Expert: C.L. Fornari - 5/15/2008

Question
I live in the desert of Washington state (evergreen state? not here) in a zone 6. I have just moved into a house that was kept plant-free by it's previous owners and I am in the process of bringing in trees, shrubs, and flowers to my yard. The front is full sun, from about 1pm until sunset, and throughout the summer months our temperatures rise to 110. I'm looking to hang flowering baskets to keep shade in the windows until those shrubs can grow up a little more, but I'm concerned the heat and sun may be too much for flowers in baskets there. Do you have any suggestions for flower types, or tips for preparing my baskets? Thanks!

Answer
Loren,
Hopefully you'll be home to water these hangers once or even twice a day - in 110 temps you'll need to water them morning AND mid-afternoon!  That said, use as large a basket as possible and use the type of soil that has moisture crystals in it that can help keep the baskets moist between waterings.

If the object of the baskets is to shade windows as well as look good, you need plants that will grow large and long, yes?  The following do well in heat and would make a lot of foliage:
1. Blackie Sweet potato vine - dark purple foliage that grows long and wide.
2. Alice DuPont Mandevilla Vine - big pink flowers on long vines - mixes well with the dark sweet potato vine foliage.
3. Lantana - bright flowers but does better when deadheaded (which can get tedious, especially in the heat!)
4. Portulacca - or Purslane - don't grow very long, but very drought tolerant and pretty colors - flowers only open during the day.

In half day sun you might also try ivy geraniums mixed with the above.

I hope this helps!

C.L.