Do you have a sunny spot in your garden that you’re not sure how to fill? Or maybe you’re looking for some heat-tolerant plants to add to your collection. Either way, we’ve got you covered! In this blog post, we will share with you 30 plants that like full sun and heat.
From annuals to perennials, there’s something in here for everyone. So get ready to add some color to your garden!
30 Plants That Like Full Sun and Heat
A NOTE ON IDEAL ZONES
Below you will find the “ideal” recommended USDA zones for these flowers. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you cannot grow these plants in your personal zone. Typically, zones indicate where the flower will grow the best, however, for example, I can grow Hibiscus in my garden in Canada.
We recommend doing our own research on how well these plants do in your particular zone, specifically what sort of additional care they might need to thrive!
15 Annuals That Love Full Sun and Heat
If you’re looking for some stunning annuals that can take the heat, look no further! These 15 plants will thrive in sunny, hot conditions. All of these gorgeous flowers will add some color and interest to your yard.
Why plant annuals in your garden?
Annuals are great for adding color to your garden. They are also relatively easy to care for and don’t require a lot of maintenance.
Unlike perennials, annuals only last one season, therefore you can mix and match annuals year after year to try out new flowers in your yard.
1) Celosia
Colors: pink, orange, red and yellow, white, and maroon
USDA Ideal Zones: 2 – 11
With its vivid colors and minimal care, Celosia had to be included in plants that like full sun and heat!
Celosia loves a full day’s worth of sun, therefore make sure to plant it in a prime location. Celosia is drought-tolerant and it survives in high heat environments.
2) Cosmos
Other Names: Mexican aster
Colors: pink, orange, red and yellow, white, and maroon
USDA Ideal Zones: 2 – 11
Cosmos are a cute and cheerful flower everyone should have in their garden. They can survive in many different environments including drought and dry weather.
They are incredibly easy to grow, simply spread some seeds throughout your garden after any danger of frost has passed. Then, watch as they bloom and bring bees, butterflies, and birds into your space!
3) Pentas (Pentas lanceolata)
Other Names: Egyptian Star
Colors: Pink, red, white, and purple
USDA Ideal Zones: 10 & 11
Pentas is a great plant that does well in hot, sunny conditions. It’s a great choice for adding color to your garden, as it comes in a variety of shades.
Pentas is also relatively low-maintenance and is not susceptible to many pests or diseases. While Pentas does well in full sun, it can also tolerate some light shade, if some areas of your garden are not as sunny as others.
Be sure to deadhead your Pentas flowers after bloom to encourage more flowers! Their blooms will attract hummingbirds and butterflies all summer long.
4) Marigold
Colors: Yellow, orange, and red
USDA Ideal Zones: 2 – 11
Marigolds are a classic choice for sunny gardens. With their cheerful and bright blooms, they are the perfect flower to add some color!
Marigolds are quite tolerant to both heat and drought. They don’t like to sit in wet soil. This makes them the perfect hardy plant for those sunny garden spots.
Marigolds will bloom throughout the summer and can spread giving you a garden full of bright florals.
5) Sunflowers
Colors: Bright Yellow, orange, red, bronze, and white
USDA Ideal Zones: 4 – 9
Sunflowers can come in both an annual or perennial variety. However, the annual sunflowers are the best choice for hot, sunny conditions. They also tend to grow larger.
With their big, bright flowers, sunflowers are sure to add some cheer to your garden. They are also quite easy to care for and don’t require a lot of water.
While sunflowers need full sun to thrive, they can also tolerate some light shade.
6) Snapdragons
Colors: pink, purple, red, white, multi and yellow
USDA Ideal Zones: 7 – 11
The Snapdragon is another great choice for sunny gardens. It comes in a variety of bright cheerful flowers with some stocks sporting multi-colored stems! Snapdragons are also quite tolerant of heat and drought.
Snapdragons are a great choice for adding color and interest to your garden. They are also relatively easy to care for and don’t require a lot of water.
With their unique blooms that look like little dragons!
7) Zinnia
Colors: pink, purple, red, white, and yellow
USDA Ideal Zones: 3 – 10
Zinnias are a classic choice for any sunny garden. With their vibrant blooms, they provide some much-needed color to your summer foliage!
Zinnias are also quite tolerant of heat and drought. However, they do not like wet soil, so be sure to plant them in a well-draining area.
While Zinnias can tolerate some shade, they do best in full sun, this helps them bloom all season long.
If you’re looking for a plant that can take the heat and add some color to your garden, Zinnias are a great choice!
8) Petunias
Colors: yellow, pink, purple, blue, red and white
USDA Ideal Zones: 9 – 11
Petunias are a classic, low-maintenance choice for sunny gardens. They bloom all season from early spring to the first signs of frost.
While petunias can tolerate some shade, they do best in full sun. The more sun they are exposed to, the more flowers they will produce. They also need deadheading to stay healthy all season long.
Petunias are a great choice for gardens that get a lot of sun and need some color!
9) Moss Rose
Colors: peach, yellow, orange, pink, red, fuchsia, magenta, lavender, and purple
USDA Ideal Zones: 2 – 11
Moss rose is a flowering succulent that needs little care. It comes in a variety of stunning colors and can spread to provide excellent ground cover in your gardens.
Moss rose is also quite tolerant of heat and drought, given its succulent nature. They are extremely hardy and can survive extreme weather conditions.
10) Salvia
Colors: blue (common), red, purple, orange, pink, yellow, white, green, and brown
USDA Ideal Zones: 4 – 10
Salvia provides stunning colorful spikes that flower from summer to fall! They are both heat and drought tolerant which makes them a hardy plant to have in your summer garden.
Salvia loves full sun in order to produce its vibrant flowers. It’s an easy low-maintenance plant that will provide some much-needed color!
11) Periwinkle
Colors: Blue and violet
USDA Ideal Zones: 4 – 9
With its blue flowers and spreading nature, periwinkle is a great plant to have in your garden for ground cover.
Perwinkle is a beautiful hardy plant that does well in high heat and drought conditions. Although it can survive in full sun, it does like partial shade and would be great in a garden that has some afternoon cover.
It’s low maintenance and pest free making it a plant you can leave to tend for itself.
12) Ageratum
Colors: Blue (common), white, pink, and, red
USDA Ideal Zones: 10 – 11
Consisting of fluffy blue flowers, ageratum provides some pops of color to your garden! You can expect it to bloom from spring all the way to fall if you provide it with the right care.
Ageratum is native to Mexico and loves full sun. They are also tolerant of summer heat and humidity. To keep your plant healthy, make sure to deadhead throughout the summer season to encourage new blooms.
13) Hibiscus
Colors: All colors of the rainbow
USDA Ideal Zones: 2 -11
With its large, colorful flowers, hibiscus is a show-stopper in any garden. It’s also quite tolerant of heat and full sun. Just be sure to water it regularly, as it does not like to fully dry out.
Hibiscus is a great choice if you’re looking for a plant that can take up large amounts of heat and humidity. With their exotic-looking blooms and their ability to attract hummingbirds, they are sure to make a statement in any garden.
14) Sweet Alyssum
Colors: Purple, white, pink, and rose
USDA Ideal Zones: 8 – 11
Consisting of tiny delicate flowers, Sweet Alyssum is great for ground cover in any garden.
Sweet Alyssum prefers cool temperatures to flower, however, it will still survive summer heat with little care. They love full sun and are quite self-sufficient.
If you have a hole in your garden that needs filling Sweet Alyssum is a great choice.
15) Lisianthus
Colors: White, pink, purple, blue
USDA Ideal Zones: 8 – 10
These pretty bell-shaped flowers are popular among growers. It enjoys full sun and heat. To get the most blooms, allow your plants to fully dry out between waterings so they do not get over soaked.
Lisianthus is a great plant for a cutting garden given its large, stunning foliage!
15 Perennials that like sun and full heat
Perennials are a great choice for gardeners looking for plants that will come back year after year. They are low-maintenance and if cared for properly can be enjoyed for years to come!
1) Black-eyed Susans (Thunbergia alata)
Colors: yellow, gold and bronze
USDA Ideal Zones: 3 – 11
Black-Eyed Susans are a classic choice for sunny gardens. They are tolerant of a wide range of conditions, including heat, drought, and poor soil.
Black-Eyed Susans are a great choice for gardeners looking for a low-maintenance plant that will add color to their garden. With their bright yellow flowers and ability to self-seed, Black-Eyed Susans are sure to be a hit!
2) Cone Flower
Colors: pink, red, orange, white, and yellow
USDA Ideal Zones: 3 – 9
The coneflower is a common staple in many gardens! With its delicate petals and spikey centers, they are an easy plant to grow in full sun!
We had to include cone flowers in the best plants that like full sun and heat because once established, they don’t need any care to survive. If your plants are getting average rainfall they don’t need to be watered. If a drought period does occur, they will survive however if they start to wilt they will need some H2O!
3) Peonies (Paeonia)
Colors: pink, red, orange, yellow, and white
USDA Ideal Zones: 9 – 11
Peonies are a classic choice for sunny gardens. With their large, fluffy blooms, that come out in the spring, peonies are sure to make a statement!
Peonies thrive off of full sun, which helps the plant grow and spread. Once they are established, they require little maintenance. They are hardy plants and can take the heat.
You might notice ants covering your peonies, which is normal. They like to consume the peony’s nectar. They do not damage the plant in any way.
4) Bougainvillea
Colors: pink, purple, orange, yellow and white
USDA Ideal Zones: 9 – 11
Bougainvillea is a tropical plant that does well in hot, sunny conditions. Bougainvilleas need lots of sunshine to grow and thrive, they will not do well in shady locations (I speak from experience).
Bougainvilleas love dry conditions and can easily survive through heat and drought. They don’t need excess watering once they are established.
These plants can be grown anywhere including Canada. We have two of these plants in our garden and they thrive! They can even survive the harsh winter temperatures of -30 degrees celsius.
5) Poppies (Papaver)
Colors: Wide range
USDA Ideal Zones: 6 – 11
Poppies are a classic choice for sunny gardens. They come in a variety of colors including pink, purple, red, white, and yellow. With their large, showy blooms, that come out in late spring, poppies are sure to make a statement.
Poppies are quite tolerant of heat and drought and are relatively low-maintenance. They are self spreaders and will come up year after year when left on their own.
They don’t require an excessive amount of water, and actually prefer dryer conditions, which is perfect for a sunny yard!
6) Sedum
Colors: rose, pink, blue, purple, burgundy and green
USDA Ideal Zones: 3 – 11
Sedum is a type of flowering succulent that does well in hot, sunny conditions. They are excellent plants for ground cover as they grow and spread on their own.
Sedum is also quite tolerant to heat and drought. They thrive in a full sun environment and are extremely low-maintenance.
7) Lantana
Colors: Red, yellow, orange, pink, purple and mix
USDA Ideal Zones: 7 – 11
These colorful plants are a fun and whimsical addition to your garden. They come in a variety of colors that are all bright and cheerful.
Lantana love a full sun area and can survive a short period of drought. A recommended soaking once a week will keep them healthy. Lantana is a wonderful addition to a sunny spot in your yard.
8) Daylilies
Colors: orange, red, pink, purple, white, yellow, and blend
USDA Ideal Zones: 4 – 9
We had to include Daylilies in plants that like full sun and heat as they are one of the easiest things to have in your garden. Even with no care, daylilies will likely survive (seriously). Daylillies can make it through high heat and a lot of sun, which is perfect if you have a sunny spot to fill!
With their bright colors, daylilies are a fun summer flower for your yard!
9) Million Bells (Calibrachoa)
Colors: Pink, violet, yellow, red, white, blue, magenta, bronze
USDA Ideal Zones: 9 – 11
The plant that keeps on giving! Million bells (or Calibrachoa) is a trailing petunia that forms many stunning flowers throughout its growing season. They thrive off full sun, which allows the plant to flower all season long.
Million Bells can survive in the intense heat of summer with proper watering. They do not like to sit in dry soil.
10) Delphinium
Colors: blue, pink, purple, white, and even yellow
USDA Ideal Zones: 3 – 8
Delphiniums are stunning flowers that come in annual, bi-annual, and perennial forms. With their vivid stocks, they make for the perfect flower to add to your garden or cutting garden.
Delphiniums will need stakes to help them grow, given the height they can reach. They love full sun and heat however don’t let their soil completely dry out. Putting down mulch around the base of your delphinium can help lock in moisture and encourage them to grow!
11) Hollyhocks
Colors: blue, pink, red, purple, white, yellow, and black
USDA Ideal Zones: 3 – 8
Hollyhocks are a show-stopping perennial that can easily grow to over 9ft tall. They love full sun and heat however need moist soil to survive. That means you need to stay on top of watering during heatwaves.
Hollyhocks only last 2-3 years before they need to be refreshed. They’re well worth the effort however, given the stunning flowers they produce!
12) Yarrow
Colors: Red, yellow, pink, fuchsia, orange, and white
USDA Ideal Zones: 3 – 9
Yarrow is an easy perennial to grow, given its pest-resistant and drought-resistant characteristics. It comes in a wide range of colors and is great for ground cover.
Yarrow is very low-maintenance and doesn’t need a whole lot of tending. However, it can be invasive, therefore it’s important to give it space and monitor its growth closely!
13) Siberian Iris
Colors: purple (common), blue (common), pink, lavender, yellow, white, and bi-/tritones
USDA Ideal Zones: 2 – 9
The Siberian Iris is a great hardy, low-maintenance plant. With its stunning blue petals, it adds some beautiful color to your summer garden.
This type of Iris loves full sun and can even survive a period of drought. It makes them incredibly easy to care for all season long!
14) Angelonia
Colors: pink, mauve, blue, purple, and white
USDA Ideal Zones: 9 – 11
Angelonia is a wonderful plant to add to a sunny spot in your yard. They resemble small snapdragons and grow in tall stocks. Angelonia is extremely hardy and can survive high heat and dry spells.
To get Angelonia to re-flower, cut them back to half their height. They are a great carefree plant that are easy to care for all season long.
15) Geranium
Colors: Red, white, pink, violet, lilac, apricot, orange and yellow
USDA Ideal Zones: 4 – 9
Geraniums are hardy plants that can be grown indoors, in pots, or in your garden beds. They love to be basked in full sun, and some hybrids can take a lot of high scorching heat.
They only need to be watered once the soil fully dries out, which makes them easy to care for. If you live in a cooler climate, you can easily bring them indoors in the winter.
Final thoughts
We hope you learned more about plants that like full sun and heat! All of these stunning annuals and perennials would look amazing in your garden!
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