In the Garden: Plants that suit the hot summers ahead

Climate change is slowly but surely creating some major alterations in our gardens, meaning we need to be far more proactive in our planning and plantings.

Extreme heat, drought and resulting water restrictions are just some examples of what we are learning to live with. In an El Nino year, we also experienced some extreme cold, also tough on our gardens.

Not only do we need more drought-tolerant summer plants, we also need to ensure they are pollinator friendly. One plant family, in particular, has become a standout in both.

Salvias, both annual and perennial forms, have become the go-to summer plants.

The many varieties of the blue salvia farinacea have been favorites for years, not only because of their unique blue colouring, but because they are summer weather-tolerant and attract numerous pollinators. The new Summer Jewel series has a beautiful new flower form and comes in shades of lavender, pink, red and white. It has become a hummingbird favourite and also attracts goldfinches. The plants are quite compact, maturing about 30 cm tall and wide, and bloom from spring until frost.

There are a number of salvia varieties named after hummingbirds, like the series of Hummingbird Coral Nymph, Forest Fire and Snow Nymph, all boasting unique flower forms. Hummingbird Falls is a semi-trailing series with more traditional flower forms in a dark blue-black. It’s great for hanging baskets and also works well in large containers.

Most perennial salvia varieties have much longer blooming periods, love the heat and are drought tolerant. The new Fashionista series, good to Zone 3 and available in four pastel colours, is cutting edge with its stunning forms.

Even though they bloom longer and are great for the garden, the more tender