I must admit, as a resident of Florida, August is not my favorite month. In fact, I try to stay indoors as much as possible. The result of this is that many of my plants suffer, and most annuals meet their demise. Fortunately, there are August garden plants that manage to thrive in the intense heat and often, dry weather. 

August is a transitional period for the garden. Many of the summer bloomers are finishing up, and the fall flowers aren’t yet blooming. We’ve harvested the best from our summer gardens, and it’s a bit warm still to plant those cool-season vegetables. 

If you live in a warm climate, like I do, you may struggle to grow things that continue to look vibrant and healthy this time of year. The key to keeping your August garden plants attractive is to choose things that don’t just tolerate heat, but prefer it.

Here are some of my favorite heat-loving plants that I can count on to make it to September in good condition. 

Lantana

Bounces back fast after hot summer afternoons.

Lantana isn’t just heat-tolerant. This pretty perennial does some of its best work in August. It’s an incredibly resilient plant, and while it may droop just a bit mid-afternoon, by evening it perks right back up! There’s a reason it’s often nicknamed ‘Florida Flower.’

Lantana is a member of the verbena family. It has aromatic foliage and comes in a few different forms. Some are shrubby, while others have a trailing habit. The trailing cultivars are ideal for heat-proof hanging baskets. These August garden plants produce an abundance of small, colorful flower clusters that butterflies adore. 

If you live in the regions where L. camara is invasive, look for a native or adapted species to plant instead. You’ll get the same look and hardiness without the damage to local ecosystems.

Salvia

Deep roots make it nearly drought-proof once settled.

Salvia is a great choice for hot August gardens. Once established, this plant is almost invincible. It has deep, extensive roots, which help it to access moisture deep underground.

I never have to water my established salvia plants. For this reason, I have many different cultivars in various spots in my garden. 

Their sturdy stems and thick leaves are part of what makes these August garden plants so heat-tolerant. They resist wilting in high temperatures and continue to bloom. They’re adaptable to most soil types, and bloom from early summer until the first frost. Use these as a border to keep color and foliage looking nice all summer. 

Blanket Flower

Loves heat, poor soil, and blooms without deadheading.

Blanket flower is one of the best plants I can think of for coastal gardens and hot climates. In fact, it seems to prefer hot, dry, sunny conditions more than most garden plants. August is a time for blanket flower to shine, and it can make your garden look cheery even on the hottest day. It’s also incredibly low maintenance. 

This plant colonizes well, so it’s ideal for open spaces that you want to fill with bright and beautiful flowers. It’s drought-resistant and continuously blooms through August, even without deadheading. This August garden plant is also perfectly happy in arid climates and doesn’t mind poor, sandy soil. 

Yarrow

A tough, low-care bloomer that thrives in full sun.

Yarrow is another August garden plant that braves the heat like a champ. For warm climates and gardens that get a ton of sun, this is a go-to for summer color.

Once established, yarrow thrives with little care. It tolerates poor soil, intense heat, and minimal water. The feathery foliage also resists wilting nicely. 

Your yarrow will bloom continuously from early to late summer and often beyond. Pollinators love it, and it makes beautiful cut flowers. It also dries nicely for dried arrangements. It’s low-maintenance and self-sows, so it spreads around the garden nicely. 

Blue Fescue

The foliage handles dry heat and poor soil well.

Blue fescue is an attractive ornamental grass that is exceptionally heat-tolerant. The stiff, blue-gray blades reflect sunlight, which helps prevent water loss.

It’s best suited to dry heat, but with proper ventilation, it tolerates humidity. If you want a border that looks good in August, this is a great plant for the task. 

This August garden plant is naturally adapted to open, sunny habitats. It prefers rocky soil, and once established, it’s drought-tolerant. The pretty blue foliage adds cool tones and texture to rock gardens, borders, and xeriscapes. 

Texas Sage

Explodes with flowers after summer rain or humidity.

Texas sage is one of the most heat-tolerant shrubs I can think of. Native to the southwestern United States, it thrives in intense heat and scorching sun. It’s also drought-tolerant.

This is a perfect plant for braving August heatwaves. It’s native to desert regions where it gets little rainfall. 

The fuzzy, silvery leaves on this garden plant help reflect sunlight so that it can retain moisture. Once established, it needs little to no supplemental water. After a time of rain or humidity, Texas sage will produce bountiful spikes of lavender flowers. It’s great for pollinators during the summer dearth. 

Texas Rock Rose

Blooms more the hotter it gets.

This Texas native shrub is famous for its bright, hibiscus-like flowers and incredible heat-tolerance. When most garden plants are conserving energy, Texas rock rose continues to show off in August. In fact, it blooms more prolifically the hotter it gets! 

The slightly fuzzy leaves play a role in conserving moisture, enabling this shrub to look great in full sun and temperatures over 100°F (38°C). It blooms heavily throughout the summer, often after rain or humid spells.

Plant these August garden plants in well-drained soil to avoid root rot. It doesn’t mind sandy, rocky, or otherwise poor soil types.

Agave

Stores water in its thick leaves to beat the heat.

Agaves are heat superstars. Native to arid, desert regions of the Americas, these August garden plants are as tough as nails. They prefer plenty of sun, intense heat, and minimal water.

Agaves have thick, fleshy leaves where they store water. They can go for long periods with no additional water at all. 

These succulent plants have a waxy coating on their leave that reduces water loss and reflects sunlight. Even in the August heat, they always look happy. Many species are perfectly happy in temperatures over 100°F (38°C). They don’t mind poor soil either.

Rosemary

Grows well in full sun with little water.

Rosemary is an exceptionally heat-tolerant herb and a great August garden plant. Native to the Mediterranean region, it thrives in sunny, dry, hot conditions. It will look its best through August, and continue to produce aromatic and tasty leaves and pretty purple flowers. It’s perfectly happy in temperatures well over 90°F (32°C). 

Rosemary’s foliage is needlelike and narrow, which helps to prevent moisture loss. It also has a deep root system, allowing it to access moisture in times of prolonged drought. Rosemary doesn’t mind poor soil and is a great choice for waterwise gardens.

Zinnia

Bright flowers thrive in poor soil and high temps.

I adore zinnias. In fact, they might be my favorite annual garden plant. August is a great month for zinnias, as they are incredibly heat-tolerant.

I like to plant zinnias every few weeks until about the middle of summer. This way, I have a constant supply of these cheerful flowers. 

Zinnias are native to the southeastern United States and Mexico. They’re adapted to hot, sunny environments and bloom better in high heat. Once established, they need very little water, and they don’t mind poor, sandy soil.

Sunflower

Sturdy taproots support tall growth during drought.

Sunflowers are another great annual that loves heat and will thrive in the August garden. These beautiful giants are native to North American prairies and open plains. They are adapted to withstand intense summer heat, sun, and drought. They are wonderful for pollinators and make incredible cut flowers.