• Marigold is a sun loving flower.marigold image by Furan from Fotolia.com
  
  Certain areas of a landscape may receive more sunlight than others. These areas usually face west or south, and can get very hot. The best planting choices for these areas are flowers and plants that are well tolerant of heat and sun. The majority of heat-tolerant plants are also drought tolerant. These plants have deep root systems and can thrive with low moisture.
  
  

Marigold

• Marigold (Tagetes erecta) is listed as heat tolerant plant by the Texas A&M University Extension. The plants grow well in full sun and reach a mature height of about 3 feet. Marigold comes in a wide variety of colors including yellow, white, orange, red and mixed. The flowers bloom from the middle of summer and well into the first frost. The flowers are easily propagated from seeds sowed directly in the soil. It is best to start seeds indoors and then transplant outdoors. Marigold likes well-drained, rich soil but is also well tolerant of slightly poorer soil conditions. Once established, marigold grow well with minimal care. Use mulch to discourage weeds.
  
  

Madagascar Periwinkle

• Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) is a heat-tolerant flower that does not tolerate temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The plant is a semi-woody, evergreen perennial, which is also grown as an annual in flower beds. Madagascar periwinkle reaches a mature height of 2 to 3 feet with an equal spread. The flowers, which are five petaled and pink, purple, red or white, bloom through most of the summer. The plant is a native of Madagascar and grows well in full sun. Established plants are quite drought tolerant and do not like to be overwatered. Madagascar periwinkle can easily be propagated from seed or from cuttings taken in summer or spring.
  
  

California Poppy

• California poppy (Eschscholzia california) is a heat loving, satiny, cup-shaped flower with gray, lacy foliage. The flowers bloom through the summer until the first frost and are commonly used in rock gardens and along walkways. California poppy is an easy to grow, warm-season plant that thrives in full sun. Plant by sowing seeds directly in the garden. Seeds germinate in two to three weeks in warm soil. The flower is a native of western North America and is tolerant of dry conditions during the summer. Established plants have low water requirement.