Transform Flower Beds With A Heat Tolerant Flower That Practically Takes Care Of Itself

If you're looking to spruce up and transform your flower beds, but you don't want to choose plants that are going to need constant babysitting, and demand more of your time than you want to give, there are some good choices to consider. In fact, there's a group of heat-tolerant flowering shrubs that are so easy going that they practically take care of themselves. This group is collectively known as spirea, and there are a few species and cultivars that you might just fall in love with because they're so easy to grow, love the heat, and are drought tolerant.

Bridal wreath spirea (Spiraea prunifolia) is just one species that will transform your flower beds with its upright habit and masses of white blooms in spring. This species is deciduous, so its lovely green leaves will turn a glorious golden yellow or red in the fall. It grows in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 8, and will thrive in any type of soil, whether you have clay, loam, or even rocky ground. Although this spirea loves the sun, it will also be quite happy in part shade. As it grows, it forms a graceful arching shrub with a maximum height of 8 feet. You can cut it back immediately after flowering, which is the best time to prune spirea, if you want to maintain a more compact shape.

A slightly smaller plant that enjoys the same carefree lifestyle is Cape May or may bush (Spiraea cantoniensis). It reaches a maximum height of 6 feet and enjoys similar growing zones. You'll love the stunning fountain-like form of this deciduous plant, and the clusters of pompom-like white or pink blooms that appear in spring will create a magical display in your flower beds. Best of all, spireas are deer-resistant and will attract butterflies to your garden. But take heed, because these woody shrubs may also start attracting noisy cicadas to your yard.

Another maintenance-free cultivar you might like to grow is threelobe spirea (Spiraea trilobata), which has a dense and compact growth habit with a height of around 4 feet. It also sports large clusters of pure white blooms in spring that visiting butterflies will love. If you remove the spent flower clusters, it just might encourage the plant to produce further ones. This cultivar is even hardier, as it can be grown in zones 3 through 9. 

For a frothy white fountain of blooms in late spring, take a look at an outstanding hybrid commonly known as snowmound spirea (Spiraea nipponica 'Snowmound'). This is an absolute show-stopper when in flower and will also put on a lovely display in the fall when the leaves turn a golden yellow. It has the same fuss-free characteristics as the other species and will happily grow in zones 3 through 8. This is definitely one flower you'll adore if you love hydrangeas.