I sell plants for a nursery in northern San Diego County, California specializing in drought tolerant plants. Much of my business comes from the Coachella Valley, California where temperatures get up to 125° and beyond, according to my customers. In order to vet the right plants for them, its difficult for me to find resources detailing the extreme high temperatures a given plant will I tolerate. As we know, minimum temperatures are noted in degrees but on the upper end instead of a temperature, it's phrases like "takes full sun", "hardy to 25°", etc. which seem to be the norm.

Would you have any suggestions regarding websources or books? Better yet, does your database do this already and the few cacti I looked up are anomalies, in this regard. I'm new to the site so it could be that it's on there but that I just couldn't locate.

Meanwhile I'll keep looking on your site for these and other wonders. First heard about about y'all from the good folks over at thehorticult.com, who recently visited our nursery. Became terminally hooked on ATP last night on the wayhome from Coachella, finding podcasts on Stitcher after an inspiring week of plants and hiking.

And thanks to all the administrators!!

Carns!

@Carns to ATP Perhaps these links will be of use to you.

http://www.ahs.org/gardening-r...

http://www.johnnyseeds.com/t-g...

These sites list the most heat/drought tolerant flowers

http://www.perennialresource.c...

http://www.weekendgardener.net...

http://www.rodalesorganiclife....

Vegetables

http://www.johnnyseeds.com/v-4...

Welcome to ATP! Hope you like it here.

Living in the coastal PNW, I have no idea about heat tolerance. All I know is that when it (rarely) goes over 90 F, people wander around moaning about "burning up" and "heat waves".

And if it doesn't go below 65-70 F EVERY night, we feel cheated.

A little more info...

http://www.harlequinsgardens.c...

http://www.gardensalive.com/pr...

http://www.greenhousegrower.co...

http://www.southernexposure.co...

Hi Carns!

I have a book entitled: Waterwise Plants for Sustainable Gardens. I love reading this book since I am into drought tolerant plants too with our ever dry environs here later on. Plus the colorful pictures help a lot. But it references tolerances as to the planting zones, but sometimes says which plants resents humid heat.

Pretty much, I take all suggestions at face value, since my location always misses the temperature limits on forecasts, either too hot or too cold. And have grown drought tolerant plants, observed them that at 100F dry furnace heat temps, plants go on survival mode, dropping leaves and flowers and will go somewhat dormant and wait patiently till the better 80F temps returns. Very, very few plants will stand being in 125F.