Every summer – and I really do mean every single summer now – I notice the same thing happening in my garden. The plants that looked unstoppable in May? They suddenly start looking tired by July, with flowers fading, foliage drooping and everything seeming to slow down just when I want my borders to be bursting with color.

As hotter summers become the norm across much of the world (US absolutely included), I find myself idly dreaming about which flowering perennials will take one look at a 95°F forecast and think, 'Finally!' My time to shine!'

Basically, I want plants that like heat and full sun. I want vibrant blooms, buzzing pollinators and weeks (sometimes months) of color, even when I'm dripping with sweat and find myself subsisting entirely on ice creams.

Flowering Perennials That Like It Hot

For those who want flowering perennials that like it hot, the secret is choosing those plants that have evolved to thrive in sunshine, dry conditions and soaring temperatures (aka deep roots, silvery foliage or naturally drought-tolerant habits) as this will help them stay fresh long after more delicate plants have thrown in the towel.

So, if your borders tend to lose their sparkle once the weather warms up, these are the flowering perennials I'd plant every single time.

1. Blanket Flower

If you want a plant that looks like sunshine bottled into a flower, blanket flower is hard to beat. Cheerful red, orange and golden-yellow blooms appear from early summer right through fall, often carrying on long after other perennials have called it quits.

Native to North America, it's happiest basking in full sun and copes brilliantly with heat and dry soil. Butterflies adore it, bees can't get enough of it and you'll love how little effort it asks for in return. If you want to go super bold, the SpinTop™ Red Blanket Gaillardia from Nature Hills blooms nonstop until the first frost.

2. Coneflower

Coneflowers are one of those plants I recommend again and again because they simply never let me down. Their bold daisy-like flowers bloom for weeks on end, bringing vibrant color while turning your borders into a magnet for bees and butterflies.

Once established, they're wonderfully drought tolerant, making them one of the easiest ways to keep a garden looking lush through the hottest part of summer. Why not swerve the usual purple in favor of the Sunseekers™ Rainbow Coneflower from Nature Hills? You'll end up with orange, pink, rose, and yellow blooms all on one plant!

3. Black-Eyed Susan

Few flowers capture the feeling of high summer quite like black-eyed Susan. Their golden petals seem to glow in the sunshine, and with regular deadheading they'll keep blooming for weeks.

This tough native perennial shrugs off heat, humidity and less-than-perfect soil, making it one of the most dependable flowers you can grow. The Prairie Glow Black - Eyed Susan from Nature Hills offers a vibrant bi-colored twist to the usual uniform yellow.

4. Russian Sage

No surprises here, but if you want flowering perennials that will thrive in 95°F climes, Russian sage was well and truly made for heatwaves. Silvery foliage shimmers in bright sunshine while airy lavender-blue flower spikes seem to float above the border, creating movement and softness even on the hottest days.

It's also one of the stars of water-wise gardens, thriving where many thirstier plants struggle. If you're short on room, opt for a compact variety like the stunning Blue Jean Baby Russian Sage from Nature Hills.

5. Catmint

Look, don't underestimate catmint. It might be easygoing, but it's also one of the hardest-working perennials in the garden... especially if things are feeling hot, hot, hot. Give it a quick trim after its first flush of flowers and it'll often reward you with another spectacular display.

Bees absolutely love it, while deer and rabbits usually leave it alone – that's what I call a win-win. Personally, I will always choose Cat's Pajamas Catmint for the name alone.

6. Tickseed

Tickseed is the sort of flowering perennial that seems determined to keep flowering whatever summer throws its way. Its cheerful blooms can brighten borders for months, bringing a light, airy feel that's perfect for prairie-style planting or cottage gardens.

Once established, it's impressively drought tolerant and asks for very little beyond the occasional deadhead. The Big Bang™ Cosmic Eye Coreopsis from Nature Hills is a great way to make a splash in your garden.

7. Lantana

If you've ever visited a Southern garden in midsummer, chances are you've seen lantana stealing the show. While other flowers wilt in scorching temperatures, lantana just keeps pumping out vibrant clusters of orange, pink, yellow and red blooms.

Butterflies flock to it, it positively thrives in hot sunshine and, in warmer USDA zones, comes back year after year with very little fuss. You can grab some Clovers Garden Lantana Camara Flowers from Amazon easily enough.

Bonus: Rattlesnake Master

If your style leans a little more naturalistic, rattlesnake master deserves a spot on your planting list. Its distinctive globe-shaped flowers and sword-like foliage bring architectural drama to sunny borders, while its prairie roots mean it positively thrives in blazing heat and dry conditions.

It isn't as brightly colored as some of the other flowering perennials on this list, sure, but it's one of the very best plants for attracting bees, butterflies and beneficial insects (and it pairs beautifully with coneflowers, blanket flowers and black-eyed Susans in a heat-loving prairie-style planting, so what's not to love?).

Build A Rattlesnake Master Planting Scheme:

These plants might be built for the heat, but I’m not quite there yet. You’ll find me indoors, fan on full blast, cold drink in hand, and quietly wishing I had the same summer survival skills as the flowers in this list.