Hello, Anne, Here in Los Angeles, the star performers by way of blossoming plants in our garden in the infernal heat of the SF Valley are our portulacas. They bloom and bloom and bloom in a riot of color. They require very little moisture, take full hot (105+) air temps, and the cool damp nights. We are Sunset Zone 18, which only roughly approximates zone 9b. Would they do for you? The colors are just plain dazzling...especially through polarized sunglasses. Ron Van Nuys, CA