Named the Best Picks for Full Sun Perennials: A Gardener’s Must-Have List
When I first started gardening, I thought every plant would thrive if I just watered it enough and gave it a sunny spot. Spoiler alert: not all plants are sun worshippers! Some will wilt faster than you can say "heatwave." That’s when I discovered the magic of full-sun perennials—plants that bask in the sunlight all day and come back year after year to brighten up your garden.
Here’s a lineup of my favorite full-sun perennials that are perfect for beginners. They’re hardy, beautiful, and bring a little drama (the good kind) to your garden beds. Let’s dive in!
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1. Aster
Aster
Why You’ll Love It: Asters bloom late in the season, offering clusters of daisy-like flowers in shades of purple, blue, pink, red, and white. They’re perfect for adding summer and fall color to your garden and attracting butterflies.
Care Tips: Hardy in Zones 4-8, asters thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage prolonged flowering and cut them back after the growing season.
2. Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila)
Baby’s Breath
Why You’ll Love It: Baby’s Breath offers delicate clusters of tiny white or pink flowers that add an airy, romantic touch to your garden. It’s perfect as a filler in flower beds or as a companion plant for showier blooms.
Care Tips: Hardy in Zones 3-9, Baby’s Breath thrives in full sun and well-drained, slightly alkaline soil. Prune after the first bloom to encourage a second round of flowers.
3. Balloon Flower (Platycodon)
Balloon Flower
Why You’ll Love It: Balloon flowers get their name from the way their buds swell like balloons before bursting into star-shaped blooms. They add a touch of whimsy and charm to any garden.
Care Tips: Hardy in Zones 3-8, balloon flowers thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. They’re low-maintenance and deer-resistant, making them perfect for beginner gardeners.
4. Beardtongue (Penstemon)
Beardtongue
Why You’ll Love It: Penstemon, or beardtongue, is a hummingbird favorite. Its tubular flowers come in shades of pink, purple, and red, adding elegance to your garden.
Care Tips: These perennials thrive in Zones 3-8. They prefer well-drained soil and are drought-tolerant once established. Trim back the stems after flowering to encourage new growth.
5. Bee Balm ( Monarda)
Bee Balm
Why You’ll Love It: Bee balm’s shaggy, colorful blooms attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Care Tips: Hardy in Zones 3-9, bee balm prefers moist, well-drained soil. Divide every few years to keep it healthy.
6. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
Black-Eyed Susan
Why You’ll Love It: These sunny yellow flowers with dark centers are a staple in any full sun garden. They’re easy to grow and attract butterflies.
Care Tips: Black-eyed Susans thrive in Zones 3-9. They’re drought-tolerant and prefer well-drained soil. Cut back spent blooms to encourage more flowers.
7. Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)
Blanket Flower
Why You’ll Love It: Gaillardia’s warm, fiery colors bring a Southwest vibe to your garden. It blooms all summer long.
Care Tips: Hardy in Zones 3-10, Gaillardia loves sandy, well-drained soil. Deadhead spent blooms for continuous flowering. They thrive on neglect and heat.
8. Blazing Star (Liatris)
Blazing Star
Why You’ll Love It: Liatris produces tall, spiky flowers that bloom from top to bottom. It’s a favorite of pollinators.
Care Tips: Thriving in Zones 3-9, liatris prefers sandy, well-drained soil and full sun. It’s drought-tolerant and easy to grow.
9. Catmint (Nepeta)
Catmint
Why You’ll Love It: Catmint’s lavender-blue flowers and silvery foliage create a soft, romantic look.
Care Tips: Hardy in Zones 3-8, catmint thrives in well-drained soil and full sun. Trim back after the first bloom for a second flush.
10. Coreopsis
Coreopsis
Why You’ll Love It: Coreopsis, also known as tickseed, is like the cheerful best friend of the garden. Its bright yellow or golden blooms scream sunshine, and they keep blooming all summer long if you deadhead the spent flowers.
Care Tips: These low-maintenance beauties thrive in Zones 3-9. Plant them in well-drained soil, and they’ll reward you with a steady show of flowers. Bonus: they’re drought-tolerant once established.
RELATED: The Best Yellow Perennial Flowers for a Cheerful Garden
11. Daylily (Hemerocallis)
Daylily
Why You’ll Love It: Daylilies are virtually indestructible. They come in every color imaginable and bloom reliably.
Care Tips: Hardy in Zones 3-9, daylilies adapt to various soils but thrive in well-drained spots. Divide every few years to prevent overcrowding.
12. False Indigo (Baptisia)
False Indigo
Why You’ll Love It: Baptisia’s tall, lupine-like flowers and bushy form add structure to your garden.
Care Tips: Thriving in Zones 3-9, baptisia prefers well-drained soil and full sun. It’s drought-tolerant and virtually maintenance-free.
13. Globe Thistle (Echinops)
Globe Thistle
Why You’ll Love It: Globe thistle’s spiky, spherical blue blooms add texture and interest to your garden.
Care Tips: Hardy in Zones 3-8, globe thistle loves full sun and well-drained soil. It’s drought-tolerant and attracts pollinators.
14. Helenium
Helenium
Why You’ll Love It: Helenium adds fiery yellow and orange hues to your garden in late summer and fall.
Care Tips: Thriving in Zones 3-9, helenium prefers moist, well-drained soil and full sun. Deadhead to prolong blooming.
15. Lavender
Lavender
Why You’ll Love It: Lavender brings beauty and fragrance to your garden. It’s perfect for borders or containers.
Care Tips: Thriving in Zones 5-9, lavender loves sandy, well-drained soil. Avoid overwatering and prune yearly to maintain shape.
16. Maltese Cross (Lychnis Chalecedonica)
Maltese Cross
Why You’ll Love It: The vivid red flowers of Maltese Cross are a magnet for pollinators like bees and butterflies. This bold perennial adds a pop of fiery color to any garden.
Care Tips: Maltese Cross thrives in Zones 4-8. It prefers full sun and moist but well-drained soil. Water regularly, especially during dry spells.
RELATED: The Most Beautiful Bell Shaped Flowers to Add to Your Garden
17. Mountain Bluet (Centaurea Montana)
Mountain Bluet
Why You’ll Love It: Mountain bluetmhas whimsical electric blue flowers that look like they belong in a fairy tale. They’re perfect for adding a touch of wild charm to your garden.
Care Tips: These perennials are hardy in Zones 3-8. They’re low-maintenance and tolerate various soil types, as long as it’s well-drained. Deadhead regularly to prolong the bloom period.
18. Oriental Poppy (Papaver Orientale)
Oriental Poppy
Why You’ll Love It: Oriental poppies are the drama queens of the garden, with their enormous, crinkly blooms in shades of red, orange, and pink. They put on a stunning show in late spring.
Care Tips: These perennials are hardy in Zones 3-7. They’ll go dormant after blooming, so don’t panic when their foliage disappears—it’s just their way of recharging for next year.
19. Peony (Paeonia)
Peony
Why You’ll Love It: Peonies are classic garden stars with their lush, fragrant blooms. They’re a little slow to establish, but once they do, they’ll bloom beautifully for decades.
Care Tips: Hardy in Zones 3-8, peonies love rich, well-drained soil. Give them plenty of sunlight and avoid planting them too deeply—the buds should be just below the soil surface.
20. Phlox
Phlox
Why You’ll Love It: Phlox produces masses of colorful blooms and works well in borders or cottage gardens.
Care Tips: Hardy in Zones 4-8, phlox prefers rich, well-drained soil and full sun. Watch for powdery mildew and ensure good air circulation.
RELATED: A Beginner's Guide to Choosing the Perfect Flowers for Your Front Yard
21. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea)
Purple Coneflower
Why You’ll Love It: Coneflowers are pollinator favorites with their spiky centers and daisy-like rose pink petals. They’re hardy and long-blooming.
Care Tips: Thriving in Zones 3-9, coneflowers prefer well-drained soil and full sun. Deadhead to encourage more blooms.
22. Russian Sage (Perovskia Atriplicifolia)
Russian Sage
Why You’ll Love It: This airy, lavender-blue bloomer adds height and texture to your garden. Russian sage smells wonderful and is a pollinator magnet.
Care Tips: Hardy in Zones 4-9, Russian sage loves well-drained soil and full sun. Prune it back in early spring to encourage fresh growth.
23. Salvia
Salvia
Why You’ll Love It: Salvia comes in a rainbow of colors and blooms profusely. It’s a favorite for bees and hummingbirds.
Care Tips: Thriving in Zones 4-8, salvia prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Deadhead regularly to extend the bloom season.
24. Shasta Daisy (Chysanthemum x Superbum)
Shasta Daisy
Why You’ll Love It: Shasta daisies are classic and cheerful, with their bright white petals and sunny yellow centers.
Care Tips: These perennials thrive in Zones 4-9. They’re easy to grow and prefer well-drained soil. Divide clumps every few years to keep them thriving.
25. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow
Why You’ll Love It: Yarrow is an easy-care perennial with flat clusters of tiny flowers. It’s a great filler for sunny spots.
Care Tips: Thriving in Zones 3-9, yarrow prefers well-drained soil and is drought-tolerant once established. Cut back after blooming to encourage reblooming.
A Few Final Tips for Full Sun Success
Start Small: If you’re new to gardening, pick two or three perennials to try this season. You’ll get a feel for what works in your space.
Mulch is Your Friend: Adding a layer of mulch around your plants helps retain moisture and keeps weeds at bay.
Water Wisely: While many full-sun perennials are drought-tolerant, they’ll need regular watering during their first season to establish strong roots.
Plan for Spacing: Check the mature size of each plant and give them room to grow. Crowding can lead to poor air circulation and disease.
Gardening is all about experimenting and finding what brings you joy. With these sun-loving perennials, you’ll create a garden that’s vibrant, low-maintenance, and full of personality. Happy planting!
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