Kansas summers can be brutal with temperatures soaring into the triple digits and humidity that makes you feel like you’re walking through soup. Many garden plants wilt and struggle through these challenging months, leaving disappointed gardeners and sad-looking landscapes.
I’ve spent years testing different perennials in my own backyard near Wichita, watching promising plants shrivel while others somehow thrived despite the punishing heat. Through trial and error (and more than a few plant funerals), I’ve discovered some remarkable survivors.
The following perennials have proven themselves in my garden and many others across Kansas. They not only tolerate our summer infernos but actually seem to enjoy them, continuing to bloom and look fantastic when everything else has given up.
1. Black-Eyed Susan
Nothing says summer in Kansas quite like these golden blooms dancing in the hot breeze. Their cheerful yellow petals surrounding dark centers create a striking display from June through September…