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Native Socal Plants That Love the Summer Sun
Written by Kelsey W.
One of the most notable features of Southern California is the abundance of sun that shines for much of the year. As summer starts to get warmer and we march into the hottest months of the year, the heat and sun can make it tough for some species of plants to survive the many hours of daily sunlight.
If your garden isn’t looking too wilted and stressed under the intense SoCal summer sun and you’re worried about whether your plants will survive the sunshine, it might be time to make some replacements. Southern California is home to several native species that not only love the climate but also have no trouble thriving in full sunshine.
Let’s explore your options for creating a strong and resilient Southern California garden for the summertime.
But First: Why Native Plants?
As long as growing conditions are correct for the species, you can create a garden with plants from around the world in Southern California and enjoy beautiful flowers, even during the sunny summer weather. However, many experts recommend using native plants – or plants that already grow in the region – in your garden.
One of the reasons using native plants is a good idea is that they support the wildlife and ecology of the area without posing any danger to existing species. Sometimes the introduction of a species of plant from another continent can result in overgrowth and native plants being overtaken by a new species.
Using native species is also an excellent way to use less water each day. Native species are often content to thrive without external water sources once they’ve become established, which means much less water use as your garden matures over time. Conserving water is always a good idea, especially when you can still enjoy a vibrant garden.
Native plants are also more likely to survive extreme weather events like heatwaves and wildfires, both of which can occur during the long Southern California summer. Some native plants like the California lilac and California buckwheat can actually survive extreme heat and regrow even after being impacted by wildfire.
Succulents and Cacti are Always a Great Go-To
As you might expect, planting succulents and cacti in your yard is one of the best ways to create a garden that loves the sun. The deserts of California, as well as its coastal regions, are home to many native species that love the sun and tolerate heat waves with ease.
These plants also often produce beautiful, vibrant flowers in bright colors like pink, yellow, and orange, meaning you’re not just getting a spiny plant in your yard but something that makes your garden beautiful throughout the summer (some cacti bloom during the winter, too!).
Some of the most common Southern California cactuses are different varieties of hedgehog cactuses, cholla cactuses, and barrel cactuses. If you look out of the car window while driving through any desert area, you’ll see these punchy and eclectic cacti growing wild all over the place.
As far as watering needs are concerned, cactuses and succulents usually need more water in the spring and summer compared to their dormant seasons of fall and winter. During particularly hot periods, they will benefit from a weekly watering, but during cooler periods of “June gloom” and the like, they might only need water once every few weeks.
In the winter, you can often stop giving them any external water whatsoever because Southern California tends to get some rain in the winter, and many cacti and succulents slow their growth during these seasons, meaning they don’t really need that much attention.
Tip: It’s actually easier to overwater a cactus than underwater, so always err on the side of watering less than more, even when the clouds are few and the sun is shining for many hours each day in the summer.
Lush Sun-Loving Plants for Your SoCal Yard
Cactuses and succulents are beautiful and interesting, but they’re not the only options you have for creating a healthy, native yard full of plants that can survive the hot SoCal summer sun. One of the best options is the common yarrow or “Achillea millefolium,” which grows almost everywhere throughout California.
You’ve probably seen this plant before with its flat-topped bunches of little white flowers and beautiful dark green leaves. Not only is the plant perfect for full sun, but it’s also not highly dependent on water, and it even attracts pollinators. You can even plant it on hillsides to prevent erosion.
If you’d like some color in your garden, there’s another type of yarrow called Paprika yarrow or “Achillea millefolium” that offers red flowers when it blooms. Like the white version, Paprika yarrow is very willing to live under the bright summer sun, but it does need a touch more water during the summer to maximize its blooms.
For an easy-to-grow option, the Coast Aster or “Aster chilensis” is an option for your summer garden, particularly since it tends to flower during the summer and all the way into the late fall, when Southern California still tends to experience hot, sunny weather. They need more water until they’re established but are quite hardy otherwise.
If your home is closer to the coast than the desert, a fantastic sun-loving plant is the San Diego Sunflower or “Bahiopsis laciniata.” This plant grows like a short bush up to about three feet tall and produces cheerful yellow flowers every season but the fall. Pruning these plants in the fall helps ensure big, bushy blooms each spring.
If you’d like to plant a shrub you never have to worry about, try the Baja Fairy Duster or “Calliandra californica,” which is native to the deserts of Sonora, Mexico, and Baja California. The plant produces beautiful red flowers and can grow easily in sandy soil under intense sun. The Baja fairy duster is a great choice if you’re going to xeriscape your yard.
We’ve covered lots of shrubs and flowering plants, but what about trees? Try the Desert willow or ” Chilopsis linearis,” which is a fairly small tree that produces lavender and pink flowers that attract pollinators. The tree is particularly comfortable in desert environments, but you can plant the tree anywhere in SoCal and enjoy its easy, sun-loving nature.
How Do Plants Survive the Intense Summer Sun?
You might wonder what defenses plants have to fight against the intense summer sun. Many native SoCal plants do thrive in the bright sun, but it’s often because they have natural defenses that help reduce the intensity of the light when it reaches the plant.
For example, one of the reasons many native plants have very bright flowers is that these flowers reflect the sun, which prevents so much light from hitting the leaves of the plant. Not only do those blooms welcome pollinators, but they also shield the plant’s leaves from the sun on particularly bright days.
From the scarlet hedgehog cactuses and their cheerful yellow and orange flowers to the bright pink and orange flowers of the prickly pear cactuses, the spiny plants in your yard not only look beautiful throughout much of the summer but also survive the intense sun even in drought and heatwave conditions.
Another interesting way plants survive the intense sun is by growing thick stems that help support the plant even when water conditions are dry. When the soil becomes dry, and the air is dry, too, plants tend to lose water and can droop. Strong stems can combat this issue and help the plant remain steady despite harsh conditions.
Find Native Plants for Your Summer Garden at Green Thumb Nursery
Green Thumb Nursery has all the information and advice you need to create an amazing garden for the summer, filled with plants that love the bright California sun. Do you have a shade-free lawn that just begs for some beautiful flowers and plants? Do you want to find some plants that thrive in the heat and sun? Are you looking for a lush garden escape for quiet summer afternoons? Visit one of the Southern California Green Thumb Nursery locations to get started creating a vibrant, sun-loving garden today.
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