20 sun loving perennial plants and flowers to make any garden beautiful

Some perennials can tolerate both heat and drought in direct sun. We have selected the most beautiful to share with you here.

Even gardens exposed to daylong sun and heat can be beautiful and inspiring if you choose the right perennials for full sun. Some perennials are hardy enough to withstand all-day heat, direct sunlight and temporary water shortages and still thrive, beautifying your garden all season long.

Sun loving perennials have developed various adaptations to survive the harsh conditions of sunny locations. These include smaller needle-like leaves that reduce water loss, thick fleshy leaves that hold onto extra water, lighter or silvery coloring that reflects more of the sun's rays, or a deep root system that supplies the plant with water even during prolonged droughts. Thanks to these adaptations, sun loving perennials can be placed in most sun-exposed areas without requiring special care.  

We have selected perennials for full sun that will make a sunny spot your favorite part of the garden.

1. Ice plant Delosperma

Flowering period: turn of spring and summer

Hardiness: USDA 5 - 9

Water requirements: water from rainfall is sufficient. It can withstand longer periods of drought.

If you need to fill dry, stony spots in your garden that are exposed to full sun, ice plant is one of the best small perennials for the job. Its succulent, fleshy leaves make it very drought- and heat-tolerant, so it is often used as a rockery plant, creating beautiful flowering clumps and carpets. Its flowers are shaped like daisies and are available in a wide range of colors depending on the variety. 

2. Yarrow Achillea

Flowering period: from early summer until first frosts

Hardiness: USDA 3 - 9

Water requirements: water from rainfall is sufficient. It can withstand longer periods of drought.

Yarrow is a great perennial for a sunny location, offering long-lasting blooms. It's fully hardy and well adapted to heat and temporary dry periods, as well as poor and stony soil, making it virtually maintenance-free. This sun-flowering perennial is available in several varieties, with blooms in shades of white, yellow, red or purple. Yarrow is at its best in group plantings, where its colorful inflorescences can really make an impact.

3. Phlox Phlox

Flowering period: from summer to early autumn (creeping phlox from April to June)

Hardiness: USDA 3 – 9 (Phlox subulata), USDA 4-8 (Phlox paniculata)

Water requirements: water from rainfall is sufficient. It requires well-drained soil.

Probably no other perennial can surpass the radiance and beauty of a carpet of blooming phlox. These sun loving plants are also very hardy and suitable for daylong heat. Phlox subulata in particular is so resistant to sun, heat and temporary drought, as well as cold winters, that it is often used in garden design to cover rockeries, stony areas and exposed spots in the garden. Phlox paniculata is another popular variety. It’s taller and suitable for planting in garden beds and mixed plantings.

4. Sedum spectabile Hylotelephium spectabile

Flowering period: from late summer until first frost

Hardiness: USDA 3 – 9

Water requirements: water from rainfall is sufficient. It can withstand longer periods of drought.

There are many varieties of sedum and stonecrops of different sizes, shapes and colors, but one thing they have in common is their extraordinary hardiness. They can thrive through daylong direct sun, heat, hard frosts and nutrient-poor soil. beautifying their surroundings. The low-growing species of sedum are often used for green roofs, as ground covers or as rockery plants. Taller species of sedum can serve as flowering perennials in infertile, stony soils. One such example is Sedum spectabile, which emerges among the first spring perennials and flowers from late summer until the first frosts.

5. Golden Marguerite Cota tinctoria

Flowering period: from June to September

Hardiness: USDA 3 – 7

Water requirements: water from rainfall is sufficient. It can withstand longer periods of drought.

Golden Marguerite is another perennial that does best in sunny sites. It has low water requirements, can withstand heat and is extremely hardy, so it will find a place in any garden. The flowers of this sun loving plant resemble daisies in shape and, depending on the variety, bloom in shades of white and yellow. Its long-lasting blooms are most pronounced when planted in large groups.

6. Yucca Yucca

Flowering period: summer

Hardiness: USDA 5 – 10 (Yucca Filamentosa), USDA 4 – 10 (Yucca glauca)

Water requirements: water from rainfall is sufficient. It can withstand longer periods of drought.

If you are looking for a really hardy perennial suitable for full sun, don't overlook the uniquely beautiful yucca, which can create an exotic atmosphere in any garden. Yucca is easy to grow, as it can withstand sunlight, heat, lack of water and frost with ease. Simply choose a dry spot in the garden that gets full sun and it will reward you with its beautiful oblong leaves and huge white inflorescences during the summer. In colder climates, look for hardy species such as yucca glauca and yucca filamentosa.

7. Soapwort Saponaria ocymoides

Flowering period: from May to July

Hardiness: USDA 4 – 8

Water requirements: water from rainfall is sufficient. It can withstand longer periods of drought

Soapwort is a beautiful perennial suitable for dry, sunny sites. It forms beautiful carpets and clumps of dense growth. From May to July it blooms in a flood of tiny flowers in shades of pink and purple, depending on the variety. This sun-loving perennial is easy to grow and can withstand heat, hard frosts and lack of water. These qualities also make soapwort a popular rock garden plant.

8. Blanket flower Gaillardia

Flowering period: from June to October

Hardiness: USDA 3 – 10 (Varies by variety)

Water requirements: water from rainfall is sufficient. It can withstand longer periods of drought.

Distinctive blanket flowers in shades of yellow, orange and red can brighten up any sunny spot in the garden. This perennial will do best in sunny locations with drier soil, where it can withstand both heat and hard frosts. It grows up to 16 inches (40 cm) tall and produces vibrant daisy-like flowers during summer and autumn. It stands out best in group plantings, amplifying the striking effect of its flowers.

9. Lavender Lavandula

Flowering period: from June to August

Hardiness: USDA 5 – 9 (Varies by variety)

Water requirements: water from rainfall is sufficient. It can withstand longer periods of drought.

When it comes to perennials suitable for full sun, we can't forget lavender. This Mediterranean perennial is ideal for dry, stony places exposed to day-long sun. Lavender creates an enchanting summer atmosphere in the gardens thanks to its beautiful blooms and unmistakable scent, and it's also a medicinal and bee-friendly plant. This iconic sun-loving perennial is easy to care for and has no problem surviving the winter in most climates.

10. Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia

Flowering period: from July to October

Hardiness: USDA 3 – 7

Water requirements: water from rainfall is sufficient. It can withstand longer periods of drought

Black-eyed Susan is one of the longest flowering plants in the garden, and it's an ideal tall perennial for full sun. It is completely hardy and once it's taken root, usually only needs water from rainfall. Rudbeckia is at its best when planted in large groups, creating a flood of yellow flowers to brighten up the garden. These flowering perennials also attract bees and beneficial insects, and the long stems of Black-eyed Susan make it suitable for cut flowers as well.

11. Wormwood Artemisia

Hardiness: USDA 3 – 10

Water requirements: water from rainfall is sufficient. It can withstand longer periods of drought

This ornamental leaf plant is another great perennial suitable for sun. Its silvery fern-like leaves create a beautiful texture in the garden, suitable for mixed planting with other perennials. Wormwood is a hardy, low-maintenance perennial that can withstand even the hottest heat and daylong sun without any problems. There are several species and varieties of wormwood available (artemisia silver queen, artemisia nana and others) of different sizes and shapes suitable for different planting styles.

12. Russian sage Perovskia

Flowering period: from July to September

Hardiness: USDA 4 – 9

Water requirements: water from rainfall is sufficient. It can withstand longer periods of drought

Russian sage brings the distinctive texture of its lush stems and leaves to the garden, as well as its summer blooms in blue-violet colors. Perovskia is a very hardy and undemanding perennial suitable for a sunny, dry location. It grows up to 3 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 m) depending on the variety, and when flowering it spreads a nice aroma, attracting pollinators. 

13. Coreopsis Coreopsis

Flowering period: from early summer to autumn

Hardiness: USDA 2 – 11

Water requirements: water from rainfall is sufficient

Coreopsis, also known as tickseed, is another perennial flower that can withstand extreme heat and frost as well as periods of drought and still thrive, producing beautiful blooms. There are both annual and perennial versions of coreopsis, available in several sizes, shapes and flower color combinations. Choose from shades of red, pink, white and yellow to create an interesting texture in the garden.

14. Catmint Nepeta

Flowering period: from May to September

Hardiness: USDA 4 – 8

Water requirements: water from rainfall is sufficient. It can withstand longer periods of drought

Catmint is one of the ideal flowering perennials for the sun as it can withstand direct sunshine, heat, drought and it is also hardy. This sun-loving perennial is one of the longest flowering plants and therefore very appealing for gardeners. It produces a flood of purple flowers which are irresistible to bees and provide nectar from late spring until autumn. This hardy flowering perennial for full sun is easy to care for and has an unrestrained growth habit.

15. Cinquefoil shrub Potentilla fruticose

Flowering period: from May to October

Hardiness: USDA 2 – 7

Water requirements: water from rainfall is sufficient. It can withstand longer periods of drought

Shrubby cinquefoil is a very rewarding woody perennial suitable for sites exposed to full sun all day. It grows to a height of 4 feet (1.2 m), forming dense shrubby growth on which a flood of small flowers of different colors (depending on the variety) emerge in summer and autumn. It is suitable for combined planting in beds, for creating different spaces in the garden, or individual solitary planting. This perennial is heat-resistant, drought-resistant and fully hardy.

16. Wild thyme Thymus serpyllum/pseudolanuginosus

Flowering period: from June to September

Hardiness: USDA 2 – 9

Water requirements: water from rainfall is sufficient. It can withstand longer periods of drought

Wild thyme can be found naturally in sunny, exposed places where it thrives best. This multifunctional, low perennial is suitable for full sun locations in gardens, where it finds a home in rockeries or rocky parts of gardens. It can also be used as a ground cover and a walk-on plant. Once rooted, wild thyme is virtually maintenance-free and is resistant to frost, heat, full sun and harsh treatment. This sun-loving perennial is also one of the most popular medicinal herbs and honey-producing plants.

17. Dianthus Dianthus

Flowering period: from spring to end of summer

Hardiness: USDA 3 – 9

Water requirements: water from rainfall is sufficient. It can withstand longer periods of drought

Dianthus is a versatile, low, sun-loving perennial that has many uses in the garden. It can be grown in rockeries, as balcony flowers, in beds—wherever there is plenty of sun. The popularity of dianthus comes from its heat resistance, hardiness, low water requirements, and of course, beauty. They are mostly evergreen perennials with grey-blue stems and leaves and beautiful, fragrant flowers in shades of pink, white and purple that form flower clusters and carpets.

18. Alyssum Alyssum

Flowering period: from April to May

Hardiness: USDA 5 – 9

Water requirements: water from rainfall is sufficient. It can withstand longer periods of drought

Alyssum is another perennial suitable for places exposed to day-long sun, where it can thrive in spite of heat, frost and lack of water. This low, sun-loving perennial produces distinctive panicles and flowering carpets that burst into color in spring in shades of yellow, white, pink and purple depending on the variety. Alyssum is a favored plant for rock gardens, but will do well in any sunny location with drier, well-drained soil.

19. Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea

Flowering period: from June until first frosts

Hardiness: USDA 3 – 8

Water requirements: water from rainfall is sufficient. It can withstand longer periods of drought

Coneflower is one of the most beautiful flowering perennials for full sun sites. This hardy and long-lived perennial can withstand temporary drought and requires almost no care. In the garden, coneflower forms dense growths that produce beautiful flowers on long stems in different colors depending on the variety. This rewarding perennial will work in several types of planting styles in combination with other plants or on its own.

20. Blazing star Liatris

Flowering period: from July to September

Hardiness: USDA 3 – 9

Water requirements: water from rainfall is sufficient

Blazing star is a unique perennial, characterized by needle-like leaves and large bat-shaped inflorescences. It's hardy and suitable for a sunny spot, able to withstand both heat and temporary drought. Blazing stars attract pollinators and their long stems make them suitable as cut flowers. These tall perennials for daylong sun are available in several varieties of different colors (white, pink, purple). 

 

There are many other types of garden shrubs that we have not mentioned in our selection but are noteworthy as well:

For example, chrysanthemums, Sage (salvia), Hollyhock (alcea), Bee balm (monarda), Peony (paeonia), Daylily (Hemerocallis), Pasque flower (pulsatilla vulgaris), Common houseleek (sempervivum tectorum), Angelita daisy (tetraneuris), Lamb’s ear (stachys byzantina), Red hot poker (kniphofia), Beard tongue (penstemon), Agastache, Shasta daisy (leucanthemum) and many other sun loving parennials.