When facing scorching temperatures, tending to a garden becomes a delicate balance of practicality and strategy: How to push your plants to grow with pampering them so that they do not get dehydrated and crash- yeah, I like sports and believe in tough love.
First and foremost, hydration becomes paramount. Like parched travelers stumbling upon an oasis, plants eagerly lap up the precious liquid offered by attentive gardeners. One must approach watering with the mindset of maximizing resources as how much water is only part of the factors to consider, so is timing, and placement of plants so that those that need more shade get it.
It can help to monitor soil moisture as part of your daily ritual, ensuring that your plants have access to moist but not waterlogged soil. I find that watering in the morning when the plants receive the greatest degree of shade, seems to quench their first and use less water. I have experimented with DIY automatic watering systems but admittedly unsuccessfully. I do put saucers under the ones that tend to wilt more readily and I fill those with water, that seems to do the trick for most so that their roots can reach for the water- make them work for it. Smile.
I have also found that different types of mulch like wood chips and pine needles from my juniper tree, also help with keeping my plants hydrated. And for those who just can take the heat, I move them into dappled shade both natural from trees or taller plants and shrubs; or shade that I create by placing them by a fence or a privacy screen.
I do not live in the desert, but drought has been top of mind for most Northern Californians for as long as I can remember. I tend to try to by native and drought resistant plants and water with grey water. I did want to put together a list heat hearty plants for those who leave in high temperature zones like the South and Southwest. All of these plants are pet safe for dogs, cats and horses according to the ASPCA list of nontoxic plants. I tend to fill my yard with majority perennials because I think that they are more resistant since their roots get better established, and then a few annuals for pop and pizazz. I hope the following will help other pet safe gardeners.
Pet Safe Plants That Are Good For The Desert:
| Plant | Sun Needs | Water Needs | Containers? | Annual/Perennial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackjack Pine (Pinus ponderosa) | Full sun | Low | No | Perennial |
| Bottle Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata, Nolina tuberculata) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Burro’s Tail (Sedum morganianum) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Calychortus (Calochortus species) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) | Full sun | Low | No | Perennial |
| Chaparral (Larrea tridentata) | Full sun | Very low | No | Perennial |
| China Root (Smilax glabra) | Partial shade | Medium | No | Perennial |
| Desert Trumpet (Eriogonum inflatum) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Dinteranthus (Dinteranthus species) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Dwarf Date Palm (Phoenix acaulis) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Fairy Fountain (Feathered Amaranth, Woolflower) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Annual |
| Hens and Chickens (Echeveria elegans) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Living Rock Cactus (Pleiospilos bolusii) | Full sun | Very low | Yes | Perennial |
| Living Stones (Lithops naureeniae) | Full sun | Very low | Yes | Perennial |
| Locust Pods (Ceratonia siliqua) | Full sun | Low | No | Perennial |
| Miniature Date Palm (Phoenix robellinii) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Red Palm Lily (Cordyline rubra) | Full sun to partial shade | Medium | Yes | Perennial |
| Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Russian Olive (Elaeagnus species) | Full sun | Low | No | Perennial |
| Sage (Salvia officinalis) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Shagbark Hickory (Carya laciniosa) | Full sun | Medium | No | Perennial |
| Sulfur Flower (Eriogonum umbellatum) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Texas Sage (Salvia coccinea) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Annual/Perennial* |
| Torch Lily (Kniphofia) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Wax Rosette (Echeveria gilva) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Wild Buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Zebra Haworthia (Haworthia fasciata) | Partial shade | Low | Yes | Perennial |
*Texas Sage can be grown as an annual or perennial depending on climate.
Most of the plants listed are perennials that can tolerate dry, sunny conditions. Many of the succulents and smaller plants like Hens and Chickens, Burro’s Tail, and Living Stones do well in containers[1][3]. Larger plants like pines, palms, and trees are generally not suitable for containers long-term. Pay attention to each plant’s specific water and sun requirements for best results when growing in pots[1][4].
Citations:
[1] https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/container-gardens-7-238/
[2] https://www.waltersgardens.com/article.php?ID=109
[3] https://www.epicgardening.com/perennial-flowers-pots/
[4] https://www.highcountrygardens.com/content/gardening/patio-plants-container-gardening-with-perennials
[5] https://jsenterprise1.com/what-perennials-grow-well-in-containers/
Pet Safe Plants That Thrive In Heat & Humidity
| Plant | Sun Needs | Water Needs | Containers? | Annual/Perennial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackjack Pine (Pinus ponderosa) | Full sun | Low | No | Perennial |
| Bottle Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata, Nolina tuberculata) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Blue Echeveria (Echeveria glauca) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Bottlebrush (Callistemon species) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Burro’s Tail (Sedum morganianum) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Callistemon (Callistemon species) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Calychortus (Calochortus species) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) | Full sun | Low | No | Perennial |
| Chaparral (Larrea tridentata) | Full sun | Very low | No | Perennial |
| Chenille Plant (Acalypha hispida) | Full sun to partial shade | Medium | Yes | Annual |
| China Root (Smilax glabra) | Partial shade | Medium | No | Perennial |
| Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) | Bright, indirect light | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Christmas Palm (Veitchia merrillii) | Full sun | Medium | Yes | Perennial |
| Cliff Brake (Pellaea rotundifolia) | Partial shade to full shade | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Club Moss (Selaginella kraussiana) | Partial shade | Medium | Yes | Perennial |
| Coral Bells (Heuchera sanguinea) | Partial shade | Medium | Yes | Perennial |
| Coreopsis (Tickseed) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Annual/Perennial* |
| Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) | Full sun | Medium | Yes | Perennial |
| Creeping Mahonia (Mahonia aquifolium) | Partial shade to full shade | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Crimson Bottlebrush (Callistemon viminalis) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Desert Trumpet (Eriogonum inflatum) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Dichelostemma (Several varieties) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Dinteranthus | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Dwarf Date Palm (Phoenix acaulis) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Fairy Fountain | Full sun | Low | Yes | Annual |
| Haws (Crataegus species) | Full sun | Medium | No | Perennial |
| Hedgehog Gourd (Cucumis dipsaceus) | Full sun | Medium | Yes | Annual |
| Hens and Chickens (Echeveria elegans) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus) | Full sun | Medium | Yes | Perennial |
| Hoary Alyssum (Berteroa incana) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Annual/Biennial |
| Ice Plant (Lampranthus piquet) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Annual |
| Lagerstroemia Indica (Lagerstroemia indica) | Full sun | Medium | Yes | Perennial |
| Lance Pleomele (Draceana spp.) | Partial shade | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Living Rock Cactus (Pleiospilos bolusii) | Full sun | Very low | Yes | Perennial |
| Living Stones (Lithops naureeniae) | Full sun | Very low | Yes | Perennial |
| Locust Pods (Ceratonia siliqua) | Full sun | Low | No | Perennial |
| Miniature Date Palm (Phoenix robellinii) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Mahonia (Mahonia aquifolium) | Partial shade to full shade | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) | Full sun | Medium | Yes | Annual |
| Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium) | Partial shade to full shade | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Pony Tail (Beaucarnea recurvata) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Red Maple (Acer rubrum) | Full sun to partial shade | Medium | No | Perennial |
| Red Palm Lily (Cordyline rubra) | Full sun to partial shade | Medium | Yes | Perennial |
| Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Russian Olive (Elaeagnus species) | Full sun | Low | No | Perennial |
| Sage (Salvia officinalis) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Scarlet Sage (Salvia coccinea) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Annual |
| Shagbark Hickory (Carya laciniosa) | Full sun | Medium | No | Perennial |
| Sugar Pods (Ceratonia siliqua) | Full sun | Low | No | Perennial |
| Sulfur Flower (Eriogonum umbellatum) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Tall Mahonia (Mahonia aquifolium) | Partial shade to full shade | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Texas Sage (Salvia coccinea) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Annual/Perennial* |
| Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Torch Lily (Kniphofia) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Umbrella Plant (Eriogonum umbellatum) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Urbinia Agavoides (Echeveria elegans) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Wax Rosette (Echeveria gilva) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Weeping Bottlebrush (Callistemon species) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Weisdornbluten (Crataegus species) | Full sun | Medium | No | Perennial |
| White Heart Hickory (Carya tomentosa) | Full sun | Medium | No | Perennial |
| Wild Buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum) | Full sun | Low | Yes | Perennial |
| Wild Strawberry (Fragaria) | Full sun to partial shade | Medium | Yes | Perennial |
| Zebra Haworthia (Haworthia fasciata) | Partial shade | Low | Yes | Perennial |
*Some plants like Coreopsis and Texas Sage can be grown as annuals or perennials depending on climate.
Most of the succulents, small perennials, and warm climate plants listed do well in containers with excellent drainage and full sun exposure[1][3]. Larger trees, shrubs, and cold-hardy plants are generally not suitable for long-term container growing[1]. Pay close attention to each plant’s specific light, water, and soil requirements when growing in pots[4].
Citations:
[1] https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/container-gardens-7-238/
[2] https://www.healthline.com/health/forget-you-have-plants-11-types-that-will-forgive-you
[3] https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/basic-plant-care-understanding-your-plants-needs.html
[4] https://jsenterprise1.com/what-perennials-grow-well-in-containers/
[5] https://www.bhg.com/gardening/houseplants/projects/easiest-houseplants-you-can-grow/
