Every garden needs the personal touch that comes from unique and diverse plants. Yet those plants are not always able to handle the sunniest areas of the garden. That’s where these plants come in. This list of tried-and-true hardy perennials for sun is essential to build the foundation of a garden. Whether you’re hoping to start a new garden from scratch, or fill in an existing garden with low-maintenance beauties, add these to your list.
Sunny gardens have harsh conditions that cause some plants to wilt, but not these cool customers. Plant these perennials for sun in your brightest spots and watch them bloom and thrive all summer long.
Geranium (perennial geranium)
Bees and other beneficial insects love the purplish blue bell-shaped flowers of the perennial geranium. These prolific bloomers thrive in various soil conditions and are extremely low maintenance.
Hemerocallis (daylily)
These colorful lilies come in thousands of varieties and thrive in sunny areas. They grow in various different soil conditions and are easy to care for. What’s not to love?
Iris Sibirica (Siberian iris)
Blooming in early summer, these elegant irises require very little care and will produce a bounty of blooms in shades of blue, white, purple, or yellow.
Rudbeckia Hirta (black-eyed Susan)
Black-eyed Susans do well in sunny gardens and can tolerate drought. They come in many shades of yellow and orange and range in size from tiny flowers to seven-foot-tall plants.
Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’
A beautiful bloomer in late summer and early fall, Autumn Joy lights up the fall harden with big, pink flower heads that look like a fireworks display.
Do you have a shady area in your garden too? Be sure to check out this post for the 7 best perennials for shade.
Want to read more about perennials? Here are a whole bunch more resources to keep you busy!
- Save Money and Start these 14 Perennials from Seed
- Dividing Perennials 101: Tips for a Beautiful Garden
- Top 10 Drought-Tolerant Perennials
- Landscaping for Drought: Inspiring Gardens That Save Water
- Grow These Fall Perennials for Brilliant Autumn Color!
- Fall Perennial Gardening: Garden Design on a Budget
- Made for the Shade: Low Maintenance Fall Planters Bursting with Colour
- These Hardy Perennials are the Toughest on the Block
I love your website, and thoroughly enjoy getting all of your newsletters. I can sit for hours reading them. I am never sure
just what will work for me here in Southern Ontario (Between Toronto and London) when looking at your ideas.
What zone are you in? Have made some of your recopies and going to do some stepping stones.
Keep up the great work.
PS I do not have a green thumb.
Hi Florence, Thank you so much for the kind words!! I’m in Zone 7B. You should find lots of info that will work for you, I try to write articles that can be adapted to many zones, but of course, you should always adjust plants etc for your zone.
The blue cascading flowers you show in this article are gorgeous. I’m in Dallas (TX) so I’m guessing I can grow them here.
Would you PLEASE provide the name of this plant so I can see if they are available in our area.
Second inquiry.
Thanks.
Larry Hooper
Garland, TX
Hi Larry, not sure which ones you are referring to. I don’t see blue flowers or a first inquiry.
My color sense is not the best. Maybe they are purple, but they are cascading over a wall.
Larry, I wonder if it’s the bluish/purple flowers you see which I believe might be the Lavender flowers?
Hi Stephanie!
I live in Tennessee and it can get very hot. I get full hot sun in the front of my house. I need to know what perennials would be good? I’m having a hard time growing plants and they may get diseases.
Oh my gosh I enjoy your site so much, yes it is so my therapy and happy place.
enjoy your visit with your sister