FOLLOWING on from last week’s column on heat-loving plants, we’ve already explored sweet potato, peppers – including the milder bell pepper – along with squash, zucchini and even sunflowers, which do double duty as pest-attracting decoys for your vegetable patch.
This week’s standout is Malabar spinach, also known as climbing spinach. It’s not a household name, and many gardeners may not have encountered it before, but it’s a rewarding and resilient plant for hot weather.
Malabar spinach is a leafy vine that thrives in heat, producing glossy green leaves on thick stems.
It tastes remarkably similar to traditional spinach, with a slightly mucilaginous texture and subtle hints of okra and mushroom.
It’s rich in dietary fibre, has a mild laxative effect and is even said to aid in reducing obesity.
Easy to grow and quick to climb a trellis or fence, it makes a nutritious and surprisingly tasty addition to quiche recipes.
Cucumbers of various types are another reliable choice for hot conditions, while certain beans, such as snake beans, also revel in the warmth.
They’re long, productive, and vigorous growers, though their stronger flavour isn’t to everyone’s taste.
For gardeners more interested in colour than crops, there are plenty of flowering plants that embrace the summer sun. Agapanthus, or African lily, is a popular choice with its tall stems and clusters of mauve, cream or lilac blooms that brighten up borders and driveways.
The Australian wattle, with its cheerful yellow flowers, has long been part of the national landscape and now flourishes in suburban gardens in a range of sizes and varieties.
Another favourite for hot-weather gardens is the grevillea, which produces intricate blooms in shades of pink, red and white.
These hardy shrubs thrive in sunny conditions and pair beautifully with native companions like kangaroo paw and bottlebrush, all offering striking flower shapes and attracting local birdlife.
And no discussion of sun-loving flowers would be complete without mentioning bougainvillea.
Available in both dwarf and sprawling varieties, these vibrant plants bring a burst of colour to fences, walls and patios.
So, for those who prefer to let the sun do most of the work, these hardy, heat-loving plants are ideal for keeping the garden lively through summer.
With a few smart choices, even the laziest gardener can enjoy a thriving, colourful garden all season long.
Till next time!
