It’s already 90 degrees, the sun is scorching, and the air is either smoky with fires or thick with mugginess and sudden downpours. Can anything grow during our sweltering summers?
The experts say yes. There are many varieties of South Florida-friendly plants, bushes, flowers, vegetables and fruits that are native or have adapted to our crazy climate.
The key, according to Valentina Delcoro, grounds manager and garden educator at the Delray Beach Children’s Garden, is to be willing to try out new plants, new looks and new tastes.
“Have an open mind,” Delcoro says. “You’re not going to have your normal things.”
That means traditional winter plantings, such as big tomatoes, cucumbers and leafy greens are a no-no because they get stressed by heat and high humidity. The exquisite flowers we see in South Florida’s cooler months, such as petunias, bougainvillea and marigolds, also suffer in our fit-to-cook summer temperatures.
The Sun Sentinel consulted several local botany experts, and each had totally different advice about what to plant in the coming weeks. However, they agreed there are several maintenance techniques that are essential — to protect the greenery and protect yourself.
First, some tips
Water early in the morning: Get out the hose or watering can by 6 a.m., before sunrise. And don’t overwater: “Plants should always be allowed to dry out between waterings. Soggy roots quickly begin to rot, causing plants to decline,” according to the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension.
Jatropha is among the recommendations from Amy Rielly, botanical curator at Flamingo Gardens in Davie. (Amy Rielly, Flamingo Gardens/Courtesy)
Stay out of the sun during the heat of the day: The sun’s peak UV rays are about 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to the University of Florida Health. If you are gardening during daylight hours, wear long sleeves, a hat and gloves and, of course, use plenty of sunscreen.
Protect the plants: South Florida greenery needs help defending itself, not only from the sun but from our abundant critters. Cover soil with mulch to shield roots during the day’s hottest hours and preserve moisture. Buy a screen enclosure, cage or netting to make sure iguanas and other creatures don’t munch on your hard work.
What to grow
FLORIDA-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPE PLANTS
These are naturally occurring species, and also non-native species, that won’t encroach on indigenous foliage. They thrive in our hot summer sun, needing minimal water, fertilizer and pesticides. Amy Rielly, botanical curator at Flamingo Gardens in Davie, recommends the following plants that can remain healthy in our heat.
Jatropha: A shrub filled with bright red or pink flowers that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
Florida Greeneyes: A bright yellow daisy-like wildflower that does well in sunny, dry spots.
Wild lantana: A hardy shrub with small white, lavender, yellow and pink flower clusters and tiny blooms that help feed pollinators and birds.
Alvaradoa: A small tree or accent plant with green to yellowish-white flowers in hanging spikes about 3 to 4 inches long that supports butterflies and many other pollinators.
Tea bush: A shrub with small pink and purple flowers that bloom in clusters and attract bees and butterflies.
Valentina Delcoro, grounds manager and garden educator at the Delray Beach Children’s Garden, recommends being willing to try out new plants, new looks and new tastes during the summer. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
SUMMER FLOWERING ANNUALS
Joan Witter, garden coordinator for the Boca Raton Garden Club, says summer flowers can be planted in the yard or in pots, where they can grow upright or spill over the edges. She recommends buying them as little plants instead of as seeds “because with the heat and sun, it’s difficult to get them going.” Here are some of her suggestions.
Penta: With their pink, lavender, red and purple threads and clusters of star-shaped flowers, pentas thrive in full sun, but partial shade is also fine. They need fertilizer every four to six weeks. Make sure to leave room as they can grow 15 inches wide and up to 3 feet tall.
Periwinkle: Also known as vinca, they can grow 24 inches high. They have shiny green leaves and pinwheel-like flowers in vibrant colors such as apricot, burgundy, pink and lavender.
Angelonia: Also known as summer snapdragon, its flowers come in white, pink, lavender, or purple and can grow to 2 feet tall.
Baby sun rose: This is a trailing plant with bright red and yellow blossoms that attracts hummingbirds. “Baby sun rose is perfection as a plant to cascade down a wall, in a hanging basket or in a large container surrounding a taller center plant,” according to South-Florida-Plant-Guide.com.
A black swallowtail caterpillar perches on a fennel plant at the Delray Beach Children’s Garden on Friday, May 15, 2026. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
VEGETABLES
There’s a world of vegetables you may be unfamiliar with and that are easy to grow in your summer garden or in pots, says Delcoro, from the Delray Beach Children’s Garden.
Some can be grown throughout the year, such as eggplant and sweet potato. But Delcoro also recommends the following summer-loving produce.
Everglades tomatoes: They’re little, almost the size of currants, but very sweet. You can tie the vines to an arch or pole.
Cranberry hibiscus: The source of hibiscus herbal tea, this stunning plant has a pink flower with a maroon interior. They can grow as high as 6 feet tall and be grouped together to create an eye-catching bush. Once they’re established in the ground, they need little attention outside of basic watering and pruning to open up space for growth.
Southern peas: These are actually beans that grow in a pod and take two to three months to mature. They can be eaten straight from the pod and are super-nutritious.
Hot peppers: Perfect for South Florida summers, hot peppers love temperatures above 80 degrees. There are many breeds, from the milder Anaheims and jalapeños to the tongue-burning habaneros and cayennes. They ripen into bright colors, such as red, yellow and orange, creating a rainbow of hues on a single plant.
Okra: Like hot peppers, okra love our super-hot summer temperatures. They bloom flowers that resemble the hibiscus, but the most commonly eaten part of the plant is the pod, which can get a bit slimy, so it’s not to everyone’s liking. But they are packed with nutrients and can be harvested as often as every other day during summer’s peak.
Peanut butter fruit begins to ripen on a tree at the Delray Beach Children’s Garden on Friday, May 15, 2026. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
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