19 Best Perennials For Full Sun

The sun-soaked garden is never at a loss when it comes to blooming perennials or those with dynamic foliage. Full-sun perennials bring multi-seasonal interest and return each year with exciting colors and textures to energize the landscape. They also bring ecosystem value through support for pollinators and beneficial insects, wildlife forage and habitat, and soil improvement.

Full-sun perennials rely on six or more hours of sunlight daily. Some thrive in more sun, while others benefit from protection from intense afternoon rays, depending on the climate. Perennials that withstand full summer sun exposure are often sturdy against other conditions, too, like hot and dry situations, and thrive under a little neglect.

From warm peach (‘Apricot Delight’) to rich scarlet (‘Paprika’), there’s a yarrow for every border or container. Feathery foliage adds to the appeal as a ferny backdrop for the large, flat bloom clusters that draw pollinators and beneficial insects.

Yarrow is a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plant that grows in lean soils. With sunshine and well-draining soils, it needs few resources to thrive.

Gaillardia

	botanical name Gaillardia aristata
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Gaillardia, or blanketflower, has whirling ray flowers that conceal its tough-as-nails constitution. The vibrant petals in gold, orange, and red surround brown button centers. Among the earliest to bloom and last to fade, gaillardia keeps the color coming throughout the summer and into fall.

The North American native species from the Southwest is drought and heat-tolerant. It grows in poor, sandy soils and adapts to various site conditions, readily reseeding. Provide well-drained soils and supplemental water during dry spells to sustain flowering.

There are numerous species of gaillardia, including annual (G. pulchella). With cultivars in warm, sunset shades or vivid, fiery tones, they glow in the sun.

Sea Holly

	botanical name Eryngium planum
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-3’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Sea holly brings dynamic contrast with an architectural floral structure and blue shades. The silvery-blue blooms are spiky and rigid in pleasing purple-blue. They offer an unexpected spray of color and texture throughout the summer, in the garden and fresh bouquets.

Eryngium is a durable perennial that thrives and blooms best in sandy loams and full-sun locations. It also tolerates salty coastal situations.

Look to ‘Blue Glitter’ for a hardy variety loaded with blue blooms on silver stems. Multi-stems bearing bunches of flowers rise tall above green basal leaves. E. bourgatii ‘Picos Blue’ is larger and deeper blue and is a Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit recipient.

Agastache

	botanical name Agastache spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-4’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Once agastache takes off in warming temperatures, it seems like it’s in constant color (though deadheading promotes the generous succession of blooms). The species is an old garden favorite with aromatic leaves and delicate purple-blue blooms. Bloom spikes lined with the tubular flowers rise above the gray-green foliage. They provide nectar for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators.

Agastache foeniculum (anise hyssop) is native to northern North America, with numerous cultivars available for high color and vigorous performance. It blooms profusely in summer through frost and thrives in various soil types with good drainage. Anise hyssop grows easily from seed and self-sows.

Look for A. mexicana, or Mexican giant hyssop, for bright pink-purple flowers and leaves with a lemony scent and flavor. The ‘Summerlong™’ series offers extended flowering with hybrids in soft peach, lilac, magenta, and lemon yellow.

Milkweed

	botanical name Asclepias spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 18-24”
	hardiness zones 3-11

A garden full of milkweed creates a flowering spectacle and a sustainable stopover for monarchs. Wild milkweeds serve as pollinator food and nesting sites across their specific growing regions. Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) is a strong Western U.S. species. Common milkweed, A. syriaca, is native to eastern and central regions. To hone in on the best selection for your garden, the Xerces Society offers regional guides for specific Asclepias species.

Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) has a range across much of the country and boasts bright, flat-topped bloom clusters in red-orange. Asclepias incarnata, or swamp milkweed, is a prime choice for moist spots, as its natural habitat is along marshy pond edges, bogs, and woodlands. It produces lovely clusters of flat, deep pink blooms.

The whole plant is useful to monarchs as their larval host. The adults collect nectar from the blooms before laying eggs on the leaves. When the larvae hatch, they begin feeding on leaves and stems. The caterpillars may even build their chrysalis suspended from a stem. Let seeds develop and drop to expand the colony for more insect resources.

Blazing Star Liatris

	botanical name Liatris spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-5’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Blazing star liatris sends up dense flower batons in purple, pink, and white. Arching, fine-bladed foliage stays low beneath the leafy stems. Liatris flourish in the summer heat, and their long-lasting color attracts beneficial insects. At season’s end, leave stems standing. The seedheads provide cool-season forage for birds. 

Blazing star sends up its tall blooms from July to September. The hardy species are native to North America, from Canada to Florida, depending on the species. Once established, this perennial thrives in full sun while boasting cold hardiness, heat tolerance, and drought tolerance.

Aster

	botanical name Symphyotrichum or Aster spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-6’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Asters shine in late summer and early fall. The North American natives comprise about 100 species and are most identifiable by their abundance of blue-purple ray flowers with contrasting yellow centers. With a blanket of blooms, pollinators can’t resist the late-season nectar resource, and the starry flowers bring fresh seasonal color.

The many Aster species and varieties boast different forms, colors, and growing preferences. They also have varying bloom times, making it possible to have an earlier-blooming type that leads into a late fall variety for extended interest and nectar. Birds and small mammals appreciate the cool-season forage.

Most asters prefer moist, organically rich soils, while some tolerate lesser soils and dry situations. To prevent foliar diseases like powdery mildew, provide well-draining soils and plenty of air circulation.

Echinacea

	botanical name Echinacea purpurea
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1.5-5’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Echinacea, or purple coneflower, is the hallmark prairie wildflower and North American native with effortless blooms (or nearly so). Purple ray petals surround prominent orange disc florets, a valuable food resource for beneficials. 

With hybrids in a myriad of colors, heights, and flower forms, Echinacea sustains the interest across the full-sun perennial border. They need well-draining soils and are unflinching in summer heat.

Purple coneflower grows easily from seed and self-sows, with seeds overwintering to germinate in spring. Stop deadheading toward the end of summer to allow for seed production. The interesting dried seed heads provide food for birds and extend winter interest. Seeds that drop receive necessary cold stratification in the winter to germinate for the next season of blooms.

Lupine

	botanical name Lupinus spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-5’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Lupine is distinguished by its ornamental bell-shaped blooms along upright spikes in blue, purple, pink, white, and yellow. The Lupinus genus holds over 300 species, most of which are native to North America and the Western region, in particular. In addition to the showy blooms and attractive blue-green palmate leaves, they have ecosystem management roles. They support pollinators and other insects, enrich soil nutrition through nitrogen fixation, stabilize soils, and help with erosion control. 

In the wild, lupines crop up in challenging situations like rocky slopes, sandy meadows, and disturbed areas. They’re drought-tolerant, though they flower best in the home garden with consistent moisture.

The natives and their cultivars are easy to grow from seed. Start them in late fall, winter, or early spring to enjoy the short-lived perennials in their second year. They self-seed for years of recurrent blooms.

Hardy Hibiscus

	botanical name Hibiscus spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3-5’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Hardy hibiscus, or rose mallow, brings huge saucer blooms on upright branches with lobed leaves. A single flower may reach six to ten inches across in hues from soft pink to crimson. North American native mallows include H. moscheutos, H. laevis, and H. coccineus. Hardy hybrids feature improved landscape durability, flowering, and different sizes to fit across garden scales.

The heat-loving mallows are late to emerge but grow quickly once they do, flowering mid-summer through fall. Large buds open only for a day, with a succession of blooms at the ready for continual flowering.

These perennials rely on evenly moist soils through the summer to keep them perked up in full sun. They tolerate various types but don’t withstand prolonged dry spells. 

Brown-Eyed Susan

	botanical name Rudbeckia triloba
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-5’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Brown-eyed Susan brings a wave of sunny yellow flowers across growing conditions. Similar to its well-known relative, black-eyed Susan (R. hirta), brown-eyed Susan is taller, with smaller flowers that emerge later with a longer bloom time. 

The bright yellow ray flowers are one to two inches across with black button centers that fade to brown. The multi-branched stems in late summer and fall bring color to beds and pots as well as fresh florals and dried arrangements.

R. triloba is low maintenance and drought-tolerant once established. The short-lived perennials naturalize through self-seeding and propagate easily with direct sowing. They develop strong roots and leafy growth in the first year, showing full flowers in the second year of growth.

Red-Hot Poker

	botanical name Kniphofia uvaria
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3-4’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Red-hot poker brings “torch” blooms in late spring and early summer. Tall spikes of tubular, drooping flowers rise above bladed leaves. The orange-red buds and flowers transition to yellow in a multi-toned glow.

Dense clusters of tightly packed buds open to the unique succulent flowers. A tough, clumping perennial, red-hot poker spreads through rhizomes. It grows best in organic soils with good aeration and drainage and won’t survive wet feet.

Kniphofia performs best basking in six or more hours of daily sunlight. Provide winter protection in zones 5 and 6 with mulch or leaf litter, or tie the strappy leaves together as an insulating canopy.

Baptisia

	botanical name Baptisia australis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-4’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Baptisia, or false indigo, bears leguminous blooms in spring and summer. Native to the eastern U.S., the straight species is showy with prolific spikes of blue-purple, lupine-like flowers. Cultivars in sky blue, purple, white, yellow, and bicolor emerge on dense, leafy forms.

Even when not in flower, the soft blue-green foliage is full and attractive all season. After the flowers fade, dark seed pods extend the interest.

A Perennial Plant Association award-winner, the long-lived perennial tolerates average to dry soils. It spends its first season developing hardy roots with full flowering by the third year. Native bees and bumblebees tuck into each bloom for nectar.

Prairie Coneflower

	botanical name Ratibida spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-5’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Prairie coneflower is a long-blooming, easy-care wildflower with tall flowers in golden yellows and rich reds. It’s a fit for naturalized plantings and meadows. Flowers continue from spring until frost, offering pollinator resources and seeds for birds and small mammals in the fall and winter.

Ratibida columnifera (upright prairie coneflower or Mexican Hat) is wildly striking in red, yellow, or dark purple-red ray petals with bright gold edges. The downswept petals trail behind a central gold-brown disc on one to three-foot-tall stems reaching one to three feet tall. Upright prairie coneflower is hardy in zones 4-9.

Grey-head coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) is more cold-hardy (zones 3-8) with tall stems that can reach five feet. With sparse leaves, the native wildflower looks best in a mass or mixed planting where the flowers float among other perennials. Prairie coneflower is fast-growing, drought-tolerant, and withstands competition. In its optimum growing conditions, it may overtake weaker specimens.

Switchgrass

	botanical name Panicum virgatum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-7’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Switchgrass and many other ornamental grasses make ideal perennials for full sun. They require few resources as they withstand hot, direct rays. They quietly add movement and texture to the landscape, even in winter (don’t cut them back until early spring to enjoy the dried plumes and blades year-round). The seedheads provide food for birds and small mammals, and the leaves offer shelter.

Switchgrass is a native North American prairie grass that grows across soil types, moisture levels, and light exposures. ‘Northwind’ is structural and forms an upright column for vertical interest. ‘Cheyenne Sky’ begins blue-green and transitions to wine red in early summer, with plumes to match.

Switchgrass is durable, preferring lean soils. It tolerates fluctuating moisture levels and occasional flooding. 

Russian Sage

	botanical name Salvia yangii
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-4’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Russian sage, with its protective silvery stems, reflects sunlight as it shines all summer. Sprays of whorling purple-blue, tubular blooms appear reliably until frost. Winner of the Perennial Plant Association’s Perennial Plant of the Year award, Russian sage performs well in high heat with conditions on the dry side.

Allow well-draining soils to prevent oversaturation and fungal root rot. Look for disease-resistant varieties like ‘Denim in Lace’ and ‘Crazy Blue’ in areas with high humidity and rainfall. Compact varieties bring dense blooms to full, tidy forms and show the best resistance.

Catmint

	botanical name Nepeta racemosa
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-2.5’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Catmint cools the display with soft, mounding gray-green foliage and prolific purple bloom spikes lined with small, tubular flowers. It thrives with a little neglect, making it easy-care and versatile. Interplant Nepeta in the edible landscape to draw pollinators while repelling insects like aphids and squash bugs with its aromatic essential oils (leaves are edible, too). The fuzzy, fragrant foliage is also deer and rabbit-resistant.

To keep the blooms coming, deadhead spent flower spikes or shear the plant in mid-summer. Look for ‘Cat’s Pajamas’ to bloom a few weeks earlier for an extended season. At only about one foot tall, violet-blue blooms cover the entire length of long, dark stems. Rose-purple calyxes support the flowers and supply lasting color even after blooms fade.

Amsonia

	botanical name Amsonia tabernaemontana
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-3’
	hardiness zones 3-9

The highly ornamental eastern bluestar is one we should grow more of. The U.S. native bears large, loose clusters of starry periwinkle blue flowers. Attractive, willowy foliage is deep olive green, and with golden-yellow fall color, adds multiseason appeal.

Bluestar is drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and tolerates heat and humidity. With a sunny location and moisture during intense dry spells, it needs little else to flourish.

‘Storm Cloud’ is a robust selection of the native species with compact growth. New stems emerge nearly black and are dense with willow leaves. ‘Storm Cloud’ is the 2024 Proven Winners’ Landscape Perennial of the Year and a top performer at plant trials across growing zones, from Michigan State to Mississippi State. 

Lavender

	botanical name Lavandula spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3’
	hardiness zones 5-9

We can’t overlook lavender when it comes to sun-drenched landscapes. With its refreshing fragrance, purple bloom spikes, silvery foliage, and many uses, lavender is a gem in any garden.