6 Ideal Summer Garden Plants for Your Home

Long summer days call for time outdoors, whether splashing in the pool, sunbathing on the deck, playing games with the kids, or grilling up something tasty on the barbecue. Spending time outside is often more pleasant when you're surrounded by the natural beauty of plants and flowers. If you're looking to spruce up your yard with some stunning home-grown summer home décor, the following plants fare well in Southern California's hot dry summers. Penstemon Also often referred to as the beardtongue plant, penstemons are perennial flowing plants that don't need a lot of water to flourish. They remain in bloom for a long time and the pretty flowers, which open widely, are known for attracting hummingbirds and bees. The eye-catching pink-purple flowers are also visually appealing and can brighten up your yard. Penstemons are ideal plants for rock gardens and if you enjoy sharing your outdoor space with wildlife. They are easy to grow and, although flowerless during the cooler months, look nice during the winter too. Yucca Native to the desert, it's little surprise that yucca plants grow well in hot arid conditions. Plant your yucca in full sunlight for the best growth. The leaves are green all year round, while summertime brings clusters of pale flowers to enhance your garden. The hardy plants drop very little mess and can therefore be perfect as poolside foliage. Taller plants can also provide welcoming shade. Dahlia If you're looking for some temporary additions to your yard during the peak time for outdoor entertaining, dahlias add lots of colors. The multi-petalled flowers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with blossoms that can span up to the size of a dinner plate. A great benefit of this annual plant is that you can buy it already in bloom for an instant boost to your summer home décor. Plus, you don't need to put any effort into growing and cultivating the plant. Dianthus Another striking annual plant to consider for your summer landscaping, the dianthus not only looks beautiful but also has an appealing scent. They come in different colors, including pinks, purples, and creams. With a little bit of care, the tall plants can remain in flower throughout the whole summer. Peppers With some advance planning, if you plant peppers earlier in the year, they should be ready for harvesting by the summer. Perfect for those who love to include edible plants within their garden, pepper plants also look attractive and add pops of color to your outdoor area. The traditional California Wonder grows well throughout the region, or you could consider varieties such as Italian, Anaheim, banana, and jalapeno peppers. Baja Spurge For a floral hedgerow, Baja spurge can be ideal. It flowers early in the year, with ball-like clusters of dainty pinkish-red flowers, remaining in bloom until the middle of summer. It can grow dense enough to provide plenty of privacy as well as create an attractive border with a pretty scent. Alternatively, you can plant Baja spurge in pots to breathe life into your patio.

View more