Too often in Tucson plant lovers find themselves in this dilemma: You have the perfect blank wall or empty fence that would show off a beautiful plant and make your home look amazing – but it gets full sun and the reflected heat is enough to crisp a delicate flower in minutes! Luckily there are some plants out there that can take the heat and look good doing it. Check out the list below for our favorite plants for reflected heat.
- Pink Fairy Duster (Calliandra eriophylla) –With blooms as fanciful as its name, the fairy duster is actually a very tough plant. It’s native to our state, which means it’s perfectly suited to the worst our climate has to offer. Though it is drought tolerant, keep it watered regularly and you’ll enjoy an abundance of blooms that will have hummingbirds flocking to your garden!
- Texas Ranger (Leucophyllum frutescens) – These evergreen shrubs come in a multitude of varieties – Lynn’s Legacy, Green Cloud, Heavenly Cloud, Compacta, the list goes on! That means there’s a ranger for every occasion. And, of course, they can all hold up to the heat. With stunning purple blooms in the hottest months of summer, the Texas Ranger is a tried-and-true Tucson favorite for a reason! They are also a fantastic pollinator plant; honeybees in particular are drawn to the purple blossoms. Most rangers will max at a height of about 6 feet and grow 3 to 4 feet wide. Some varieties will differ.
- Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea glabra) – Another Tucson staple for vivid color in hot areas. Bougainvillea are happy up against western exposed walls and thrive in high temperatures. While we’re used to seeing the saturated fuchsia of the common varieties, they also come in a range of whites, yellows, pinks, and oranges. While most types will vine to cover trellises and walls, the Torchglow bougainvillea keeps a shrub-like habit and takes reflected heat just as well.
- Gold Lantana (Lantana camera)– Those gorgeous shrubs full of yellow flowers that you see lining streets in Tucson? That’s Gold Lantana! These plants love our climate, blooming prolifically and attracting all sorts of native pollinators. Since they’re on this list, we know they can take the heat, but these shrubs are also well suited to the cold, tolerant to just 10 degrees! A perfect choice for long-lasting bright color.
- Tombstone Rose (Rosa banksiae) – Coming swaths of yellow or white flowers, the Tombstone Rose or Lady Bank’s Rose, grows fast, dense, and beautiful. It grows wonderfully even against hot walls and fences but does require some yearly pruning to keep its prolific growth in check. To see a truly amazing specimen, check out the world’s single largest rose bush – a Tombstone Rose located, appropriately, in Tombstone Arizona. Brought to us from Scotland in 1885 it currently covers a remarkable 8000 square feet!
- Tecoma (Tecoma stans) – Tecomas are available in more than the standard yellow these days. Newer hybrids come in varying shades of red and orange. These new colors are gorgeous, but it’s the classic Yellow Bells Tecoma that has proven itself to be drought tolerant and heat resistant. It can be pruned into any shape you like and also takes well to being trained on a trellis. The bright trumpet-shaped flowers attract hummingbirds, and the dense branches make a good place for nests. Use for a sunny splash of yellow against any wall – in the ground, on a trellis, or in a pot!
- Chuparosa (Justicia californica) – Another hummingbird favorite, this native shrub is built tough. A perfect pop of red for dry desert designs, or just anywhere that gets hit hard with sun. Not only is it tolerant of drought and heat, it will thrive in rocky, sandy, desert soil.
- Feathery Cassia or Senna (Senna atremisioides) – With such dainty and airy leaves, it’s surprising how well this shrub takes reflected heat. Even when its yellow flowers fade, the sprays of unique foliage keep it a point of interest, especially against walls. Low water, low maintenance, and nearly nonexistent pruning needs give you a big result for very little work! While the standard Senna is green, there are also silver-leafed varieties for an even more eye-catching effect.
- Red Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) – Another commonly seen shrub here in Tucson, its popularity makes sense given its heat tolerance and spectacular blooms. An established plant needs only weekly watering in the height of summer, making it an excellent choice for dry and hot landscapes. It will drop its leaves in freezing temperatures which is the ideal time to prune. Then, look forward to a new round of blooms that last from March to October!
- Blackfoot Daisy (Melampodium leucanthum) – The perfect choice for fans of wildflower gardens! Extremely tough plants with bunches of white blossoms that attract butterflies, it’s hard to go wrong with these exceptional growers. Cold winter temperatures can leave them a little worse for wear, but the heat doesn’t bother them a bit. They can be used in planters but are equally happy baking in our native soil. It seems that given enough sun, there is nowhere these plants won’t grow!
