Life, whether in a big city, or some smaller picturesque town, is always better with a touch of green. Apart from being beautiful and adding a natural flair to your home, plants have several tangible benefits. From air quality all the way to mental and physical upgrades for you and your loved ones. However, with summertime in Cyprus getting longer and warmer, there’s only a handful of plants to choose from in order to keep our surroundings as green as possible.

Did you know that plants help reduce stress? That’s right, according to several studies, interacting with plants has a positive impact on our mental health, combating one of the most common issues people currently face and helping them achieve a more peaceful state of mind. Other similar studies have shown that plants can help even with more severe conditions such as dementia and depression. 

>>9 Essential Plants to Have in a House<<

It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Besides their undeniable therapeutic value, plants can also help you stay laser-focused and boost your productivity levels. Relevant studies showed that workspaces with more plants saw employees take fewer sick days, were more efficient and even considered their workspace much more inviting and enjoyable.

Finally, plants are your best counter against urban pollution, as they help freshen up the air you breathe, albeit you’d need several plants, with some being more effective than others, to stand a chance against modern day pollution levels.

Oleander: Tolerates sun and drought, requires minimal care to fully blossom. It fits great in hedges and large pots.

Bougainvillea: Thrives in heat and dry soil, blooming with wonderful pink, purple, or orange bracts.

Lantana: It can easily withstand extreme heat or long dry spells, it doesn’t require much maintenance, and it attracts butterflies!

Lavender: Once firmly established, lavender can endure drought. Lavender loves the sun, and besides its wonderful colors, it adds a pleasant fragrance to your space.

Rosemary: Besides its decorative value, rosemary doubles as a herb, and it’s ideal for containers and garden beds.

Agave: Unbothered by arid conditions, agave is extremely low maintenance and highly sculptural. Truly, an ideal option for the heat!

Cacti: It probably goes without saying, but most cactus varieties adapt perfectly to hot temperatures, and can survive for weeks without water. Plan your summer vacations without a care in the world!

Portulaca: Plant it in dry, sandy soil and enjoy it in its gorgeous, colorful glory.

Sedum: This succulent groundcover is perfect for rock gardens or pots, and can thrive in heat or poor soil without any issues.

Yucca: Evergreen, architectural, really tough. Yucca is the answer to all your gardening concerns.

Gaillardia: Not only does it effectively tolerate sun and drought, gaillardia also produces pretty daisy-like flowers.

Zinnia: Zinnia grows quickly in just about any conditions, and are great for sunny beds or pots.

Echinacea: A hardy perennial that can fit into any garden, attracting pollinators.

Aloe: Yet another great option for extremely warm weather, aloe requires very little water and is perfect for containers or dry landscaping.

Hibiscus: Last but certainly not least, Hibiscus’ big blooms add a tropical flair to your surroundings without asking much of you.