Yellow corymbs of yarrow, red bottle-brush flowers, trumpet vines racing up a wall: a handful of perennials, shrubs and climbers actually revel in blazing sun. Full sun usually means dust-dry soil and high temperatures as well, so choose plants that want it — give them the drainage they ask for and they will flower right through summer.
Full sun usually goes together with dust-dry soil and high temperatures. Discover a list of plants that can take all the sun you can give them, and more!
Full sun perennials
Yarrow
Variety: Achillea ‘Moonshine’
Bright yellow corymbs above grey-green leafage
Height:
1½ feet (0.45m)
Blooming period: June to September
Feature: its bright yellow corymb-shaped flowers that pair well with its gray-green leafage
Exposure: full sun
Soil: good drainage, neutral to chalky, peat
Cherry on the top? Does a great job as a ground cover, in flower beds, and on rocky terrain.
Garden pink
Variety: Dianthus plumarius ‘Haytor white’
Height: under 1 foot (0.25m)
Blooming period: from May to July, then again in September
Feature: small white frilly pompom-shaped flowers on, again, gray-green leaves.
Feature: cute, spherical blue inflorescence at the tip of tall, upright green stems
Exposure: full sun
Soil: rich and draining
Cherry on the top? Agapanthus grows easily on the coast, in urban settings, in containers or in any type of soil as long as it drains well.
Full sun perennials at a glance
The three perennials above all ask for the same blazing exposure, but they differ in height, flowering season and the soil they will accept. Use this table to see which one suits the spot you have in mind.
Full sun perennials at a glance
Plant
Height
Flowering season
Soil it needs
Yarrow, Achillea ‘Moonshine’
1½ feet (0.45m)
Early summer to early autumn
Well drained, neutral to chalky, peat
Garden pink, Dianthus plumarius ‘Haytor white’
Under 1 foot (0.25m)
Late spring to midsummer, again in early autumn
Dry or even rocky, neutral to alkaline
Agapanthus ‘Northern Star’
2½ feet (0.75 cm)
Midsummer to early autumn
Rich and draining
Shrubs and climbers that take the same full sun follow below.
Shrubs that love sun
Calistemon (Lemon bottle-brush)
Variety: Callistemon (x) laevis
Red flowers shaped like bottle-cleaning brushes
Height:
6 feet (1.80m)
Blooming period: May-June and August-September
Feature: cute red flowers look like utensils to clean bottles, hence the common name
Exposure: full sun
Soil: well-drained and deep, neutral to acidic
Cherry on the top? Its green and lance-shaped sempervirens leaves
Feature: its trumpet-like flowers with a yellow heart and orange petals
Exposure: full sun
Soil: rich and draining
Cherry on the top? Rapid growth that lets it cover a wall or trellis over very quickly.
Clematis
Variety: Clematis ‘Barbara Harrington’
Height: 9 feet (3 m)
Blooming period: May-June and August-September
Feature: flowers with intense pink strips on each petal, with a heart of yellow stamens.
Exposure: sun, part sun
Soil: cool, rich and well-draining (cover the foot with ground-cover perennials for the base to stay in the shade).
Cherry on the top? Is hardy down to 5°F (-15°C).
Passion flower
Variety: Passiflora x ‘Essenza’
Height: 15 feet (4 m)
Blooming period: from July to September
Feature: its very original flowers, composed of violet tepals and long violet, white and blue filaments with wavy tips. At the heart of the flower, massive yellow, dotted stamens appear.
Exposure: full sun
Soil: deep and draining well
Cherry on the top? This not-so-hardy plant (28°F or -2 °C) also grows well in pots for an easy transfer to a greenhouse.
Written by Gaspard Lorthiois | Loves helping out, especially when it comes to growing things. Worked in herbal medicine, runs a farm, and dabbles in tech. Master's degree and engineer.
