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  Bedding plants, which are annual plants generally used for color in the garden seasonally, can be a little tricky in West Tennessee during the summer months, due to the extreme heat and high temperatures of the region. Some bedding plants perform better in the heat than others, so it's important to pick ones that can hold up and even thrive, despite the region's extremely hot summers.
  
  

Angelonia

• Angelonia, commonly called the summer snapdragon, performs extremely well all summer, standing up to the heat with continuous blooms. With a height of about 18 to 24 inches, it provides a vertical accent in containers or works massed in the ground. It features a multitude of tiny orchid-like blooms along the stems and comes in lavender, pink, purple and white. The Serena series has been honored with both a Classic City award and a FlameProof award for its strong performance in the test gardens at the University of Georgia and the Dallas Arboretum, respectively.
  
  

Diamond Frost Euphorbia®

• Diamond Frost Euphorbia has a delicate, cloud-like appearance yet performs extremely well in high heat. Its dainty little white oblong blooms mass together to provide a cooling and refreshing appearance in the heat of summer. It makes a perfect mounding plant for containers but also works well in the ground. A newer Euphorbia on the market is Breathless™ Blush, which shares the same characteristics but features a hint of red in the green leaves and a touch of pink in the white bloom.
  
  

Petunias

• Petunias have long been a favorite bedding plant, but some of the newer varieties are holding up to hot summers with stronger performances. The University of Tennessee Best in Show Report highlighted Easy Wave Pink, the Surfina petunia series and the Supertunia® Vista Bubblegum for strong performance and vigor. The Sweetunia Soft Pink Morning received a Classic City award for strong performance despite high heat and humidity.
  
  

Sweet Potato Vines

• For trailing plants that offer superior performance, the Sweet Potato Vine is hard to beat. The vines, available in lime, purple and a tri-color variety, also feature several different leaf shapes. They work excellently in containers as a trailing plant, but also perform well in the ground. The University of Tennessee Best in Show Report highlighted Ipomoea Lime, in 2008, and Illusion® Emerald Lace, in 2009.