Best Perennials to Brighten Your Full Sun Garden - Plant Care Guide

Gardening in full sun has its perks, but finding the right perennials that can thrive under the blazing rays while still looking vibrant and colorful throughout the growing season can be a challenge. If you're looking to add splashes of color and texture to your sun-drenched garden, these hardy and stunning perennials are perfect options to consider.

1. Black-Eyed Susan

The Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a garden classic, with its bright yellow petals and dark, cone-shaped centers. They bloom from mid-summer into early fall, providing your garden with a lasting burst of color.

• Growing Requirements: Thrives in full sun with well-drained soil.
• Bloom Time: Mid-summer to early fall.
• Attractive Features: Drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, making it a favorite among gardeners.

Add these sunny beauties to your garden for a splash of golden hues. Shop Black-Eyed Susans for $10-$25 to bring cheer to your yard.

2. Salvia

Salvia, known for its tall spikes of violet, blue, or red flowers, is a pollinator magnet. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds can't get enough of this perennial, making it an excellent choice for a wildlife-friendly garden.

• Growing Requirements: Prefers well-draining soil and six or more hours of direct sunlight.
• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer.
• Attractive Features: Low-maintenance and resistant to pests.

Plant Salvia in groups for an eye-catching effect. Find Salvia plants for $15-$30 to make your garden buzz with life.

3. Russian Sage

The airy, lavender-blue blooms of Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) create a sense of movement in the garden, especially when the wind blows through their delicate flowers. The silvery foliage adds an extra layer of visual interest.

• Growing Requirements: Tolerates poor, dry soil but needs full sun.
• Bloom Time: Mid to late summer.
• Attractive Features: Highly drought-tolerant, making it ideal for xeriscaping (low-water gardening).

Consider adding Russian Sage for $12-$28 to your full-sun garden for a touch of elegance.

4. Coneflower

The Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) stands out with its daisy-like appearance, featuring drooping pink or purple petals surrounding a spiky central cone. It's another favorite among pollinators and is incredibly easy to grow.

• Growing Requirements: Does best in full sun and can handle a variety of soil types.
• Bloom Time: Summer through early fall.
• Attractive Features: Attracts bees and butterflies while being deer and drought-resistant.

Brighten your garden with Coneflowers, ranging from $8-$20, and enjoy their long-lasting blooms.

5. Shasta Daisy

The crisp white petals and sunny yellow centers of the Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) bring a classic charm to any flower bed. They work beautifully in wildflower gardens and mixed borders.

• Growing Requirements: Requires full sun and well-drained soil.
• Bloom Time: Early to late summer.
• Attractive Features: Easy to grow and perfect for cut flower arrangements.

For timeless beauty in your garden, shop Shasta Daisies for $9-$18.

6. Coreopsis

Coreopsis, often called tickseed, offers cheerful blooms in shades of yellow, orange, and pink. This perennial is beloved for its ability to bloom profusely, even in hot, dry conditions.

• Growing Requirements: Thrives in full sun with sandy or well-drained soil.
• Bloom Time: Late spring through summer.
• Attractive Features: Low-maintenance and excellent for attracting butterflies.

Add a burst of color with Coreopsis for $7-$15 to keep your garden looking bright and inviting.

7. Yarrow

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is known for its fern-like foliage and clusters of tiny flowers that bloom in shades of white, yellow, pink, or red. It’s a tough plant that withstands heat and drought, making it a go-to for sunny spots.

• Growing Requirements: Full sun and well-drained soil are essential.
• Bloom Time: Early to late summer.
• Attractive Features: Deer and rabbit resistant, with a long bloom period.

Explore Yarrow options for $10-$22 for an easy-to-grow addition to your landscape.

8. Blanket Flower

The vibrant, sun-loving Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) produces warm, fiery blooms in red, orange, and yellow shades. It thrives in the heat and continues blooming from early summer until the first frost.

• Growing Requirements: Prefers sandy soil and plenty of sunlight.
• Bloom Time: Early summer to frost.
• Attractive Features: Heat and drought-tolerant, with blooms that attract butterflies.

Get a fiery splash of color with Blanket Flowers for $9-$16.

9. Daylily

Daylilies (Hemerocallis) are one of the easiest perennials to grow. They come in almost every color imaginable and are known for their trumpet-like blooms that open in the morning and close by evening.

• Growing Requirements: Adaptable to various soil types but perform best in full sun.
• Bloom Time: Early summer to fall, depending on the variety.
• Attractive Features: Very low-maintenance and excellent for mass plantings.

Beautify your landscape with Daylilies for $5-$15.

10. Lavender

Lavender (Lavandula) brings a touch of Provence to your garden with its fragrant purple spikes and silvery foliage. It’s not only beautiful but also practical, as its scent is known to repel pests like mosquitoes.

• Growing Requirements: Needs full sun and well-drained soil, preferably sandy or gravelly.
• Bloom Time: Late spring to summer.
• Attractive Features: Aromatic and perfect for attracting bees and butterflies.

Infuse your garden with fragrance by planting Lavender for $8-$22.

11. Catmint

Catmint (Nepeta) is a tough, drought-resistant perennial that produces masses of blue-violet blooms. It’s loved for its long bloom time and aromatic foliage.

• Growing Requirements: Prefers full sun and dry to average soil conditions.
• Bloom Time: Late spring to early fall.
• Attractive Features: Deer-resistant and perfect for edging or filling in gaps.

Create soothing waves of color with Catmint for $6-$18.

12. Bee Balm

The spiky, tubular flowers of Bee Balm (Monarda) come in a variety of colors, from red to pink to purple. It’s a great choice if you want to attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies to your garden.

• Growing Requirements: Moist, well-drained soil and full sun.
• Bloom Time: Summer.
• Attractive Features: Fragrant foliage and excellent for pollinator gardens.

Transform your garden into a pollinator haven with Bee Balm for $12-$24.

13. Garden Phlox

Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata) adds vertical interest to your garden with clusters of fragrant blooms that come in various colors, from white to deep magenta.

• Growing Requirements: Needs rich, moist soil and plenty of sunshine.
• Bloom Time: Mid-summer to early fall.
• Attractive Features: Fragrant and mildew-resistant varieties are best for humid climates.

For a burst of fragrance and height, check out Garden Phlox for $11-$20.

14. Sedum (Stonecrop)

Sedum is a versatile perennial with succulent leaves that store water. It thrives in rock gardens, borders, and even containers. The flowers range from starry pinks to reds and yellows.

• Growing Requirements: Requires full sun and well-draining soil.
• Bloom Time: Late summer to fall.
• Attractive Features: Drought-tolerant and often evergreen.

Add texture and toughness to your garden with Sedum plants for $8-$15.

15. Purple Fountain Grass

For striking texture and movement, consider Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’). While technically an annual in colder climates, it’s a perennial in warmer zones and makes a bold statement with its burgundy blades and feathery plumes.

• Growing Requirements: Thrives in full sun and a range of well-drained soils.
• Bloom Time: Late summer to fall.
• Attractive Features: Adds drama and looks stunning as a standalone plant or in groupings.

Enhance your garden's visual interest with Purple Fountain Grass for $14-$30.

16. Gaura

The wispy blooms of Gaura (Oenothera lindheimeri), also known as Whirling Butterflies, look like pink or white butterflies fluttering in the breeze. They provide a soft, romantic look to any garden.

• Growing Requirements: Full sun and well-drained soil are a must.
• Bloom Time: Spring to fall.
• Attractive Features: Heat-tolerant and perfect for cottage-style gardens.

Create a dreamy garden scene with Gaura plants for $10-$18.

17. Lamb’s Ear

For ground cover and textural interest, Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina) features soft, velvety, silver-gray leaves that are irresistible to touch. It also produces spikes of purple flowers in the summer.

• Growing Requirements: Grows well in full sun with dry to average soil.
• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer.
• Attractive Features: Drought-tolerant and perfect for children’s gardens or sensory gardens.

Soft and hardy, Lamb’s Ear for $7-$14 adds a tactile element to your garden.

18. Heliopsis (False Sunflower)

Heliopsis (Heliopsis helianthoides) is a tall, sunflower-like perennial that delivers cheerful yellow blooms from midsummer to early fall. It works beautifully in mixed borders and prairie-style plantings.

• Growing Requirements: Needs well-drained soil and full sun.
• Bloom Time: Midsummer to fall.
• Attractive Features: Extremely hardy and loved by pollinators.

Bring a touch of sunshine to your garden with Heliopsis for $10-$19.

19. Agastache (Hummingbird Mint)

Agastache, or Hummingbird Mint, produces spiky blooms in shades of lavender, pink, or orange. As its name suggests, it’s a favorite of hummingbirds and brings a fragrant touch to any garden.

• Growing Requirements: Thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.
• Bloom Time: Summer to early fall.
• Attractive Features: Drought-tolerant and fragrant.

Turn your garden into a hummingbird paradise with Agastache plants for $12-$25.

20. Tickseed (Threadleaf Coreopsis)

Similar to its cousin, Threadleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata) features feathery foliage and masses of bright yellow flowers. It’s perfect for adding a delicate, airy texture to your garden.

• Growing Requirements: Prefers well-drained soil and plenty of sun.
• Bloom Time: Summer to fall.
• Attractive Features: Deer-resistant and perfect for cut flowers.

Add texture and color with Threadleaf Coreopsis for $8-$17.

These perennials offer a variety of colors, textures, and bloom times to keep your full-sun garden looking its best all season long. Mix and match them to create a stunning, low-maintenance landscape that attracts pollinators and provides endless enjoyment. Happy planting!