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Got a sunny spot in your yard that feels too hot for most plants? Don’t worry — some plants love and thrive in the sun. Full sun perennials are the best choice if you want long-lasting color with less effort year after year.
These plants come back every season and handle heat like a champ. All they need is plenty of sunlight (at least 6-8 hours a day) and a little care to get started.
Here are 14 full-sun perennials you should grow today to add beauty and color to your garden without constant replanting.
1. Coneflower (Echinacea)
Coneflowers are tough, beautiful flowers that bloom from early summer to fall. Their daisy-like petals come in pink, purple, white, and even orange. These flowers handle heat and drought very well, and they attract bees, butterflies, and birds to your garden.
2. Black-Eyed Susan
Black-eyed Susans light up your garden with their bright yellow petals and dark centers. They bloom from midsummer into fall and are excellent for filling in sunny garden beds. These flowers are also drought-tolerant and easy to grow from seed.
3. Russian Sage
Russian sage adds a soft, airy look to sunny spots. It grows tall with silvery-gray leaves and purple-blue flower spikes. It thrives in hot, dry conditions and gives your garden a delicate splash of color that lasts all season.
4. Shasta Daisy
Shasta daisies bring a classic, clean look to flower beds. Their bright white petals and golden centers stand out in full sun. These long-blooming perennials are perfect for cutting gardens and require very little care once established.
5. Coreopsis
Coreopsis, often called tickseed, produces masses of small, daisy-like flowers in yellow, orange, or pink. They bloom for a long time and handle heat and dry soil with no problem. They also attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.
6. Daylily
Daylilies are incredibly hardy and bloom in many colors, including yellow, orange, red, and pink. Each flower lasts only a day, but the plant produces so many blooms that your garden stays colorful for weeks. They thrive in poor soil and full sun.
Pro tip
I always mix in a few daylilies or coneflowers along the edges of my veggie garden. They handle the heat and bring in tons of bees and butterflies, which helps with pollination.
7. Salvia
Salvia adds vertical interest with its tall flower spikes in shades of purple, pink, blue, or red. It’s a magnet for hummingbirds and bees. Salvia is also drought-tolerant and easy to care for once planted in a sunny location.
8. Yarrow
Yarrow grows clusters of tiny flowers that form flat-topped heads. They bloom in white, yellow, pink, or red and are very heat- and drought-resistant. Yarrow is perfect for borders, wildflower gardens, or spots that need tough plants.
9. Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)
Blanket flowers produce bold, fiery-colored blooms in red, orange, and yellow. They bloom non-stop from summer into fall and handle heat and poor soil with ease. These cheerful flowers also attract butterflies to your garden.
10. Sedum (Stonecrop)
Sedum has fleshy, succulent-like leaves that store water, making it very drought-tolerant. In late summer, it produces large clusters of tiny pink or red flowers that attract bees and butterflies. It’s perfect for rock gardens or dry areas.
11. Bee Balm
Bee balm produces bright, spiky flowers in shades of red, pink, or purple. It’s loved by bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It grows well in full sun and adds a wild, cottage-garden feel to your yard.
one more tip 💡
If you’re planting in really dry areas, I’ve had the best luck using a layer of mulch around my perennials. It keeps the soil cooler and cuts down on watering, especially in the middle of summer.
12. Catmint
Catmint has soft, gray-green foliage and delicate lavender-blue flowers that bloom for months. It’s very easy to grow, resists deer, and thrives in heat and poor soil. Catmint is perfect for borders or as a filler plant in sunny spots.
13. Lavender
Lavender is not only beautiful but also smells amazing. Its tall purple flower spikes and fragrant silvery leaves love full sun and dry soil. It’s also a natural pest repellent, making it a great choice for patios or garden borders.
14. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea Purpurea)
Purple coneflowers are sturdy, long-lasting perennials with tall stems and large, daisy-like purple petals. They bloom all summer and are very easy to grow. These flowers also attract pollinators and birds, adding life and color to your garden.
Final Tip
Full-sun perennials are perfect if you want a low-fuss garden that looks amazing year after year. Just plant them in sunny spots, give them some water while they get established, and enjoy their beauty for seasons to come.
