Zinnias were my best performers this season! Poor soil and hot temps in zone 7b and they are still blooming. I am collecting seeds for next year and to give friends and family. Thanks for all the recommendations! My list keeps growing!
Hi Janie I am in Houston zone 9a and also love sungold tomatoes. Mine wasn’t as prolific as yours but still love the delicious tomatoes I get everyday!
Sun Gold tomatoes are amazing! I purchased seeds 2 years ago and have started them indoors a few weeks before planting for the last couple years. I also shared extra seedlings with others, and they told me how much they loved this tomato. It is disease resistant and produces more than we can eat! Have to agree with your comments on Rockin Playin' the Blues Salvia!!! MY FAV for sure. Planted it last year for the first time in a garden bed dedicated to Hummingbirds and butterflies and it was a great success. I had to search all the stores in my area this spring and finally was able to find only 3 and they are still out there blooming even tolerating a couple nights of temps below freezing. I have 3 varieties of salvias in my garden and love them all, but this one is exceptional. That and Supertunia Vista Bubblegum are my favorites!
Really informative and interesting video. I was most impressed by my Salvia Rockin' Blue Suede Shoes which is an annual in my 4b/5 growing zone. It was gorgeous from its spring planting to well past frosts. It was covered with bees and visited by hummingbirds. Sure do wish it could come back every year, but I will continue to have them in my garden every season. Your video allowed me to create a list of suggested plantings for my son and daughter-in-law who are building a new home in Harwood, Texas. Thank you, so much, for the inspiration.
This year, I used “strawberry drop” coleus in my containers. It was an absolute rockstar. All I did was pinch it back when it got too large & give it water. It overtook the 2 annuals that I planted with it, but I was totally ok with that because the variegated foliage gave great color ALL season long. Talk about easy & impactful! I’m in MA zone 6b.
I grew the tacoma this summer in a pot and brought it in for the winter.I"m a zone 5a so I'll see how it does indoors. Love to see the orange blooms indoors as well.
Hi Janie - - I live near you on an old vineyard (Zone 9b CA) with acres of gardens that range from flat to steep and from full sun to deep shade. I apprediate plants that thrive with minimal attention and little water. One standout is Artemesia 'Powis Castle'. It's ever"green" leaves loook fresh all year and provide a silvery, lacey accent wherever I plant it. I prume mine back hard in late winter to keep the size in check and promote fresh foliage, but it's not necessary. A bonus benefit is that critters of all sorts leave it alone.
Janey, I have planted 4 different Tacoma bell bushes. Sparky Bells, Yellow Bells, Bells of Fire, and Orange Jubilee Bells are in my 9b low desert yard. The Yellow Bells are doing the best even now.
Thanks for the recommendations! Excited to get my hands on the Chicklet Orange Esperanza and the El Nino Desert Orchid. I have Rockin Playin the Blues Salvia that winter over for me just fine (9b Northern Calif). They are now 3 years old and are so beautiful! I cut them back late winter/early spring and then they come back strong, blooming all season long. They survive (I would say love) the full sun and triple digit heat. ❤M
My 3rd favorite is an annual, Hibiscus 'Mahogany Splentor'. It rapidly grows ito an impressive 3-4' "shrub" that resembles a Japanese maple (which struggle in my hot/dry Zone 9b CA garden). It is tolerant of drought and heat, looks great in full sun or part shade, but can't survie a hard frost. White it does cooasionally produce tiny red flowers, they are inconspicuous - -its foliage is outstanding in the garden and bouquets. It's super eacy to grow from seed or cuttings taken in fall and over-wintered in an unheated greenhouse.
I just checked, and "Chicklet Gold" Tecoma is on the PW website. I'm on the very humid Texas coast, and Tecoma isn't bothered by high humidity. The same can be said of the related Tecomaria capensis, or Cape Honeysuckle. It has smaller, more glossy leaves and smaller flowers than Tecoma. They can be orange, yellow, red or salmon, depending on the variety.
Love all your videos and your enthusiasm! I live in Reno, Nevada zone 7a/b and two of my perennial stars are euphorbia (not flowering of course but the foliage and form are stunning) and all sedums! Growing a garden in my zone it’s hard work .. I must admit that I watch all California gardens with a bit of envy 😉””the land of milk and honey”
Always verbena bonariensis...also any alliums, snapdragon, salvias, celosia, and basics! All did great in my zone 6b Ohio garden despite heat, drought, then flooding rains.
Be wary of this beautiful plant in warmer zones! In my Zone 9b CA garden a few tiny plants grown from seed simply took over - it formsed huge clumps that overwhelmed neighboring plants and self-seeded everywhere. I pulled hundreds of volunteers this summer and will never gow it again!
Hi Janey…great video! I am in South Florida Zone 10. My purple fountain grass was phenomenal for me, Alternanthera Purple Prince and a butterfly/bee pollinator plant (I can’t remember the name) which looks so good with the purple fountain grass! I think I am going to take your advice and divide my purple fountain grass and grow some in two tall green pots I have. You are awesome Janey!
Second on my list would be a tender perennial (cold hardy zone 8-11) that deserves far more attention - - Mexican Petunia or Ruellia Simplex. 3' plants with long, narrow, shiny dark green/purple leaves and beautiful 1" purple, petunia-shaped flowers bloom 8-9 months of the year in my zone 9b garden . They thrive in any soild, full sun (but will bloom in part shade), and prefer regular water but accept much less. I've heard they're invasive in FL, it's not been a problem here. I cut mine back hard onse a year and pot up the cuttings to produce even more plants.
What’s the trick with scaevola? Do they tend to like more water or less water? I bought 3 scaevola plants from Bauman’s, planted them in different places and they all died within a couple of weeks 😫
Do you know if the Surefire Begonias create seedpods / seed? I love collecting seed from begonia plants and was curious. Great video. Thank you for sharing! 🥰🌸
Hello neighbor! I agree with you - Janey's channel is great to watch. Gardening in high heat has definite challenges. Janey is in a dry high heat. We are in a humid high heat in the Houston area that some plants don't perform well in. For instance, butterfly bushes don't perform well here year after year. Also, petunias are a spring or fall performer but really struggle in our summers.
Hey Janey! Love that Chicklet Orange! Very exciting to hear another color is coming. Here in Zone 7b Southern NJ, some of my favorite/best performers are: pentas and vinca (love the leaves on both of these annuals in addition to their flowers), Luminary Opalescence Phlox (I cannot say enough good things about this gorgeous plant), and Invincibelle Limetta Hydrangea!
What’s the trick with scaevola? Do they tend to like more water or less water? I bought 3 scaevola plants from Bauman’s, planted them in different places and they all died within a couple of weeks 😫
Zinnias were my best performers this season! Poor soil and hot temps in zone 7b and they are still blooming. I am collecting seeds for next year and to give friends and family. Thanks for all the recommendations! My list keeps growing!
I agree about the Sungolds. I planted mine in a big pot and it grew taller than I am. The best part is the flavor, though- like eating candy.
I love the purple fountain grass. The hotter the weather the better it performs in my Wisconsin area.
Hi Janie I am in Houston zone 9a and also love sungold tomatoes. Mine wasn’t as prolific as yours but still love the delicious tomatoes I get everyday!
Best performer Zone 4 is Winter Sown Snapdragons. Their still forming buds after a 28 degree night with snow.
My favorite Salvia is Black & Blue. Love the deep blue! It is an annual for me in Central Illinois (zone 5b/6a).
Thank you for the recommendations of your top performers.i loved this video
Sun Gold tomatoes are amazing! I purchased seeds 2 years ago and have started them indoors a few weeks before planting for the last couple years. I also shared extra seedlings with others, and they told me how much they loved this tomato. It is disease resistant and produces more than we can eat! Have to agree with your comments on Rockin Playin' the Blues Salvia!!! MY FAV for sure. Planted it last year for the first time in a garden bed dedicated to Hummingbirds and butterflies and it was a great success. I had to search all the stores in my area this spring and finally was able to find only 3 and they are still out there blooming even tolerating a couple nights of temps below freezing. I have 3 varieties of salvias in my garden and love them all, but this one is exceptional. That and Supertunia Vista Bubblegum are my favorites!
Really informative and interesting video. I was most impressed by my Salvia Rockin' Blue Suede Shoes which is an annual in my 4b/5 growing zone. It was gorgeous from its spring planting to well past frosts. It was covered with bees and visited by hummingbirds. Sure do wish it could come back every year, but I will continue to have them in my garden every season.
Your video allowed me to create a list of suggested plantings for my son and daughter-in-law who are building a new home in Harwood, Texas. Thank you, so much, for the inspiration.
Great idea to provide this video. My favorite here in central Illinois is rocket series snapdragons, bloomed from spring through the summer.
This year, I used “strawberry drop” coleus in my containers. It was an absolute rockstar. All I did was pinch it back when it got too large & give it water. It overtook the 2 annuals that I planted with it, but I was totally ok with that because the variegated foliage gave great color ALL season long. Talk about easy & impactful! I’m in MA zone 6b.
I grew the tacoma this summer in a pot and brought it in for the winter.I"m a zone 5a so I'll see how it does indoors. Love to see the orange blooms indoors as well.
Hi Janie - - I live near you on an old vineyard (Zone 9b CA) with acres of gardens that range from flat to steep and from full sun to deep shade. I apprediate plants that thrive with minimal attention and little water. One standout is Artemesia 'Powis Castle'. It's ever"green" leaves loook fresh all year and provide a silvery, lacey accent wherever I plant it. I prume mine back hard in late winter to keep the size in check and promote fresh foliage, but it's not necessary. A bonus benefit is that critters of all sorts leave it alone.
Janey, I have planted 4 different Tacoma bell bushes. Sparky Bells, Yellow Bells, Bells of Fire, and Orange Jubilee Bells are in my 9b low desert yard. The Yellow Bells are doing the best even now.
Favorites this year: Vitex (Chaste tree), swamp sunflowers (Helianthus angustifolius), Amaranthus (Love Lies Bleeding), and Supertunia Bordeaux Petunia.
You're so right about the sun gold tomatoes, very productive here in my yard , plan on planting them again next spring... far northern CA!
Thanks for the recommendations! Excited to get my hands on the Chicklet Orange Esperanza and the El Nino Desert Orchid. I have Rockin Playin the Blues Salvia that winter over for me just fine (9b Northern Calif). They are now 3 years old and are so beautiful! I cut them back late winter/early spring and then they come back strong, blooming all season long. They survive (I would say love) the full sun and triple digit heat. ❤M
Thanks for sharing this. Love it❤
Sun Gold is my favorite snacking tomato. 😋
My 3rd favorite is an annual, Hibiscus 'Mahogany Splentor'. It rapidly grows ito an impressive 3-4' "shrub" that resembles a Japanese maple (which struggle in my hot/dry Zone 9b CA garden). It is tolerant of drought and heat, looks great in full sun or part shade, but can't survie a hard frost. White it does cooasionally produce tiny red flowers, they are inconspicuous - -its foliage is outstanding in the garden and bouquets. It's super eacy to grow from seed or cuttings taken in fall and over-wintered in an unheated greenhouse.
Great video Janey, thank you for all this information. Love your channel, and love y'all. ❤❤❤❤❤
Hey Janey! Have you ever tried Lavender Star Flower? It is a beautiful little shrub that made it thru a hot summer in zone 9B.
I just checked, and "Chicklet Gold" Tecoma is on the PW website. I'm on the very humid Texas coast, and Tecoma isn't bothered by high humidity. The same can be said of the related Tecomaria capensis, or Cape Honeysuckle. It has smaller, more glossy leaves and smaller flowers than Tecoma. They can be orange, yellow, red or salmon, depending on the variety.
Love all your videos and your enthusiasm! I live in Reno, Nevada zone 7a/b and two of my perennial stars are euphorbia (not flowering of course but the foliage and form are stunning) and all sedums! Growing a garden in my zone it’s hard work .. I must admit that I watch all California gardens with a bit of envy 😉””the land of milk and honey”
Always verbena bonariensis...also any alliums, snapdragon, salvias, celosia, and basics! All did great in my zone 6b Ohio garden despite heat, drought, then flooding rains.
Be wary of this beautiful plant in warmer zones! In my Zone 9b CA garden a few tiny plants grown from seed simply took over - it formsed huge clumps that overwhelmed neighboring plants and self-seeded everywhere. I pulled hundreds of volunteers this summer and will never gow it again!
9B Sacramento: Lomandra platinum beauty and my neighbor’s firecracker cuphea.
Hi Janey…great video! I am in South Florida Zone 10. My purple fountain grass was phenomenal for me, Alternanthera Purple Prince and a butterfly/bee pollinator plant (I can’t remember the name) which looks so good with the purple fountain grass! I think I am going to take your advice and divide my purple fountain grass and grow some in two tall green pots I have. You are awesome Janey!
I am in Oklahoma zone 7B. I just pulled my Sun Gold. They performed great!!! They seamed sweeter this year from saved seeds from last year.
Second on my list would be a tender perennial (cold hardy zone 8-11) that deserves far more attention - - Mexican Petunia or Ruellia Simplex. 3' plants with long, narrow, shiny dark green/purple leaves and beautiful 1" purple, petunia-shaped flowers bloom 8-9 months of the year in my zone 9b garden . They thrive in any soild, full sun (but will bloom in part shade), and prefer regular water but accept much less. I've heard they're invasive in FL, it's not been a problem here. I cut mine back hard onse a year and pot up the cuttings to produce even more plants.
What’s the trick with scaevola? Do they tend to like more water or less water? I bought 3 scaevola plants from Bauman’s, planted them in different places and they all died within a couple of weeks 😫
Do you know if the Surefire Begonias create seedpods / seed? I love collecting seed from begonia plants and was curious. Great video. Thank you for sharing! 🥰🌸
Great info, I have my list for next year. Texas9b 💚🧡
What city are you in? I am in Kingwood which is north of Houston.
Hello neighbor! I agree with you - Janey's channel is great to watch. Gardening in high heat has definite challenges. Janey is in a dry high heat. We are in a humid high heat in the Houston area that some plants don't perform well in. For instance, butterfly bushes don't perform well here year after year. Also, petunias are a spring or fall performer but really struggle in our summers.
Did you plant your Sun Gold Cherry Tomato from seed?
Hey Janey! Love that Chicklet Orange! Very exciting to hear another color is coming.
Here in Zone 7b Southern NJ, some of my favorite/best performers are: pentas and vinca (love the leaves on both of these annuals in addition to their flowers), Luminary Opalescence Phlox (I cannot say enough good things about this gorgeous plant), and Invincibelle Limetta Hydrangea!
Vinca, Penta's and Lantana do so much better than any Petunia or Calibrachoa in my hot humid MS garden.
❤❤❤❤❤❤
What’s the trick with scaevola? Do they tend to like more water or less water? I bought 3 scaevola plants from Bauman’s, planted them in different places and they all died within a couple of weeks 😫