Zone 9 garden area?

Is anyone able to recommend some sort of hardy plants for the zone 9 area........am having a hard time keeping a lot of plants alive due to the extreme heat and soil conditions.



I currently have a few desert rose plants, a sage palm and some desert grass that IS still living.



Also any books or sites that you could recommend would be great



thanks in advance

Zone 9 garden area?
Cosmos, amaranth, zinnia, gerbera daisy, gardenia, camelia, azalea....there are lots. I'm in zone 8, have all those thriving and many many more. Hot conditions, poor soil = water and miracle gro. Want seeds?
Reply:You should look at Australian native plants. Drought and heat tolerant and don't like rich soils(Be careful not to buy A. rainforest varieties).



I'm in Australia and I'm not really sure what varieties you can get easily but you can obviously buy Eucalyptus. Have a look at Callistermons (Bottle Brush), Acacia (Wattle), Hakea.



Iris (Large Bearded - German), Arctotis %26amp; Gazanias from Africa.

Grey leaf plants generally wear the heat better (the grey colour helps them). Stachys, Grevilleas, Rosemary, Salvias (some have tubers). And a funny one that people don't think of is Canna's - in 40 degrees C at my place they don't even worry. Usually recommended for wet areas they just grow smaller once estabilshed when they don't get alot of water. Hopes this gives you some ideas.
Reply:check out native plants,u should be able to search the net and find a nursey in ur area that carries them
Reply:http://www.perennials.com/index.html everything you need to know about plants, zones and seasons is here...good luck and keep on growing
Reply:Sunset Western Garden Book--Mediterranean and Drought Tolerant plant sections.