Summer may seem like the perfect time to fill empty garden beds and containers, but not every plant appreciates the heat. In fact, some popular flowers and ornamentals that thrive in spring quickly begin to struggle once temperatures climb, and the sun becomes more intense.

Many of these plants naturally prefer cool weather, moist soil, and mild temperatures. Planting them in the middle of summer often leads to disappointment, as they wilt, stop blooming, develop scorched foliage, or simply die long before the season is over.

Before you bring home new plants during the hottest part of the year, it helps to know which ones are likely to struggle. Here are some beautiful plants that are often better suited for spring, fall, or cooler climates than the heat of summer.

Wishbone Flower (Torenia fournieri)

Wishbone flowers add plenty of color to containers and hanging baskets, but they don’t always appreciate intense summer heat. During prolonged hot spells, flowering often decreases and foliage can begin showing signs of stress.

Forget-Me-Nots (Myosotis sylvatica)

Forget-me-nots are often planted for their charming blue blooms in spring gardens. However, they naturally fade as temperatures rise and rarely remain attractive through the hottest months of summer.

Dahlias (Dahlia spp.)

Dahlias can tolerate warm weather, but extreme heat often takes a toll on their performance. Large blooms may wilt, flowering can slow significantly, and plants frequently require extra watering just to keep up.

Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana)

Impatiens are known for filling shady garden beds with bright color, but they struggle in prolonged heat and direct sun. During hot weather, the plants often wilt quickly and can decline even when watered regularly.

Fuchsias (Fuchsia spp.)

Fuchsias produce some of the most beautiful hanging basket flowers, but they prefer cool temperatures and high humidity. Once summer temperatures remain consistently high, flowers begin to drop, and the plants often stop performing altogether.

Garden Violets (Viola spp.)

Violets thrive during the cool days of spring but often disappear once summer arrives. Their delicate foliage burns easily in hot weather, and many varieties naturally go dormant when temperatures climb.

Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus)

Sweet peas are prized for their fragrance and cottage-garden charm, but they are among the first flowers to give up when summer heat arrives. As temperatures rise, flowering slows dramatically before the vines eventually fade away.

Pansies (Viola × wittrockiana)

Pansies may be one of the most popular cool-season flowers, but they rarely survive the hottest part of summer looking their best. Once temperatures consistently climb, the plants become leggy, stop blooming, and gradually decline.

Lobelia (Lobelia erinus)

Lobelia provides beautiful blue, purple, and white flowers in spring containers and borders. Unfortunately, it often struggles once summer heat arrives, with flowering slowing and foliage beginning to dry out.

Columbine (Aquilegia spp.)

Columbines are spring favorites that often look fantastic early in the season. By midsummer, many plants begin to yellow and retreat as they struggle with heat and humidity.

Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla mollis)

Lady’s mantle is valued for its soft foliage and frothy yellow flowers, but hot summers can be hard on this perennial. Leaves often develop brown edges and lose much of their appeal during prolonged heat.

Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus)

Snapdragons perform best during cool weather and often struggle once summer temperatures become intense. Many stop blooming altogether until cooler weather returns later in the season.

Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea)

Foxgloves are classic cottage garden plants, but they prefer mild temperatures and filtered sunlight. Excessive heat can cause foliage to yellow and flowering to end much sooner than gardeners expect.

Primroses (Primula vulgaris)

Primroses are among the earliest flowers to brighten spring gardens, but they dislike hot weather. Once summer arrives, a wide variety of plants stop blooming and retreat into dormancy.