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Beat the Heat: Fuss-free Plants for Late Summer Gardens

Filling a Pacific Northwest garden with color and greenery in May is easy. The hard part is finding the right plants to keep it looking lush in hot, crispy August - especially as we're settling into the "new normal" of 90+ degree days in this climate-changed world! Fret-not, we've got this! Here's some of our faves for creating a garden that can beat the heat, conserve water, support the birds and the bees we love so much - through the dog days of summer.

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  • Close-up of the showy white flower of arrowleaf buckwheat (Eriogonum compositum). One of 150+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Many dense sedge (Carex densa) plants in production at the nursery. One of 150+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • A stunning specimen of western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) in full bloom alongside a footpath. One of 100+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • The middle-aged form of Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana) in a savanna. A Pacific Northwest native tree available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close-up of a wax currant (Ribes cereum) branch tip, including leaves and light pink flowers. One of 100+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close up of the underside of the umbel of delicate white flowers of Oregon yampah, or eppaw, (Perideridia oregana). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants in Portland, Oregon
  • Yellow flowers and form of mature spring gold, also known as common Lomatium (Lomatium utriculatum). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close-up of the showy blueish-white flower of deerbrush (Ceanothus integerrimus). One of 150+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Iconic large leaf of the big leaf maple, Acer macrophyllum, another stunning Northwest Native Plant available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon
  • Close up of a gorgeously symmetrical, dark brown flower cone of western coneflower (Rudbeckia occidenalis). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Partial habit of Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa). One of the many Pacific Northwest native trees available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close-up of green leaves with small pink flowers of creeping snowberry (Symphoricarpos mollis) against a blurred green background. One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close-up of the dried seed heads on California oatgrass (Danthonia californica). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • A large, wild population of taper-tip rush (Juncus acuminatus) beside a pond. One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • A small form shore pine (Pinus contorta ssp. contorta) in a wild bog. One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close-up of the dense, dome-shaped flower clusters of sulphur-flower buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum). One of the 150+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available through Sparrowhawk Native Plants in Portland, Oregon.
  • White peeling bark on the trunk of a paper birch tree (Betula papyrifera) in fall. One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, native plant nursery in Portland, Oregon
  • Drooping, bright green branches of Port Orford cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana). One of 150+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close-up of the golden inflorescence of Sawbeak Sedge (Carex Stipata). One of 100+ species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Native Plant Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
  • Close up of the creamy yellow flowers of alpine alumroot (Heuchera cylindrica) with mound of foliage in the background. One of about 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants in Portland, Oregon.