Plants for Hot Spots

Flowering Vines

• Vines and flowering climbing plants are ideal for hot and dry climates because of their resilience. While some varieties will fair better than others, most flowering vines will flourish in hot climates with only a moderate amount of watering. Specific vines that do well in hot climates include pink trumpet vine, trumpet creeper vine, Hall's honeysuckle, cat's claw, wisteria and bougainvillea. Also, almost any type of ivy will respond well in hot climates.

Annuals

• Adding color to your garden is easy with annuals, and luckily there are several varieties of annuals that take well to hot climates. Annuals that tend to flourish in arid conditions include cosmos, moss rose, spider flower, globe amaranth, verbena and creeping zinnia. These varieties must establish a root system before they can truly flourish in an arid atmosphere.

Cactus and Shrubs

• Aside from flowering plants, cactus and shrubbery tend to do quite well in hotter climates. Specifically, the barrel cactus, which stores water internally for future use, is ideal for hot weather. The barrel cactus can grow to be 5 feet tall and may produce small yellow blooms. Shrubbery, such as the boxwood, will require a bit more moisture but can still flourish in warmer weather.

Bulbs

• The nature of bulb plants make them highly compatible with hot climates. Bulb plants, including iris and daffodil, bloom in the fall and early spring and lay dormant throughout the hot summer months. This dormancy actually helps to protect the bulbs throughout hotter months so that they are ready to bloom later on. During the hotter months, bulb plants also require much less moisture than other flowering plants.

Grasses

• Grass is one of the most difficult components of landscaping to keep alive during periods of excessive heat. If you live in an arid climate, opt for types of grass that thrive on sunlight and do not require constant moisture. Types of grass that work well in hot climates include blue fescue, wheat grass, pampas grass and maiden grass.