Top Heat-Tolerant Plants for Boise Gardens
July 1, 2026 | News
When summer temperatures climb into the 90s and beyond, not every plant can handle the heat. Fortunately, there are plenty of beautiful, reliable plants that thrive in Boise’s hot, dry summers while adding color, texture, and pollinator appeal to your landscape.
If you’re looking to create a garden that looks great even during the hottest months of the year, these are some of our favorite heat-tolerant plants.
- Salvia
Salvia is one of the hardest-working perennials in the garden. Its colorful flower spikes bloom for months, attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds throughout the season.
Why we love it:
- Thrives in full sun
- Handles heat and drought once established
- Long blooming season
- Excellent pollinator plant
Available in shades of blue, purple, pink, and red, Salvia provides vibrant color with minimal maintenance.
- Agastache
Often called Hummingbird Mint, Agastache is a Boise garden favorite. Its fragrant foliage and colorful flower spikes stand up beautifully to summer heat while attracting a wide variety of pollinators.
Why we love it:
- Extremely heat tolerant
- Drought resistant once established
- Attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies
- Long-lasting blooms
Agastache adds both color and movement to the landscape and performs exceptionally well in sunny locations.
- Coneflowers (Echinacea)
Coneflowers are a classic perennial that combines beauty and toughness. Their large daisy-like blooms provide months of color and continue to attract pollinators throughout the summer.
Why we love them:
- Adapt well to Boise’s climate
- Tolerate heat and dry conditions
- Great for pollinators
- Attractive seed heads provide fall and winter interest
Available in a variety of colors, coneflowers are easy to grow and fit beautifully into both formal and naturalistic landscapes.
- Gaillardia
Also known as Blanket Flower, Gaillardia thrives in hot, sunny conditions where many other plants struggle. Its bright red, orange, and yellow blooms create a cheerful display from early summer through fall.
Why we love it:
- Loves heat and full sun
- Blooms continuously throughout the season
- Requires little water once established
- Excellent pollinator plant
If you’re looking for bold color that can handle Boise’s toughest summer days, Gaillardia is an excellent choice.
- Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass
Not every heat-tolerant garden needs flowers. Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass provides vertical interest, movement, and texture while standing up to summer heat.
Why we love it:
- Adds structure and height to the landscape
- Creates year-round interest
- Tolerates heat and a variety of soil conditions
- Low maintenance and easy to grow
Its upright habit makes it a perfect accent plant in mixed borders, foundation plantings, and modern landscape designs.
Create a Landscape That Thrives in Boise
Choosing plants that are well-suited to Boise’s climate helps create a landscape that stays beautiful throughout the summer while requiring less maintenance and water. Whether you’re refreshing an existing bed or designing a new landscape, incorporating heat-tolerant plants is one of the best ways to ensure success during Idaho’s hottest months.