Which flowers will survive the El Paso summer? (for sale, Home Depot)

[newelpasoan]

Hello all,

I'm new to El Paso (we moved here 6 months ago) and new to City-Data.com. I would like to plant flowers in pots outside. I have a few already that have done well for the past few months on a covered patio - pansies, cabbage, and cyclamen.

I'd like to put some pots out in the back - some in full sun and some under a covered patio. I see that Home Depot has lots of annuals for sale now and from past experience if I don't buy now, they will soon be gone! Any suggestions? Or, do I need to buy annuals that will do well now and then buy others in June? I'd like to keep expenses to a minimum so I was hoping to get flowers that will make it through the summer. Which flowers have you had good luck with?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

[Caltep]

Don't know much about flowers though I know the only thing that has really survived in our yard is Lantana...comes in a variety of colors and keep blooming from spring through fall. It spreads quickly but looks good in a pot or in a planter bed. We also have some sort of Rosemary that is low maintenance and covers ground well but drapes over walls also...little purple flowers and smells good too.

If you want to get some desert friendly plants, check for when the UTEP Chihuahua Desert plant sale comes up...usually in April. You can get some plants and probably some advice as well. Very popular so I understand you have to get there early.

[Gary Siete]

We've done well with Morning Glories (needs a wall, fence or trellis).

In terms of veg we've had the best luck with jalapenos, peppers & tomatoes but my neighbour can & does grow anything.

[hellpaso]

When I lived there we had roses that did very well, as well as the aforementioned rosemary. Also oleander and purple sage. As far as growing annuals in pots--keep in mind that you will have to water them AT LEAST once a day or possibly more due to the lack of humidity. Your best bet is to try native plants.

[ZSP]

Geraniums do well here, all year round. We also grow rosemary and sage. Just be sure to look for drought tolerant varieties - Lowe's and Home Depot sell many plants that shouldn't even be sold here in the desert climate.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by ZSP

Geraniums do well here, all year round. We also grow rosemary and sage. Just be sure to look for drought tolerant varieties - Lowe's and Home Depot sell many plants that shouldn't even be sold here in the desert climate.

Not all of El Paso is a desert. They almost have to sell those varieties because some areas like the valleys aren't good for desert plants. In some places there's more a problem of too much water in clay soil.

[Six Foot Three]

Originally Posted by Gary Siete

We've done well with Morning Glories (needs a wall, fence or trellis).

I remember those at our home in northeast EP back in high school as they always opened up around a certain time of the morning to be polinated i presume .

[malamute]

And yes you can buy some now that do well in spring weather and later the ones for summer. If you're planting them in pots, then I think about the only factor is how often they must be watered. Humidity can be a factor too but you can get around that to some extent also. If a flower can live in Chicago where temperatures reach 95 degrees, it can also live here where temperatures reach 95 degrees but for a few more days.

[nixau27]

I don't have much of a green thumb but I was able to grow roses and lantanas w/o any trouble when I lived in ELP,,,,,

[El Passeaux]

we did real well with oleanders, lantanas and roses