Sun-Tolerant Trees & Plants

West facing fences, paved courtyards that radiate heat, open blocks with no established shade: these are the positions that scorch ordinary plants and where sun tolerant trees and plants prove their worth. Everything in this collection is chosen to cope with prolonged direct Australian sun, including the brutal afternoon kind.

Assess your hot spots honestly before buying. A north facing bed with 8 hours of light is a very different proposition from a west wall that combines afternoon sun with reflected heat off brick or concrete, which can push surface temperatures well past 50 degrees on a 35 degree day. For those extreme reflected heat positions, favour plants with small, leathery, grey or silver foliage, natural adaptations that shed heat and limit moisture loss. Trees deserve special mention here because they are the long term fix: a single well placed sun tolerant canopy tree can drop the temperature beneath it by several degrees and eventually create the shade that lets you grow a wider palette underneath.

• Plant in autumn where possible, so roots establish before the plant faces its first summer
• Water new plantings deeply for the first two summers even if the variety is heat hardy once established
• Keep mulch 75mm deep but clear of trunks to stop collar rot
• Avoid fertilising during heatwaves, which forces soft growth that burns
• Use light coloured gravel or organic mulch instead of black plastic, which cooks shallow roots

This range shares its plant list with plants for full sun, which approaches the same varieties from a bed and border planning angle if that better matches your project. For proven performers in serious heat, our crepe myrtle care guide covers one of the best small flowering trees for hot Australian summers, and the olive tree care guide profiles a Mediterranean classic that positively enjoys harsh sun.