17 Top Sun-Loving Plants For The Sunny Spots Of Gardens

Sun-loving plants can help you create a low-maintenance garden in a sunny location. These durable sun-loving plants come in many varieties from annuals or perennials to garden covers or climbing plants.

Perfect for summer gardens, these plants thrive in bright, direct sunlight and can be grown in containers, garden beds, or borders.

One of the biggest advantages of growing sun-loving plants is that they are very resilient. Some of these plants are also drought-tolerant. They also benefit the environment and attract various pollinators.

Many full sun-loving plants have a long blooming season and therefore, they ensure continuous beauty.

However, various factors are involved in choosing the right sun-loving plants for your garden. Therefore, we have created this complete guide to help you select the best plants. This article covers a list of the top sun-loving plants, their benefits, and their care needs.

17 Best Sun-Loving Plants

Here are the top sun-loving plants that you can grow in your garden divided into categories based on their type –

Sun-Loving Perennial Plants

1. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

These late-summer flowers are native to North America. The daisy-like large yellow flowers of these full sun-loving plants create a beautiful display in any garden. Black-eyed Susans are considered to be wildflowers and can grow 2-3 feet tall. These low-maintenance plants can grow by themselves once established. The large flowers of Black-eyed Susans are loved by many pollinators as well.

Care Tips:

• Use well-draining soil.
• Water the plants occasionally until they are established.

2. Lavender (Lavandula spp.)

These fragrant flowers are a must-have in your garden. Lavenders are beautiful sun-loving perennial plants that produce silver-green foliage and long stalks of purple flowers. The sweet scent of lavender is loved by everyone and is used in essential oils, moreover, they make great cut flowers. These sun-loving garden plants thrive in hot and dry conditions.

Care Tips:

• Use well-draining, sandy soil.
• Water the plant sparingly and avoid over-watering.

3. Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Native to North America, these pollinator-friendly plants are hardy and drought-resistant. The cone-shaped blooms come in a variety of colors such as white, yellow, pink, purple, and even green. Coneflowers are perfect for beginners as they are easy to grow. Moreover, the seedheads of these full sun-loving plants provide food for birds in winter.

Care Tips:

• Prefers well-drained soil.
• Water deeply but occasionally.

4. Tickseed (Coreopsis)

The daisy-like single or double colorful flowers of Coreopsis can easily create a beautiful display in your garden. These drought-tolerant plants can survive in poor soil conditions as long as they are well-draining. Loved by many pollinators, these sun-loving plants also act as a food source for songbirds in fall and winter. Moreover, the bloom period of Coreopsis is also long spreading colors in your garden from early summer to fall.

Care Tips:

• Use well-drained soil.
• In dry conditions, water occasionally.

5. Woodland Sage (Salvia nemorosa)

A perfect choice for garden borders and beds, these sun-loving perennial plants are very low-maintenance and have annual varieties as well. Salvia are also tolerant of droughts and have a long blooming season. The attractive spikes of pink, blue, or purple flowers of Slavia draw a lot of pollinators. You can select from the vast variety of Salvia each with different colors, shapes, and sizes.

Care Tips:

• Use well-draining soil.
• Water moderately until established.

Sun-Loving Annual Plants

6. Sunflower (Helianthus)

How can we not mention Sunflowers in a list of sun-loving plants? As we all know, sunflowers are well-known annuals that love the sun and give any garden height and drama. They differ in size, from dwarf types ideal as potted plants or enormous giants that can grow to a height of more than ten feet. Sunflower seeds can be collected for snacks or bird feed, and they are great for drawing pollinators and birds.

Care Tips:

• Water regularly, especially during dry spells.
• Tall varieties need support growing up.
• Use well-drained and fertile soil.

7. Marigold (Tagetes)

Famous for their vivid orange, yellow, and red blooms, marigolds are a perennial favorite in gardens. They make a great companion plant for veggies because they are not only attractive but also help ward against pests like worms and aphids. These full sun-loving plants need little maintenance and do well in hot, sunny weather.

Care Tips:

• Avoid overwatering.
• Consider well-drained soil.

8. Petunia

Popularly grown as summer bedding plants or in hanging baskets, and containers, petunias are great sun-loving plants. If cared for properly, they can bloom continually and come in a variety of colors. Wave petunias are among the types that spread swiftly and produce a vibrant, luxuriant show.

Care Tips:

• Use nutrient-rich, well-draining soil.
• Water regularly but avoid overwatering.

9. Zinnia

One of the simplest sun-loving annual plants, zinnias yield vivid, daisy-like blooms in an array of hues. They are drought-tolerant and butterfly-friendly, enhancing your garden’s aesthetic appeal and pollinator population. Zinnias offer months of beauty from their late spring bloom until the first frost.

Care Tips:

• Prefers well-drained soil.
• Needs deep watering, however, allow the soil to dry out between watering.

10. Portulaca (Portulaca oleracea)

Moss Rose, also known as portulaca, is a hardy annual that thrives in full sun and is resistant to drought. Its vibrant, cup-shaped flowers bloom in pink, red, yellow, and white hues, and its tiny, succulent-like leaves help retain moisture. These full-sun-loving plants are ideal for dry spots where other flowers might not thrive, such as borders and rock gardens.

Care Tips:

• Use sandy, well-drained soil.
• Water moderately until established.

Sun-Loving Shrubs And Bushes

11. Hibiscus

With its huge, eye-catching blooms that may grow up to 10 inches in diameter, hibiscus plants give sunny gardens a touch of the tropics. The plant grows best in warm, sunny weather, and its vivid blossoms draw butterflies and hummingbirds. Hardy hibiscus plants are a wonderful long-term addition to the garden because they come back year after year.

Care Tips:

• Use moist, well-drained soil.
• Requires regular watering.

12. Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii)

As its name implies, the butterfly bush attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. This sun-loving shrub produces long, fragrant spikes of purple, pink, white, and blue flowers. When it blooms, it offers months of beauty and pollinator activity from summer to fall.

Care Tips:

• Prefers well-draining soil.
• Water frequently until established.

13. Oleander (Nerium oleander)

Clusters of pink, red, white, or yellow blooms are produced by the tough, heat-tolerant oleander shrub, which grows best in full sun. Since it grows quickly and stays evergreen in warm climes, it’s ideal for making privacy hedges. Despite their beauty, oleanders are not pet-friendly plants, thus they might not be appropriate for gardens with dogs or small children.

Care Tips:

• Use sandy, well-drained soil.
• Minimal watering once established.

Sun-Loving Vines & Garden Covers

14. Sedum (Sedum Spp.)

Sedums are robust, drought-resistant ground covers that produce clusters of star-shaped flowers and thick, succulent-like leaves. These full sun-loving plants are ideal for rock gardens, borders, or arid spots where other plants find it difficult to grow because they grow well in poor soil and need little maintenance.

Care Tips:

• Prefers well-draining, sandy soil.
• Water occasionally.

15. Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)

As low-growing perennials, creeping phlox produces a dense carpet of vibrant pink, purple, white, and blue blooms. These full-sun-loving garden plants are ideal for filling in spaces between stepping stones, covering slopes, and edging walks. In early spring, they produce a beautiful carpet of blossoms that lasts for weeks.

Care Tips:

• Use well-drained soil.
• Water moderately, drought-tolerant once established.

16. Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea glabra)

Bright, papery bracts in pink, crimson, purple, and orange adorn the sun-loving bougainvillea vine. They give gardens a tropical atmosphere and grow well in warm regions. Bougainvillea offers durable color with little care, whether they are grown as a sprawling ground cover or trained to climb in a vertical garden.

Care Tips:

• Thrives in well-draining soil.
• Water occasionally but deeply.

17. Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)

Hummingbirds are drawn to the trumpet-shaped, vivid orange-red flowers of these climbing plants. With their swift growth, these sun-loving plants may quickly cover trellises, or fences, giving them a rich, green backdrop with eye-catching blossoms all summer long.

Care Tips:

• Use well-drained soil.
• Water regularly until established.

Conclusion

Sun-loving plants are very easy to grow and care for and these plants can be a great addition to any garden that receives lots of sunlight. Moreover, being pollinator-friendly and attractive, these plants add charm to your garden. So make sure to add these plants to your list and use the Plantora App to learn more about such amazing plants and their care.