Some Like it Hot

Plants that will take the heat and keep on flowering

Each year the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden tests more than 3,000 plants at the Dallas Arboretum Trial Gardens. The very best of those are awarded the FlameProof™ Plant Award.  These plants will deliver!

This award is reserved for those plants that can take the Texas heat! Only plants which not only survive, but thrive in our blistering, burning, furnace blast of a Summer receive this award. And as any Texas gardener knows, Texas weather throws everything at a plant: drought, floods, relentless winds, crazy changes in temperatures and just about everything else. These plants took it and looked good doing it.

“If you’re looking for a plant that will flourish in our hot tropical Summers then look no further. These winners will look great in your garden from May right up until first frost. We trust them so much that they are the backbone of the Dallas Arboretum’s 66-acre summer displays every year!” -Jimmy Turner, Senior Director of Gardens at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.

Each week throughout the Summer, Calloway’s and Cornelius Nursery will feature a FlameProof-approved plant. Check this page weekly to learn more!

Plant #1

'Sparkler' Cleome

Cleome hassleriana

Cleome 'Sparkler' offers big, 4 to 6 inch spidery blooms. They hold well on the plant and are wonderfully long-lasting. The dark green foliage makes an attractive backdrop for the big, fluffy blooms. This plant begins flowering in early Summer (as soon as the hot weather arrives) and doesn't quit until the temperature drops in fall. A sun-lover, it is at home in the baking-hot border, bed, or patio, and once established is quite tolerant of dry conditions.  It rapidly reaches 3 1/2 to 4 feet tall and about 1 1/2 feet wide, with a bushy fullness that adds weight to its presence as an accent, low hedge, or border standout. Available in red, white, lavender (pictured) and pink blush.

Plant #2

'Double Zahara' Zinnia

Zinnia marylandica

The 'Double Zahara' is the only true double zinnia series on the market. It boasts all the same exceptional traits as its single Zahara counterparts; bigger flowers than the competition for more color show, outstanding disease tolerance, low water needs and superior all-season performance in beds and planters.  Two color choices are available:                             

'Double Cherry': Deep magenta flowers show a lighter center as the flowers age in low light or high night temperatures.

'Double  Fire':  Scarlet-orange flowers show a lighter center as the flowers age in low light and high night temperatures.

Plant #3

'Wendy's Wish' Salvia

‘Wendy’s Wish Salvia hybrid USPPAF 

This heat-loving annual boasts compact growth between 3 to 4 feet tall by 3 feet wide.  Mid to dark green leaves have serrated margins along dark maroon stems.  Rising above the foliage from Spring through Fall are unique tubular flowers with fluted tips colored deep purplish-red with a pinkish-brown flower calyx.  The 'Wendy's Wish' attracts butterflies and hummingbirds which makes it perfect for a Texas butterfly garden. 

The story goes that this beautiful plant's Australian finder wanted a portion of the growing proceeds to benefit a children's charity in Austrailia.  Hence the name 'Wendy's Wish'.

Plant #4

'Gryphon' Begonia

The 'Gryphon' is a remarkably versatile plant with a showy display of shimmering, silvery black foliage that is elegant both planted in the garden and in a container inside.  Although it is fast growing, the 'Gryphon' grows to fill but not overgrow a variety of pot sizes.  It is considered a garden-to-home plant that easily transitions indoors at the end of the season.  These easy-care begonias will deliver great success during a hot Texas Summer.

Plant #5

'Las Vegas' Gomphrena

The ‘Las Vegas’ Gomphrena series, like its namesake displays bright, beautiful hues, excitement and heat tolerance that the Las Vegas strip is known for.  The Gomphrena also known as the Globe Amaranth,  is recognized for its tolerance to drought and the  ‘Las Vegas’ series is no different.  It thrives in hot, dry locations throughout the country.

These are almost maintenance-free plants, just plant in full sun in a well-drained flower bed and enjoy.  Remove the old flowers as needed to keep the plant tidy and the blooms coming!  The ‘Las Vegas’ blooms can be cut, dried quickly,and used in flower arrangements to add a touch of color!  Three vibrant color varieties are available and are perfect for any landscape setting.

'Pink'	'Purple'	'White'

Plant # 6

'Green Fern-Leaf' Lavender

Lavandula minutolli

The ‘Green Fern-Leaf’ Lavender is a superior plant for hot, dry slopes and banks. It is rugged enough for warm climates where it is likely to naturalize in full sun and is a reliable garden performer in borders, rock gardens and containers.  This lavender's finely-divided, fern-like gray-green foliage is topped by tall spikes of small bright lavender-blue flowers.  ‘Green Fern-Leaf’ boasts foliage 2 feet tall by 3 feet wide and up to 40 inches to its blooming tips.

Plant #7

'Fireworks' Pennisetum

Pennisetum setaceum 'Fireworks' P.P.# 18504

This pennisetum is a colorful, upright growing grass with variegated stripes of white, green, burgundy and hot pink running the length of the blade with purple tassels that appear in Summer. Plant 'Fireworks' as a specimen or in mass for a stunning display of color. Once established, it needs only occasional watering in full or partial sun, making it a great addition to Summer containers and beds near your patio. The 'Fireworks' Pennisetum is moderate growing, attaining around 3 ft. in height and 2 ft. in width and is helpful with erosion control.

Plant #8

Tropical Series Cannas

Canna x generalis Tropical Rose

Leafy green plants are smothered with 3 to 4-inch flowers.  At last, oversized blooms on undersized plants! 'Tropical Salmon', "Tropical Yellow' and 'Tropical Red' have the same big blooms found on Giant Cannas, but on a lush 2 1/2-foot plants compact enough to grow in a container.  The bright blooms begin in midsummer and continue until frost, for year after year of enjoyment.

'Tropical Red' Canna

'Tropical Salmon' Canna

'Tropical Yellow' Canna

Plant #9

'Butterfly' Pentas

Pentas lanceolata

'Butterfly' Pentas produce large flowers on umbels that can reach 3 inches wide attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. Flowers are tubular, each producing star-shaped petals at the end of each tube. Flowers bloom in vivid shades and continue their display throughout Summer.  'Butterfly' Pentas withstand stressful conditions, show better garden performance than other varieties and flourish in high heat, drought and full sun once established.  In the garden Pentas can be used in mass plantings or spots of color, growing up to 24 inches tall with a spread of 16 inches.

Plant #10

'Lucky Sunrise Rose' Lantana

Lantana camara

The ‘Lucky Sunrise Rose’ Lantana’s dark green foliage contrasts beautifully with bright pink and yellow flower colors.  This popular annual always delivers in abundance, producing clusters of trumpet shaped flowers. ‘Lucky’ is low maintenance and stands up well to heat, humidity and other stressful conditions while attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. The plants stay upright and mounded with a controlled habit all season, with height between 12 and 16 inches making them ideal for patio gardens and containers.

Plant #11

'Dragon Wing' Begonia

Begonia x hybrida

‘Dragon Wing’ Begonia plants fill in fast to form lush garden beds that last from Spring up to the first frost. This heat tolerating begonia boasts loose clusters of red or pink bell-like blooms that attract bees and butterflies contrasted with glossy, dark green, wing-shaped leaves.  ‘Dragon Wing’ performs well in sun or part sun and grows 18 to 24 inches full and wide.  Use this low maintenance plant as the focus of stunning mixed containers and hanging baskets.

This easy-care begonia is self-cleaning, meaning the old blooms make way for new ones. It continues to bloom all Summer without having to pinch off old flowers. In full sun locations, be sure to keep the soil moist. Give them food and watch ‘em GROW!  Feed them regularly every 2 weeks with an all-purpose fertilizer. They’ll even tell you when they need more food - when the leaves turn a reddish-bronze color, it’s time to fertilize.

 Plant #12

'Luna' Hibiscus

Hibiscus moscheutos

The ‘Luna’ Hibiscus is dramatic and impressive, with numerous eye-catching, 6 to 8-inch flowers. This hardy hibscus blooms until Fall and attracts hummingbirds. The ‘Luna’ series produces big, bushy, well-branched plants without pinching. Ideal for large containers, ‘Luna’ can also be planted in the ground as a perennial and enjoyed for great garden performance year after year. This full sun and heat-loving hibiscus not only tolerates moist soil conditions, but is also drought tolerant once established in the garden.