Summer is here and with that brings brings plenty of sunshine, heat, and in much of the US: a drought.  Here are my top 5 choices for the best drought-tolerant plants for containers.

Geranium

Geraniums are the quintessential summer flower in the midwest and possibly the best drought-tolerant plants for containers As a child, my Grandmother ALWAYS had deep, red geraniums on her front porch.  Geraniums come in a wide variety of colors, making them perfect for all sorts of container planting. My favourite to date is an All-American Selections pink-coloured beauty with leaves that start out black in the centre and fan out to green. Beautiful! Some even have fragrance and variegated leaves. From white to bright pinks and deepest reds, there is a geranium out there for everyone. When the blooms begin to look spent, be sure to pinch off the clusters at the base of the stem (known as dead-heading) and they will continue blooming all season. They look great and love the sun and heat. 

Diamond Frost Euphorbia

If you like white accents for your outdoor space or container garden, diamond frost euphorbia is the plant for you. My mom often used white impatiens at my childhood home in all outside pots. Alas, they need lots of water and some shade, making them NOT such a great choice for any outdoor space that has lots of sun exposure. I love that euphorbia can boast this same, crisp white colour palate, is delicate-looking like the impatiens, but can stand up to the rigours of summer heat. A pretty, whispy and delicate looking flower, euphorbia will bloom all summer long.  

Lantana

With brightly coloured flower clusters, lantana are another one of the best drought-tolerant plants for containers. They are known to grow in a manner similar to vines.  I love them in both pots and baskets. If you grow them in hanging baskets, they will cascade over the sides in a dramatic burst of color. Here’s my current crush: trailing lantana in purple. Lantanas come in a variety of colours, have a soft, lemony fragrance and attract butterflies.

Agave

Succulents are on trend these days!  Agave is a long-leaved succulent that resembles Aloe and loves both heat and needs little water. These beauties are green, and have strong, complex, even modern-looking architecture. ‘Quadricolor’ from www.cacti.com is a stunner. Agave really stand out in any garden but can look sophisticated as a specimen plant when featured solo in a container.

Purple Fountain Grass

Purple fountain grass is one of my absolute favourites. When planted in large containers it will grow quite tall, up to five feet. It makes a lovely visual frame for gates and doorways when planted on each side of an entrance. This grass thrives all season and is especially tolerant of blazing sun and little water.  Choose purple fountain grass if you want height, movement, color and easy summer care.