Caryopteris and Silver Mound Artemesia just barely hang on here. They are in lean soil without irrigation, though. The Silver King artemesia is a thug, though, no matter where it is planted. This year, the mums and asters are super lovely.
For red roses, what I have currently blooming that is especially nice are Valentine's Day, which may be considered a mini climber, not sure, and Dublin Bay which is such a beautiful pure red that I will always grow it. Both of those had no issues with our heat or drought. I bought the Dublin Bay from Chamblee. Dublin Bay looks its best with a deep purple clematis twining through. Trish, did you get a Seminole Wind from Chamblee? I discovered that it gets large in the sun, and blooms pretty much all season, but in the shade it blooms just a little bit less, but it stays very small--less than 2 feet tall and wide, compared to maybe 5x4 in the sun. Could get larger if I watered it, don't know...
