Outdoor Plants That Need a Little Sunlight & Are Heat Tolerant

Vines

• Vines can climb up trees and man-made structures, including fences, buildings and stakes. Jasmine is a vining plant with a high drought tolerance and grows in partial shade. White and winter jasmines are two common varieties seen in U.S. landscapes. These vining plants grow white and yellow flowers, respectively. Two other vining plants with high drought tolerances are California wild roses and bougainvilleas. Both California wild roses and bougainvilleas can grow in lightly shaded areas, but require full sunlight during three to four hours of the day.

Shrubs

• Shrubs are woody plants similar to trees but are under 15 to 20 feet tall and have multiple stems. Gardeners plant shrubs as edges to their gardens and to provide shade for plants that require partial sunlight for growth. Rosemary shrubs have a high degree of drought tolerance and grow in partial shade if necessary. These shrubs grow up to 6 feet tall and are able to grow in rocky soils. Deergrass, Cleveland sage and manzanita are other drought tolerant shrubs native to the United States. The scents, fruits and flowers of manzanitas and Cleveland sages attract birds and butterflies.

Groundcovers

• The purpose for growing groundcovers is twofold. First, groundcover plants protect a garden from erosion by covering bare spots. By covering the bare earth, groundcovers also increase a garden's aesthetic appeal. Mimosas, Asiatic jasmines, peanuts and lantanas are groundcover plants with high drought tolerance and the ability to grow in sub-tropical environments, such as Florida, with partial sunlight. In the Western United States, California poppy and creeping barberry are groundcovers with the same characteristics. Most groundcovers produce flowers during the spring and summer months (April through July).

Trees

• Larger than shrubs and bushes, trees are woody plants that grow over 30 feet. Larger trees reach heights of over 100 or 200 feet. Trees with high drought tolerances can grow in dry, arid conditions. However, not all drought tolerant trees dwell in desert or rocky environments. Many maple, ash, oak and alder trees require only a minimum amount of water and sunlight for growth. These trees are deciduous, meaning they lose leaves in the winter. Evergreen trees, or trees that do not lose their foliage in wintertime, with high drought tolerances include pines, red cedars, spruces and cedars.