In Thailand’s tropical monsoonal climate, the months of March-May are normally the region’s hottest period. These 3 months prior to the onset of the rainy monsoon in late May are usually characterized by hot, dry weather with periods of intense daytime heat. For many gardeners in Thailand, this is typically considered to be a period of minimal gardening activity whereby the soil is too hot and dry. Nevertheless, with several hardy flowering plants this doesn’t have to be the case.

Too keep your gardens lush, colorful and lively with blooms during Thailand’s hot dry season (March-May), there are several hardy plants that I would recommend during this period of drought and intense heat.

1. Bougainvillae (เฟื่องฟ้า) – Perennials native to South America, these flowering creeping and bush plants are now a common sight throughout tropical Southeast Asia, including all regions of Thailand.

In my Bangkok garden, Bougainvilleas flower especially profusely…