Sizzle & Bloom

Flowers that Beat the Heat in the U.S. South & West

South

Little Hottie®
Bailey’s Nursery

Little Hottie® is a new, compact panicle hydrangea that covers itself in large, upright blooms from top to bottom. And that’s not all! This shrub was bred in Georgia for heat tolerance, so the flowers of Little Hottie® don’t get heat stressed or turn brown in excessive heat. The tight flower clusters stand tall on strong stems without flopping. With natural basal branching, this introduction requires little pruning to grow into a well-shaped plant. Little Hottie® continues to deliver beauty into the fall as the sparkling white blooms slowly age to antique shades of pink. Little Hottie® is a strong performer in residential landscapes, where it provides drifts of color and is great for mixing with other shrubs, annuals and perennials. And in commercial properties, Little Hottie® is a perfect fit for planting near foundations, sidewalks, patios and parking lots.

Purple Pillar® Hibiscus syriacus
Tight spaces? No problem.

This columnar althea fits nicely into many projects. Whether used as an attractive screen to add privacy, a low-maintenance commercial planting or a specimen plant for a tight space, this upright plant will provide beautiful purple flowers in late summer and fall. Pollinators love those flowers; your clients will be thrilled by the hummingbirds visiting their property next summer.

Like other H. syriacus, it’s a rugged performer that tolerates heat, poor soil and dry conditions. Purple Pillar® will thrive in the challenging conditions of a commercial or urban project and tolerates both air pollution and salt.

Purple Pillar® grows 10-16 feet tall and 4-5 feet wide and is hardy in USDA 5-9. Purple not your thing? That’s OK. Check out its sister plants: White Pillar® and Red Pillar™. Find out more at www.mypwcolorchoices.com/landscape-professionals/.

West

Pugster Blue® Buddleia
Maximum Flowers, Minimum Watering

Pugster Blue® grows just 2 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide, so it fits into any landscape—even container gardens. Although it’s a dwarf plant, it has large, intensely colored flowers that attract butterflies and other pollinators throughout the summer. Its fragrant blooms are as appealing to clients as they are to pollinators.

Not just a pretty face, Pugster Blue® has a Blue Ribbon from the University of California Climate-Ready Plant Trials. It’s a solid performer even under intense water stress.

Whether you need a low-growing mass planting or a plant to deliver lots of flowers in a small space, this drought-tolerant, deer-resistant little shrub is a great choice. Blue not your thing? Check out the other colors of Pugster® buddleia at www.mypwcolorchoices.com/landscape-professionals/.

Ever Amethyst™ Agapanthus
Sunset Plant Collection

Ever Amethyst™ Agapanthus, from Sunset Plant Collection, stands out as the sole low-water agapanthus in recent University of California landscape trials. It not only excels in low irrigation needs but also dazzles with its unique purple blooms, setting it apart from the typical indigo or blue-leaning agapanthus varieties available. The trial commended Ever Amethyst’s prolific repeat blooms, with one plant producing an astonishing 39 flowering stalks during the evaluation.

This agapanthus offers an eco-friendly solution for landscapers seeking vibrant, long-lasting blooms that won’t strain water resources. It also attracts pollinators like hummingbirds and bees with its nectar-rich flowers. Whether you want to showcase its stunning inflorescent blooms in a cut flower garden, create a vibrant border or use it in container plantings, Ever Amethyst doesn’t disappoint. Its gracefully arching foliage adds an extra layer of beauty, making it a versatile choice for any garden or landscape.

sunsetplantcollection.com/the-collection/plant/ever-amethyst