide at maturity. It is also a superior container plant. Just make sure that the containers have drainage holes and are filled with good-well draining potting soil.

Calathea Rattlesnake - Calathea Rattlesnake plant has narrow foliage that is light green on top, and burgundy on the bottom. They are part of the Maranta family and are native to the tropical parts of America. Similar to other tropical plants, they need increased humidity and plenty of shade. Direct sunlight is harmful to the plant and damages the foliage. Calatheas are their best in humid environments with temperatures between 60-70 degrees. During the night time the leaves fold together as if they were human hands engaged in prayer. Calatheas help to clean the air by removing toxins from it that exist in the air due to our use of house cleaning products and other man made pollutants.
It is the perfect plant to keep in a living room or other area where people reside for longer periods of time.

Not Tonight Deer - Our Not Tonight Deer category was one that was fairly difficult to choose.  Plants that are not eaten in someone else’s yard may become a tasty treat in yours.

Cannas - Cannas are often grown for their foliage alone. The large, paddle-like leaves resemble banana leaves and come in greens, blue-greens, variegated and stripes. The attractive flowers are somewhat tubular and lily like. Canna flowers come in shades and combinations of yellow, orange, red and pink and are borne on tall stalks coming out of the foliage. They add an instant touch of the topics to the garden. They prefer rich, moist soil and full sun. Plant the rhizomes 4-5” deep after all danger of frost has passed. In the fall, allow foliage to be killed by frost, then dig up the plants, leaving soil attached to the rhizomes. Allow to dry, and keep in a cool location for the winter.
Cannas can’t help but be focal points. The colors and tropical feel of cannas combine well with other ‘hot’ colors.

Barberry - Barberry is a dense rounded thorny shrub with red leaves and bright red berries. The small yellow flowers are beneath the leaves from April to May and are not showy. The bright red berries can be found along the stems from late fall into winter.
They can be used as hedge or barrier plants or in groupings. Barberry bushes are best located in full sun, but will also do well in partial shade. They are tolerant of many types of soil but will not do well in wet to very moist soils. Just below those beautiful red leaves are the tiniest sharpest thorns you will ever encounter. Just don’t plant them where little kids are likely to tread. Not only will it bite them, barberry plants are very brittle, and if stepped on, the branches break completely off.

Lavender - Lavender is such a romantic flower that every gardener sooner or later succumbs to the urge to grow it. Lavender plants will tolerate many growing conditions, but it thrives in warm, well-drained soil and full sun. Like many plants grown for their essential oils, a lean soil will encourage a higher concentration of oils. An alkaline and especially chalky soil will enhance lavenders fragrance. It is dampness, more than cold, that is responsible for killing lavender plants. If humidity is a problem, make sure you have plenty of space between your plants for air flow and always plant in a sunny location. Where the ground routinely freezes and thaws throughout the winter apply a layer of mulch after the ground freezes.

Elephant Ear - In the landscape, Elephant Ears are grown for their large heart-shaped leaves. Take advantage of their large attractive foliage and grow them among your other plants, thus varying the texture in a planting bed. They love sunshine, heat and humidity, and are easy to grow in either sun or shade. Their thirst for water makes elephant ears effective not only in soggy areas of the landscape but also near water features. Elephant ears are heavy feeders; fertilize them with a fertilizer high in nitrogen. In fall, after a frost has taken the tops dig up the corms and keep them in a cool but not freezing basement or garage. During this period of dormancy, make sure the corms neither rots nor totally dry out. Replant in spring when danger of frost has passed.

Green Velvet Boxwood - Green Velvet Boxwood is a rounded, compact evergreen that holds its green color well in winter, is reliably hardy, disease resistant, not a deer favorite. It also doesn’t have that English boxwood odor that some say smells like ‘cat pee’.
At maturity it will grow to 3-4 feet tall and wide. Its two main roles, are as foundation evergreens (especially under windows) and for lining walkways. It can also be spotted regularly throughout flower gardens to give rhythm to a bed or used along picket fences and vegetable gardens for a Colonial feel.
Dappled or part shade is idea, but Green velvet is tough enough to take fun sun. Go light on the mulch. Water if it gets really dry, especially when young. An annual spring feeding of a granular acidifying fertilizer, such as Holly-tone should do it for the year.

Ferns - Ferns are valuable garden plants of great dependability and beauty. Their leaves, known as fronds, can be lacy or leathery, plain green or variegated, providing a long season of interest.
Rarely suffering from pests and diseases, they offer trouble-free elegance. Naturally inhabiting woodland areas, ferns thrive in the shade offered by trees during the heat of summer. Most perform best in a moist, well drained soil, high in organic matter. Ferns are adapted to a wide variety of conditions–some ferns prefer dry rocky sites or wet marshy conditions while others thrive in limestone-rich soils. There are garden ferns for just about every condition you encounter in a garden.

Vinca - Clear flower colors and glossy green leaves make vinca indispensable for season-long interest in the garden and in containers. Add practically no maintenance to these drought tolerant plants and you have a winning combination. In most areas vinca should be planted in full sun, but will tolerate some afternoon shade. Plant only when the temperatures have warmed up in late spring. If you set the plants out too early, you risk losing them or having poor growth and few flowers. It needs a soil that drains well, but not one that is particularly rich or fertile. In the midst of a hot summer drought, the leaves may curl up in the heat of the day. Don’t worry, they will unfurl when evening arrives with a touch of dew.
You do not need to groom vinca by removing spent blooms; they drop off. Plants will stay neat looking all season .

Lantana - Lantana is very easy to grow and will adapt to most soil types.  Too much water and fertilizer will reduce blooms.  Lantana is happy in both humid and dry heat.  Flower color ranges from white to yellow, orange to red, pink to rose in unlimited combinations.  In addition the flowers usually change color as they age.  A lantana may look orange from a distance, but when the flower head is examined at close range it consists of individual white yellow and red flowers that blend together when viewed from afar.  Pets have reportedly become ill after ingesting lantana.  The unripe berries are known to be very toxic and the foliage toxic to livestock.  Lantana will add vibrant long-lasting color to your plantings.  It also makes an excellent container plant.  Lantana is a favorite species for butterflies.