The sun is beating down, and the city feels like a furnace. You're dying to be outside but craving a refuge, a place to escape the scorching heat...there is no better place than Red Butte Garden. You can stroll the Garden and take respite on our many benches and shady pathways while appreciating the plants that thrive in the heat.

Heart-leaved Houttuynia (Houttuynia cordata 'Flore Pleno')

This shade-loving groundcover can be found in and around the Herb Garden. It's scented leaves are used in some Asian dishes.

Pink Octopus Bellflower (Campanula 'Pink Octopus')

Bellflower? There's nothing "bell" about this flower. Pink Octopus is a unique form of bellflower that has separate, narrow, pink petals, rather than the common bell-shaped blue-flowers this genus is known for.

Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata)

Look for this unique water plant growing in our Children's Garden pond.

Snowflake Dianthus (Dianthus petraeus ssp. noeanus)

In the heat of the summer this little beauty displays delicate fringed flowers.

Chocolate Flower (Berlandiera lyrata)

Last but not least is one of the coolest flowers in the Garden. First thing in the morning the flowers smell like chocolate (more like powdered chocolate milk mix if you ask me), and fades as the day progresses. You can smell this one in the Water Conservation Garden.

See you around the Garden!

Photos by Glenn Eurick