10 Heat Tolerant Shrubs

In the dead heat of a Texas summer, you may have areas of your yard that are so sunbeaten you just can’t imagine anything surviving in those spots. 

The challenge of long summer days is that, by midday, the sun’s heat isn’t just coming from the sky; it’s also radiating off of fences, buildings, and and even the ground itself. 

What to do with these arid stretches of lawn that seem so unwelcoming to verdant plant life? 

The truth is, a patch of heat-tolerant shrubs can not only survive those tough spots in your landscape; they can actually help reduce the ambient heat and generate a bit of protective shade for nearby grass. 

 Some light watering & shrub trimming will be needed of course. Otherwise, the hardy shrubs we’re recommending should withstand the summer heat like a boss!

Top Surviving Heat Tolerant Shrubs

Barberry

Excellent for the southern climates, and ready for nearly any soil type or heat level. Barberry has several variety options for height and color appearance, but all are low maintenance and ideal for hedges.  Plant in full to partial sun and let them go, with minimal pruning for maintenance. Hardy to zones 4-8.

Beautybush

At 6-10 feet high and wide with an abundance of pink and yellow spring blooms, beautybush draws a great deal of attention. Easy to maintain by keeping dead wood and overgrowth cleared out. Hardy to zones 4-8.

Butterfly Bush

With a lovely fruity fragrance and incredibly showy blooms, it’s no surprise butterflies and hummingbirds love this aptly named shrub.  It’s so easy to grow, however, that it is sometimes considered invasive, even in the heat. Be careful to plant it away from other important plants. Hardy to zones 5-10.

Cotoneaster

There are many varieties of cotoneaster, including ones that creep and trail. Shrubs can reach up to 15 feet tall with an impressive spread. Fall fruits grace the shrubs after the summer heat. Hardy to zones 5-8.

Juniper

Another umbrella for many species, juniper includes everything from ground creepers to tall trees. They are excellent hedge plants, growing into a lovely shape without pruning and shaping. Plant in the landscape or in containers, watering at first but then relying on natural rainfall after that. Junipers do well in a xeriscape! Hardy to zones 5-9.

Potentilla

On the smaller side, Potentilla is only a few feet tall, with small yellow flowers in the spring. It will grow slowly, but heartily, establishing itself even in poor soil. The sun is the important key for Potentilla, making it an excellent choice where heat-tolerant shrubs and plants are necessary. Hardy to zones 3-7.

Rosemary

Medicinal, culinary, fragrant and functional – rosemary fits just as well into the landscape as the herb garden. Returning as a perennial each year where it isn’t an evergreen, with small blue flowers in the spring, rosemary is a year-round favorite. Hardy to zones 6-9.

Snowberry

This cousin of the honeysuckle is another heat-loving shrub. Most often a wild plant, Snowberry is a good choice for permaculture, attracting wildlife and providing a habitat. Creamy white berries cover the Snowberry, but they are not edible.

Spirea

A gorgeous flowering shrub, spirea spreads out in a fountain of white clusters of blossoms. It continues to thrive through the summer heat, culminating in orange foliage in the fall. Varieties range from 2-6 feet tall and wide. Hardy to zones 4-8.

Sumac

After the summer sun has cooled, sumac’s blazing red leaves will steal the show. Not only are sumac excellent shrubs for heat, but they also fare well against pests. Sumac is also cultivated for spices and medicinal properties. Zones 3-9, by variety.

Don’t let the heat keep you from enjoying your garden and landscape.  Plant smart and reap the benefits of nature’s beauty!