April is here, and the minimum temperature is 38 degree Celsius. If we are feeling on edge in this scorching heat, imagine what our garden plants might be going through. Don’t fret! Instead of giving up gardening in these heat laden months, grow garden plants that soak up the summer sun that will make it a little easy for you.
• Top 10 Outdoor Plants That Absorb Heat
1. Marigold
From marriage ceremonies to festival celebrations, Marigold aka Calendula is a prominent flower in India. It belongs to the Compositae family, and is cultivated throughout the country, all around the year. Available in an array of attractive shapes and sizes, Marigolds have a short cropping period, minimal investment and care. These easy care garden plants are available in 2 varieties - French Marigolds and African Marigolds. French Marigolds are short, and their flowers are small in size; while African Marigolds are tall and their blooms are pretty large. Bright and cheery, these bright flowers are bound to freshen up your garden.
Buy French Marigold Seeds
2. Hibiscus
Hibiscus is an extensive genus of flowering plants that belong to the Malvaceae family. Native to warm temperate and tropical regions, it is cultivated as an ornamental garden plant for its showy flowers. In India, Hibiscus is offered to Lord Ganesha and Goddess Kali. In the first five months, the plant requires about 12-13 hours of sunlight. Thus, this is an ideal time to grow it. To thrive well, Hibiscus plant requires coarse soil that is neutral to slightly acidic.
Also Read -- Growing Hibiscus: Goddess Kali and Lord Ganesha’s Favorite Flower
3. Sunflowers
Sunflowers are rightly known as the happy flowers of a summer garden . An annual garden plant, Sunflowers grow with big daisy-like flowers that boast bright yellow petals and brown centers that mature as heavy heads filled with seeds. Mostly drought and heat tolerant, sunflowers are easy to grow only if the soil is not waterlogged. Attractive to bees and birds, they also make excellent cut flowers. Sunflowers prefer 6-8 hours of direct sunlight, nutrient-rich and well-draining soil.
Buy Sunflower Oil Seeds
4. Zinnia
One of the most easy care garden plants, Zinnias proliferate and bloom heavily. Offering a massive burst of colors, these outdoor plants produce flowers that are loved by butterflies. The best part about growing Zinnias in a summer garden is their bright, solitary, daisy-like flower heads that bloom on a single, erect stem. Dahlia flowered Zinnia is the most common type that grows up to 3 feet tall. The other types are known as cactus-flowered. Zinnias could be grown in mixed border gardens, edging, window boxes or containers. These outdoor potted plants thrive well in full-sun, humus-rich, well-drained soil.
Buy Zinnia Mix Seeds
5. Canna
Tapering ruffled spikes to colorful summer bulbs, Canna lilies are the most vibrant and flamboyant summer plants with flowers. Available in a wide variety of colors, veined or paddle-shaped leaves and stalks in green or bronze shades, these flowers make a garden look enticing. Their reedy canes and palmy foliage makes them look magnificent even if the flowers haven’t bloomed. These are outdoor plants that outdoor plants that like direct sunlight and fertile, moist soil.
6. Mogra
Mogra is one of the most common flowers cultivated in Indian gardens. Loved for its intoxicating aroma and gorgeous white flowers, it is adored and adorned by everyone. Mogra plant is dwarf-growing shrub with almost stalkless leaves and wavy margins. This outdoor plant can be grown as a short climber too. The heavy scented white flowers are borne in clusters of 3 to 12 and may be single, semi-double or perfectly double. This garden plant flowers mainly in the summer and rainy seasons, but several other flushes during other parts of the year are quite common.
7. Balsam
Balsam plants bear Camellia as double or single flowers with pink, scarlet, salmon pink, red, lilac, white, blue, mauve etc. It is ideal for flower beds, pots, paths and borders. The scientific name of this outdoor potted plant is Impatiens balsamina, derived from the Latin word impatience. Balsam prefers 6-8 hours of sunlight and high-quality rich soil.
8. Coleus
A perennial (sometimes annual) herbaceous garden plant very often grown in the garden for its colorful foliage. The plants grow in the height of 30-50 cm. Coleus is more commonly grown as a pot plant and is a favorite of windowsill gardens. Few dwarf types are also suitable for carpet bedding. It is observed that pot bound Coleus plants develop better leaf color. 4-6 hours of sunlight and humus rich potting mixture is ideal for growing Coleus.
9. Celosia Cockscomb
A very popular and easy to grow annual garden plant, Celosia Cockscomb grows up to 25-50 cm in height. This outdoor plant has branching growth habit and produces feathery flower spikes in a pyramidal fashion resembling Ostrich Plumes. It features various colors like silver, yellow, golden yellow, red, orange etc. A variety, Celosia cristata produces large flower heads which are crested and resemble Cock’s comb. Plants grow much better in the well-drained sandy soil, open sunny situation and plenty of watering.
10. Kalanchoe
These are succulent ornamental garden plants native to tropical Asia, Africa and America. Leaves are fleshy, and their cuttings can be used for vegetative propagation. The plants produce attractive, colorful flowers which can last long in bouquets and flowerpots. The branches producing flowers die off after blooming is over, but new growth appears from the base of the plant. Kalanchoe plants like rich, porous soil. Seeds are very minute and should not be covered after sowing.
