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Super Summer Color with Proven Winners
May
When summer temperatures climb, many plants begin to slow down. The good news? Some varieties are built to thrive in the heat, delivering vibrant color and reliable performance all season long. Proven Winners® plants are known for their exceptional blooms, vigorous growth, and ability to keep looking great even during the toughest summer conditions.
At Cropley’s Garden Center, you’ll find summer favorites that help keep your landscape colorful from early summer through fall.
Why Choose Proven Winners?
Proven Winners varieties are selected for their performance in real gardens.
Long blooming season
Excellent heat tolerance
Reliable growth habits
Outstanding color and flower production
These plants are bred to keep performing when many others begin to fade.
Supertunias: The Summer Color Champions
Few annuals work harder than Supertunias®.
Features:
Continuous blooms without deadheading
Excellent heat and humidity tolerance
Ideal for containers, hanging baskets, and landscape beds
Popular colors range from bright pinks and purples to soft whites and vibrant reds.
Calibrachoa: Millions of Tiny Blooms
Often called Million Bells®, calibrachoa provides nonstop color all season.
Features:
Hundreds of small petunia like flowers
Excellent for containers and baskets
Handles heat beautifully
Their trailing habit makes them perfect for spilling over the edges of pots and window boxes.
Lantana: Built for Heat
When temperatures soar, lantana shines.
Features:
Bright clusters of flowers
Exceptional drought tolerance
Attracts butterflies and pollinators
Lantana is a favorite for gardeners looking for low maintenance color.
Verbena: Long Lasting Color
Verbena offers months of blooms and outstanding durability.
Features:
Continuous flowering
Heat and drought tolerance
Excellent in containers and garden beds
Its spreading habit makes it ideal for filling spaces with color.
Salvia: Pollinator Friendly and Tough
Salvia combines beauty with resilience.
Features:
Spikes of colorful flowers
Excellent heat tolerance
Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
Salvia adds height, texture, and long lasting interest to summer gardens.
Hydrangeas for Summer Impact
Hydrangeas bring dramatic blooms and landscape appeal.
Features:
Large showy flower heads
Long season of color
Available in a variety of sizes and styles
Many newer varieties continue blooming throughout the season, providing a stunning focal point in the landscape.
Flowering Shrubs That Keep Performing
Summer color is not limited to annuals.
Consider adding flowering shrubs such as:
Hydrangeas
Rose of Sharon
Butterfly Bush
Spirea
These shrubs provide structure, seasonal interest, and reliable color year after year.
Tips for Keeping Summer Color Strong
Water deeply during dry periods
Apply mulch to conserve moisture
Feed containers regularly
Remove spent blooms when needed
Choose plants suited to your sunlight conditions
A little maintenance helps keep plants looking their best all season long.
FAQs About Summer Color Plants
Which Proven Winners plants handle heat best?
Supertunias®, lantana, verbena, salvia, and calibrachoa are all excellent performers during hot weather.
Do Proven Winners annuals require deadheading?
Many Proven Winners varieties are self cleaning and continue blooming without deadheading.
Which plants attract pollinators?
Lantana, salvia, verbena, and many flowering shrubs are highly attractive to butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.
Are hydrangeas good summer performers?
Yes. Many hydrangea varieties provide beautiful blooms throughout summer and into fall.
Can I mix these plants in containers?
Absolutely. Many of these varieties pair beautifully together in containers and hanging baskets.
Visit Cropley’s Garden Center
Ready to add lasting summer color to your landscape? Visit Cropley’s Garden Center to explore Proven Winners annuals, hydrangeas, flowering shrubs, and other heat tolerant favorites that keep gardens looking beautiful all season long.
Stop in today and discover the plants that will keep your garden blooming through the heat of summer.