I think of trailing plants as the botanical world’s answer to the waterfall, and the same verbs apply: cascading, overflowing, rushing, tumbling, spilling. As the stems of your vining plants ease over the edge of a container and meander on down, they offer the same graceful and enchanting vision as water sparkling its way down a rocky slope. The result is a dynamic, living art form that instantly elevates a patio, porch, or balcony from simple pots of soil into a lush, vibrant focal point.

Everyone needs a few trailing plants in their life, and they are absolutely perfect for container gardening, indoors or out. But as we transition through June and head into the fierce, baking crucible of high summer, the stakes get significantly higher. Unlike plants that are nestled snugly in garden beds, container roots are exposed to ambient air temperatures, drying winds, and rapid evaporation. So if you choose the wrong plant varieties, an afternoon away can spell disaster.

That’s why it’s important to select the right trailing plants for containers in full sun. If your region is known for its scorching summer heat, there is no need to panic or resign yourself to crunchy brown leaves, because this dynamic roundup of tough trailing beauties has you covered. Choose these ultra-resilient, heat tolerant container plants, and you can step away from the watering can occasionally without sacrificing a single drop of breathtaking season-long color.

Best Heat Tolerant Trailing Plants

Every region and hardiness zone presents unique challenges for container displays. In San Francisco, I get morning and evening fog, so the actual hours of warmth and direct sun are limited. Southern and southwestern cities face the opposite issue: baking sunshine and intense heat for months on end. There’s no changing the weather, but you can stack the deck in your favor with these gorgeous trailing plants, which view triple-digit temperatures as a luxury rather than a death sentence.

To ensure your cascading displays don't fail, avoid small, shallow pots that dry out in the blink of an eye. Instead, opt for generous containers or deep hanging baskets crafted from non-porous materials like resin or glazed ceramic. Fill with a lightweight potting mix amended with organic compost and a handful of perlite to ensure flawless drainage. You can buy Legigo Organic Perlite from Amazon.

Before planting, it is also a good idea to use a reliable soil moisture and pH meter, like the Yamron 4-in-1 Meter from Amazon, to check your potting medium's baseline health. A nutrient-rich, free-draining environment allows these tough trailing plants to establish the deep, resilient roots they need to push out non-stop summer blooms. Just don’t forget to give them some water to keep them flourishing. Without further ado, here are 6 of the best drought tolerant container plants for full sun and heat.

1. Creeping Zinnia

Often, the plants that tolerate heat best are those native to arid, sun-baked environments. This is the case with creeping zinnia (Sanvitalia procumbens), a cheerful annual that hails from the rugged, rocky terrains of Mexico and Guatemala. While its low-growing, mat-forming habit makes it a spectacular groundcover in garden beds, its true calling is found spilling over the edges of a sunny hanging basket. From early summer right up to first frost, it produces a mass of miniature, daisy-like yellow flowers with dark centers, framed by lush, bright green foliage.

And here’s the best news: creeping zinnia thrives in the heat and humidity of southern summers. So place your creeping zinnia in a location that receives full sun. While it is very drought-tolerant once established, it will flower most prolifically if watered when the top inch of soil feels dry. You also need to make sure containers have good drainage. This zinnia doesn’t transplant well, so if you are starting seeds then plant them right in a hanging basket, or buy young starts in biodegradable pots. Cool-weather folks look out: the plant will die if temperatures dip below 50 degrees F (10°C). You can buy OutsidePride Creeping Zinnia Seeds from Amazon.

2. Burro’s Tail

Call it burro’s tail or donkey’s tail (Sedum morganianum), but you get the picture! This trailing perennial succulent is hardy in USDA zones 10-11 and is native to the warm climates of southern Mexico and Honduras. It features thick, fleshy, blue-green lance-shaped foliage that overlaps tightly along heavy, cascading stems, and the trailing portions really do resemble a donkey. When grown outdoors in optimal summer conditions, mature specimens will occasionally surprise you with terminal clusters of star-shaped blossoms that shift pink to red.

Because the heavy, water-packed stems of a mature burro's tail can reach 4 feet (1.2m), it requires a sturdy, heavy-duty hanging basket or a tall, weighted urn that won't tip over. Also, while they adore ambient summer warmth, providing a location with filtered morning light and bright afternoon shade prevents their plump foliage from scorching. If you live in a cooler climate, remember to move it indoors to a bright window before the autumn chill arrives. Buy Burro’s Tail Plants from Walmart.

3. Sweet Potato Vine

Even if you aren't a fan of eating sweet potatoes, it is impossible not to fall in love with ornamental sweet potato vines (Ipomoea batatas). Heralded as the ultimate spiller plant, this fast-growing herbaceous perennial (grown as a vigorous annual in zones 8 and below) is cultivated for its dramatic foliage. Depending on the cultivar you choose, the leaves can be deeply lobed like maples or heart-shaped, and come in vivid shades of neon lime green, rich bronze, chartreuse, or midnight purple.

For the most intense leaf coloration, place your vines in a spot that receives 6-8 hours of direct sun daily. They thrive on intense heat and high humidity, quickly putting on multiple feet of growth when temperatures soar. Because vines can easily reach lengths of 10 feet (3m) in a single season, they do require plenty of watering during heat waves. Pair dark 'Blackie' with electric green 'Margarita' for a modern patio focal point. You can buy ‘Marguerite’ (aka ‘Margarita’) Pot Plants from Walmart.

4. Madagascar Periwinkle

Also known as annual vinca, the Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) is a titan when weathering summer heat. Native to the wilds of Madagascar, this glossy vining perennial is grown as a tough-as-nails summer annual that can grow to 3 feet (1m) long. Its sleek, emerald-green foliage is a lovely backdrop for a medley of flat, 5-petaled blossoms. Blooms come in brilliant shades of pink, striking white, lavender, and rose, often featuring a contrasting, brightly colored eye right in the center.

Madagascar periwinkle is perfect for hot, humid locations where other flowers might succumb to powdery mildew. It handles baking full sun with ease and its lively trailing habit quickly masks the edges of hanging baskets. Avoid overwatering, and allow the potting medium to dry out between watering sessions. The 'Cora Cascade' series is especially good for container gardening. Buy Vinca Seeds from Eden Brothers.

5. Trailing Portulaca

I love the common name of portulaca, which is moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora). And the flowers of this stunning plant really do look like bright, ruffled roses. This low-growing, high-impact succulent annual features needle-like, fleshy green leaves, hence why it is so drought tolerant. From late spring until fall, it yields a non-stop profusion of ruffled, multi-petaled blossoms. These flowers open with the morning sun and close again in the evening, appearing in an electric carnival of colors.

To see it reach its full potential, seek out the hyper-vigorous 'Heatwave' or 'Sundial' series, which have been bred to stay open longer on cloudy days and withstand extreme temperatures. Plant them in a sandy, fast-draining potting mix, and place the basket in the brightest, most sun-drenched location you have. While moss roses can survive on minimal intervention, an inch of water a week keeps blossom production super high. Buy Sow Right Seeds Moss Rose Seeds from Amazon.

6. Trailing Lantana

Native to South America, trailing lantana (L. montevidensis) is a rugged perennial evergreen in zones 9-11, and a fast-growing annual everywhere else. Unlike its upright shrub cousins, this species possesses a graceful, weeping growth habit that sends long, flexible branches cascading down to 5 feet (1.5m) from hanging baskets. Through the season, it is smothered in clusters of flowers that emit a pleasant, honey-like fragrance. These are a magnet for local butterflies and pollinators.

Trailing lantana is a fierce heat lover and very drought-resistant once its roots have adapted to its container. It prefers a well-draining potting soil and must be sited in full sun, as too much shade causes flower production to halt. While it requires minimal fussing, a light trim in midsummer helps stimulate a fresh wave of brand-new wood and subsequent flower buds. It’s a low-maintenance plant but look out for kids and pets, as the leaves and flowers are toxic. Be sure to suspend your hanging baskets safely out of reach. You can buy Trailing Lavender Lantana Plants from Walmart.

Shop Container Essentials

Keeping your high-impact summer containers looking lush and vibrant through the hottest months deserves the right support crew. Investing in top-tier maintenance gear makes your daily gardening routines easier. These items will ensure that your heat-tolerant trailing beauties continue to cascade magnificently all summer long. Treat your patio display to these curated essentials, designed to maximize summer blooms and keep your plants thriving all season long.

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