If you want heat-loving color that doesn't ask much, Fireball marigolds deliver from August straight through the first cold snap. They handle Alabama humidity without complaint and bloom in tones that warm up any tired corner of the garden.

Plant them in full sun and ordinary soil—they'll thrive on neglect. Taller than dwarf types, they work well toward the back of a bed or as a screen, and each flower lasts longer if you pinch off the spent blooms, though they'll keep coming even if you don't.