Are you looking for plants that'll thrive in Qatar's summer heat?
You will be surprised to know that there are a number of plants that can actually survive intense heat while producing lovely flowers that can add colour and brighten up your surroundings. And what's more, they’re available in different sizes and are affordable. You can grab small ones in pots, or you can buy large plants from the different nurseries in Qatar.
Whether you have a yard, balcony, or window sill, the ILoveQatar.net (ILQ) team has compiled a list of flowering plants to give the summer months a lovelier glow!
When you drive around Doha, you will most likely see huge splashes of deep pink colour on fences and walls - those are Bougainvilleas! This vining shrub is widely cultivated in Qatar as it can survive the hottest of summers and yet needs no maintenance to speak of, just good soil, good drainage, and lots of sunshine.
Like all plants, Bougainvillea starts out relatively small, but when not trimmed can grow as high or as wide as 20 feet and produces a flush of colours besides deep pinks, such as yellow, red, orange, purple, white, and lavender. One quick fact: these ‘colourful flowers’ are actually leaves called “bracts”. Bougainvillea’s actual flower is the tiny white blossom that you see in the middle of the bract. Nevertheless, they’re so gorgeous and easy to grow, and readily available at all plant nurseries all over Qatar.
Ixora, also known as Jungle geranium, is one resilient flowering plant that you can find in most plant nurseries in Qatar. As this plant flourishes during the summer, it easily grows both on the ground and in pots under full sunlight. What’s unique about this plant is that it bears small flowers clustered into a rounded form.
At this time of the year, it’s hard to miss Ixora when you visit a local nursery as its bright leaves and large blooms in colours of red, yellow, orange, and pink will welcome you. Ixora is another plant that is easy to maintain as it can survive under extreme heat even if you forget to water it in the mornings. Its flowers will not dry up easily and actually bloom more profusely under more sunlight.
Lantanas are vibrant flowers that are resilient, drought-resistant, and love the heat. They are known for their beautiful flower clusters in pink, orange, red, and yellow colours. It is a great addition to your garden and is low-maintenance.
These flowers love the heat, but make sure to plant them in well-draining soil and water regularly, especially on the hotter days.
The Oleander is a flowering plant that blooms during spring until the end of summer. They blossom in the sun producing clusters of star-shaped pink, white, red, and white flowers.
Note: These beautiful flowers are absolutely beautiful, however, extreme caution is advised as they are quite poisonous to both humans and pets. Make sure you plant them in an area away from contact and wear gloves when handling them.
If you visit a local plant nursery these days, you will surely find hanging pots with these lovely tiny flowers and leaves called Portulaca, also popularly known in other countries as Moss Rose, Purslane, Rock Rose, and Eleven o’clock. It’s a semi-succulent plant that stores water in its leaves and stems, which makes this plant tolerate heat even during the most punishing temperatures.
Portulaca is very easy to grow because, once planted, it requires practically no care at all. Just water it when the topsoil gets dry, and remove the old blooms to give way to the new ones. They’re so lovely to look at, especially when different colours of white, pink, yellow, purple, and peach bloom together on the ground or in one large pot.
Quick fact: Portulaca is called Eleven o’clock in some countries as its flowers normally bloom when 11 am strikes!
Also called Rose Periwinkle or Madagascar Periwinkle, Vinca flowers thrive even on summer's hottest days that’s why you can find a lot of them in local plant nurseries in Qatar. Full sun and well-drained soil will make Vinca flowers bloom through the summer, and will often bloom the next summer season from its self-sown seed. It requires almost no maintenance to keep it looking beautiful, except you need to water it a bit when the topsoil gets dry.
Visit a plant nursery, especially on a Friday morning, and you will see a lot of vinca plants of various shades of pink, white, violet, yellow, and bright red. And guess what? They're great for homes with no garden because you can keep them in small pots and display them on window ledges under sunlight.
Another flowering plant that tolerates hot weather is Zinnia. “A genus of plants of the sunflower tribe within the daisy family", Zinnias grow and flower best in well-drained soil and in full sun, and they grow quickly and bloom heavily. This plant comes with flowers in bright colours of yellow, orange, red, pink, lavender, and purple.
Smaller Zinnias in containers can thrive under the sun's heat as long as you water them during the early morning hours. Brighten up your garden or your window sills with these lovely Zinnias. You can find varieties that are under a foot tall.
Although the plants listed above bloom in hot weather, you can still do some things to help them thrive.
Jocelyn Fernando is a passionate plant mom based out of Qatar. She has over 800 plants in her home in Doha. She has graciously shared the below-mentioned tips for plant care during the harsh summer months.
WATCH OUR VIDEO: Jocelyn Fernando's gorgeous garden!
Cover image credit: Shutterstock
Originally written by Marivie Alabanza. Updated by Cassandra Pallagud.
What are your favourite plants to grow in Qatar's summer? Let us know in the comments section!
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