A Pair of No-Melt Perennials for Heat and Humidity

These two all-star bloomers won’t droop in the dog days of summer

Spend a summertime mean solar day with any recent human transplant to the Southeast and I will bet that you ’re last to hear , “ It ’s not the heat — it ’s the humidness ! ” call out with spent astonishment . Those of us who have develop up here know it ’s best not to call out the atmospheric condition - that - must - not - be - named . The nurseryman may be wilting in it , but have you ever wondered if the steamy air is a strain on your plants ?

High nighttime temperature and drouth are by far the big stressors for plant in summer . For some perennials , specially those that come from drier climates , humidity can throw away a grueling poke by promoting fungous diseases that chair to meltdown .

There is a surprisingly long lean of perennial that fend up to our heat and humidity , but these two favorites are also less attractive to deer and essentially pest - barren . Add them to your fall shopping list if they are not already in your garden .

Stokes ’ aster

hail from the peat bog and moist pinelands of the Gulf Coast , it ’s no surprisal that Stokes ’ aster ( Stokesia laevis , Zones 5–9 ) sit pretty through our summers . Its undifferentiated thumping of placid stretch leaves are joined by 2- to 4 - inch fringy , blue - lavender prime start in June . They will last for a calendar month , and shearing back the plant after the blossom fade will do more to flower . I make love that the flowers are substantive and hit enough to resist alone but coolheaded enough to blend attractively with colorful neighbor . They are a favorite pit stop for both bee and butterflies . My favorite cultivar is ‘ Peachie ’s Pick’—compact at 18 inches marvellous but full of rosiness that do n’t founder when grown in partial to full sun . search the other cultivars , such as ‘ Omega Skyrocket ’ , top out at 3½ feet , or one of the white - flowered selections , such as ‘ Silver Moon ’ . Stokes ’ aster performs beautifully with good moisture and comely drainage but can take average wet and occasional dry charm .

Virginia saltmarsh mallow

Do n’t let the slightly hairy , grey - green leaves of this perennial muggins you into think it is anything but at home in a humid climate . Virginia saltmarsh mallow ( Kosteletskya pentacarpos , Zones 5–9 ) is aboriginal from the Mid - Atlantic to the Gulf Coast . Plant it in full sunlight and norm to dampish grunge . It will pay you back in late summertime with abundant 2- to 3 - inch hibiscus - like pink flowers , absolutely arrayed on a symmetrical 4 - foot marvellous flora . There is even a snowy form , ‘ Immaculate ’ , if pinkish is n’t in your palette . Backlit by the former afternoon sun , the clear heyday seem to shine , and butterflies are certain visitor .

Paula Gross is the former Assistant Director of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Botanical Gardens .

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