Late-Summer Color That Can Handle the Heat

By late summer, even the best-looking gardens and containers can start to look a little tired. The early-season blooms have done their job, the heat has taken a toll, and a few plants may be asking for more help than they are worth giving. The good news is that this is also one of the best times to freshen things up with plants that can handle the heat and keep the color going.

At Bru-Mar Gardens in Annapolis, we still have plenty of ways to help you bring life back to porches, patios, garden beds, and entryways. Whether you need a few replacements for tired containers or want to add a bold pop of color to your landscape, late summer offers more options than many gardeners realize.

Annuals are often the easiest place to start. Heat-tolerant choices like vinca, lantana, pentas, zinnias, angelonia, portulaca, and celosia can add instant color when earlier plantings begin to fade. Many of these plants thrive in sunny spots and continue blooming into early fall with regular watering and a little cleanup.

Perennials can also help carry the garden through the final stretch of summer. Coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, salvia, sedum, coreopsis, garden phlox, and ornamental grasses all bring strong late-season interest. Many of these also support bees, butterflies, and other pollinators at a time when nectar sources become especially important.

Do not overlook foliage plants, either. Color does not have to come only from flowers. Coleus, sweet potato vine, heuchera, caladiums, dusty miller, and ornamental peppers can add texture, contrast, and rich color even when blooms are slowing down. These are especially useful in containers where foliage can quickly make a planting look full again.

Tropicals are another excellent choice for late-summer impact. Hibiscus, mandevilla, palms, crotons, ferns, elephant ears, and other tropical plants can turn a patio or front porch into a lush retreat. They are especially helpful when you want bold color and dramatic foliage without waiting weeks for new plants to fill in.

If your containers are looking worn out, you do not always need to start from scratch. Sometimes a quick refresh is enough. Remove spent annuals, trim back anything leggy, add fresh soil or compost, and replace weak plants with something colorful and heat-tolerant. A few new plants can make the whole container look fresh again.

Late summer is also a good time to reassess watering. Containers may need daily attention during hot stretches, while newly planted annuals, perennials, and tropicals should be checked regularly until they are established. Water deeply when you do water, and try to water at the base of the plant rather than lightly sprinkling the leaves.

Stop in and let the Bru-Mar Gardens team help you find the right plants for your sunny patio, shaded porch, garden bed, or container refresh. There is still plenty of growing season left, and with the right plants, your garden can stay colorful well into fall.

Late-Summer Color FAQs

Can I still plant annuals in late summer?
Yes. Heat-tolerant annuals are a great way to add quick color to containers, beds, and entryways. Choose healthy plants, water them well, and give them a little time to settle in.

What should I do with containers that look tired?
Remove plants that are no longer performing, trim back anything overgrown, add fresh soil if needed, and tuck in new annuals, foliage plants, or tropicals for instant impact.

Are tropical plants worth buying this late in the season?
Yes. Tropicals can provide immediate color, height, and drama for patios, porches, and pool areas. Many continue looking good until cooler weather arrives.

What plants help pollinators in late summer?
Coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, salvia, lantana, pentas, zinnias, sedum, and garden phlox are all good options for keeping bees and butterflies active in the garden.

How often should I water late-summer containers?
In hot weather, many containers need daily watering. Check the soil with your finger. If the top inch feels dry, it is time to water thoroughly.

Save on Late-Summer Color

Refresh your garden, porch, or patio with a little help from Bru-Mar Gardens. Open the Bru-Mar Gardens app for current offers, plant inspiration, and seasonal updates.

Download the app here: https://apjl.app/brumar