My mom needs a foundation plant that can take extreme heat. The front of her house gets noon to afternoon sun. Anything we have planted thus far has practically baked to a crisp because of the heat that radiates from the house. The space is small - about a 2 x 5 foot long bed. A nice bush or some kind of flower would be nice. We tried petunias, but now they are crunchy!!
Thanks so much!!

Answer #1 · Maple Tree's Answer · Melissa-I have listed a few shrubs I have grown for years at several homes. I am in Zone 10a. These shrubs receive full sun along with the added heat from reflected sunlight. These shrubs have granite stone or white stucco walls behind them. They take the heat exstremely well with average to low water needs once established. I also listed a few flowering plants I use in my warmest gardens that get all day sun. My favorite flower is the dianthus. They started blooming in early Spring. When the flowering slows I prune the plants back and in a few weeks they are in full bloom again. Many summers I will get 3 periods of blooming before fall.

You can copy the plant names below and paste them in the search box under the 'Plants' tab above. This will take you to their respective plant files that will have a picture and the plants characteristics noted.

Perennial shrubs:

Snow Pink Indian Hawthorne - (Raphiolepis indica 'Snow Pink')

Wheeler's Dwarf Pittosporum - (Pittosporum tobira 'Wheelers Dwarf')

Firestorm Nandina - (Nandina domestica 'Firestorm')

Moonbay Nandina - (Nandina domestica 'Moon Bay')

Purple Pixie Loropetalum - (Loropetalum chinense 'Purple Pixie')

Peter Pan Agapanthus - (Agapanthus africanus 'Peter Pan Blue')

Some flowering plants I use for spring and summer color that take full sun.

Dianthus

African Daisy

Yellow Marguerite Daisy

Deep Plum Angelonia - (Angelonia angustifolia 'Deep Plum'

Aztec Purple Verbena - (Verbena 'Aztec Purple')

Hope this helps.
John)