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Louisiana Landscape Guide: Sun-Loving Bedding Plants for the Warm Season

Jeb Fields, Edwards, Ashley, Thiessen, Maureen, Abdi, Damon, tmckeown, Stagg, Jason

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Are you in search of plants that can handle the summer heat? This selection of sun-loving plants will add color all summer long. Often considered as annuals, the plant material in this category can in fact be of any herbaceous botanical group, with several capable of withstanding winters. However, these annuals and tender perennials are most often used for one season, as they are intended to be planted and enjoyed for only the warmer portions of the year, typically spring through fall. In fact, most of our warm-season color thrives in the full Louisiana sun. As such, this list will highlight the best warm-season, sun-loving plantings for Louisiana gardens and landscapes.

Pink flowering bush.

Ageratum: Ageratum houstonianum

Pollinator attractor

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Round
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil: Well-drained

Landscaping featuring a cluster of bushes with white and purple flowers.

Angelonia: Angelonia angustifolia

Maintenance: Low

  • Form: Upright
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil: Well-drained

Purple flowering bushes.

Celosia: Celosia hybrid

Pollinator attractor

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Round to upright
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil: Well-drained

Pink flowering bush.

Cleome: Cleome hassleriana

Pollinator attractor

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Upright
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil: Well-drained

Closeup of red and yellow leaves.

Coleus: Coleus scutellarioides

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Round to upright
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Full to partial sun
  • Soil: Well-drained

White flowering bushes.

Euphorbia: Euphorbia hybrid

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Round
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil: Well-drained

Purple flowering bushes.

Evolvulus: Evolvulus glomeratus

Pollinator attractor

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Spreading
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil: Well-drained

Many pink clusters of flowers on a bush.

Lantana: Lantana hybrid

Hummingbird and pollinator attractor

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Round to spreading
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil: Well-drained

Pink flowering bush.

Mandevilla: Mandevilla hybrid

Hummingbird attractor

  • Maintenance: Medium for vining cultivars
  • Form: Vining to upright
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil: Well-drained

Orange flowering bush.

Marigold: Tagetes hybrid

Pollinator attractor

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Round
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil: Well-drained

Smalll purple flowers spread apart dot a growing bush.

Mexican Heather: Cuphea hyssopifolia

Pollinator attractor

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Round
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Full to partial sun
  • Soil: Well-drained

Single orange flower on a bush.

Mexican Sunflower: Tithonia rotundifolia

Pollinator attractor

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Upright
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil: Well-drained

Several dark pink flowers dot a growing bush.

Moss Rose: Portulaca grandiflora

Pollinator attractor

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Spreading
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Full to partial sun
  • Soil: Well-drained

Cluster of purple leaves.

Ornamental Sweet Potato: Ipomoea batatas

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Spreading
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil: Well-drained

Wide veiw of landscaping with bushes that contain pink flowers.

Pentas: Pentas lanceolata

Pollinator attractor

  • Maintenance: Low | Form: Round | Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Full sun | Soil: Well-drained

Orangish-yellow flowering bush.

Purslane: Portulaca oleracea

Pollinator attractor

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Spreading
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil: Well-drained

Purple flowering bush with large leaves.

Salvia: Salvia sp. and hybrids

Hummingbird and pollinator attractor

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Upright to round
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil: Well-drained


White flowering bush.

Scaevola: Scaevola aemula

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Spreading
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Full to partial sun
  • Soil: Well-drained

Yellow flowers with a dark center dot a growing bush.

Sunflower: Helianthus sp.

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Upright
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil: Well-drained

Pink flowering bushes.

Vinca: Catharanthus roseus

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Round
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil: Well-drained, avoid overhead irrigation

White flowering bush.

Wax Leaf Begonia: Begonia hybrid

  • Maintenance: Low
  • Form: Round
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Full to partial sun
  • Soil: Well-drained

Several pink flowers grow in a spread-out pattern on a bush.

Zinnia: Zinnia elegans

Pollinator attractor

  • Maintenance: Medium for cultivars requiring dead heading
  • Form: Upright to round
  • Zones: Annual
  • Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil: Well-drained
8/2/2023 9:24:59 PM
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