It’s late July and we’re officially HOT. And so are our gardens. Now is the time that we start to truly sit up and take notice of the plants that seem to be gliding through summer’s worst without skipping a beat. Today’s episode pays tribute to all those perennials and shrubs that take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’. We found some stars that thrive in heat, lean soil, and even some selections for the most dreaded of conditions: dry shade. If these plants do well in awful situations, think how much better they might do in slightly better ones?  

Expert: Kim Toscano is a horticulturalist, entomologist, garden designer, writer, and graphic designer. She previously hosted Oklahoma Gardening, a weekly PBS television program produced by the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. 

Danielle’s Plants 

‘Gro-Low’ fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-Low’, Zones 4–9) 

‘Drops of Jupiter’ golden oregano (Origanum ‘Drops of Jupiter’, Zones 4–9) 

 ‘Karmina’ hardy geranium (Geranium × cantabrigiense ‘Karmina’, Zones 5–8) 

European wild ginger (Asarum europaeum, Zones 5–8)

Carol’s Plants  

‘Sarastro’ bellflower (Campanula ‘Sarastro’, Zones 4–8) 

Black Lace® elderberry (Sambucus nigra ‘Eva’, Zones 4–7) 

California poppy (Eschscholzia californica, Zones 8–10) 

Agave-leaf sea holly (Eryngium agavifolium, Zones 6–9) 

Expert’s Plants  

Hoary vervain (Verbena stricta, Zones 4–7) 

‘Cloud Nine’ switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ‘Cloud Nine’, Zones 5–9) 

Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium, Zones 5–9)