Enjoy 7 great low maintenance full sun perennials. This list shares flowering perennial flowers that are easy to grow are deer and drought resistant and attract butterflies and bees. In addition, they grow in a range of climates and can be cut to create beautiful flower arrangements.
It seems like our lives are so busy, and though I love my garden, I find that sometimes, it is hard to find the time to take care of all the tasks needed to maintain it. One way I found that helps, is finding those plants that make your life easy. Today, I'm sharing seven of my favorite sun-loving perennials that anyone can grow. Many of these lovely plants bloom from late spring, early summer, and well into fall.
Full Sun Perennials Characteristics
- Grow well in the sun
- USDA hardiness zones 5-8 (find your zone here)
- Deer resistant
- Drought tolerant
- Attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds
- Great cut flowers for use in arrangements
Catmint -- Nepeta faassenii 'Walker's Low'
Perennial Plant Association winner in 2007. Any plant on the PPA award list is a great choice for the garden. They always choose those that are easy to grow in many conditions, in many areas, and have long blooms times, etc. I particularly love the grey-green foliage of this mounding plant which looks great all well into late summer.
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Catmint Cheatsheet
- Zones: 3 to 8
- Height: 2-3 feet
- Width: 18 - 24 inches
- Water Needs: Average
Perennial Bachelor's Button -- Centaurea montana
Some say this is an invasive annoyance and it does freely seed in the garden but the volunteers are easily removed and planted or a nice giveaway. Who wouldn't love these beautiful blue flowers which perform well all summer and look great in a flower arrangement?
Bachelor's Button Cheatsheet
- Zones: 3 to 8
- Height: 1 - 2 feet
- Width: 12 - 24 inches
- Water Needs: Average
Threadleaf -- Coreopsis 'Moonbeam'
Another PPA winner way back in 1992 Coreopsis 'Moonbeam' is a sweet delicate plant that never fails. It has a nice airy feel, perfect for a border or for those who enjoy the cottage look. Today you can find many hybrids of this perennial in addition to nice sunny yellow flowers that range from pink to gold and combinations therein.
Threadleaf Cheatsheet
- Zones: 4 to 8
- Height: 18 - 24 inches
- Width: 18 - 24 inches
- Water Needs: Low - Average
Rose Campion -- Lychnis coronaria
This interesting perennial was already growing in my garden when we bought the property. Though it is classified as a perennial it behaves more like a biennial or annual for me. However, it is another self-seeder so it shows up in many places every year. Like the bachelor's button, Rose Campion is easily removed or moved to another part of the garden so I don't mind its self-seeding nature. Rose Campion has a beautiful deep magenta flower on the most interesting fuzzy grey leaves which remind me of lambs' ears or Stachys byzantina.
Rose Campion Cheatsheet
- Zones: 3 to 8
- Height: 12 - 24 inches
- Width: 12 - 24 inches
- Water Needs: Low
Clustered Bellflower -- Campanula glomerata
If you like sun-loving perennials you will have already heard of bellflowers. There are so many different plants to choose from in the group. My favorite one is glomerata with deep purple flowers in a tight cluster. Some say it can be invasive but I have not found this to be true for me. This one also grows well in partial shade.
Clustered Bellflower Cheatsheet
- Zones: 3 to 8
- Height: 6 - 8 inches
- Width: 12 - 24 inches
- Water Needs: Average
Betony - Stachys officinalis 'Rosea'
If you like a tidy looking plant you will love Betony. This one has lovely pink flowers, the more common being white, grows in a nice contained mound of crinkly green leaves great for the edge of a border. It is also said to reseed but I have not found this to be the case in my garden.
Betony Cheatsheet
- Zones: 4 to 8
- Height: 12 - 24 inches
- Width: 12 - 24 inches
- Water Needs: Average
Beebalm - Monarda didyma 'Blue Stocking'
Last but not least is Beebalm. I have loved this perennial for about as long as I have had my own home to grow it in. This one comes in a wide range of colors from dark purple to bright red, pink, and white. The leaves and flowers have a wonderful citrus fragrance making it a nice addition to a flower arrangement. Some beebalm is said to have a mildew problem but many of the newer varieties have been bred to resist this issue. Of course, the bees love it, thus the common name Beebalm. Fun fact: After the Boston Tea Party, the colonists learned, from the Indians, how to brew a tea made from the leaves of the beebalm plant. Funny that their fragrance smells like the bergamot orange used to flavor Earl Grey tea.
Beebalm Cheatsheet
- Zones: 4 to 8
- Height: 2 - 3 feet
- Width: 12 - 24 inches
- Water Needs: Average
This list of some of my favorite full sun perennials is just a start. You can try a few of these just as they are or one in a different color and enjoy them all summer long.
More Sun Loving Perennials to Try
- Echinacea aka Coneflower
- Rudbeckia aka Black-Eyed Susan
- Shasta Daisy
- Salvia
- Hardy Geranium
- Daylilies
- Iris
- English Lavender
Choosing the right plants by their light needs is a good way to assure success in the garden and help with watering needs. This list of full sun plants for the garden are just a few ideas to try.
Christine
Great plants to showcase I have a lot of them in my garden and love them! The coreopsis I have (unknown name) is huge, it gets over 5 feet tall. and the bellflowers for me are invasive but I just dig them up and plant them elsewhere. In my zone 5 garden it takes them a year or two before they start to spread but I am hoping planting other species close to them might help. So cross your fingers for me!
I am loving the cat mint and I will have to keep my eye out for that beauty, love the silvery foliage.
Patti
Christine,
You are right about some of these being invasive, especially depending on where you live. However, as you also stated, I don't think any are a real problem and easily moved or pulled out. Sounds like your coreopsis is gorgeous. Do you know variety? There tons of hybrids out now as this plant is becoming very popular. Definitely try the catmint. There are several varieties to choose from. Thanks for stopping by,
Patti
Rachel @ Grow a Good Life
This is a wonderful selection of perennials that will make it easy for those of us who love beautiful flowers but don’t have a lot of time to tend to flower beds. I was happy to spot a photo of Rose Campaion among your list. As a child, I remember being fascinated by these little magenta flowers in my Aunt Mary’s garden. I was able to transplant some to my rather neglected perennial gardens. I can always count on the interesting fuzzy foliage and bright magenta flowers each year in spite of my neglect. They always remind me of my Aunt Mary and how much she loved her flower gardens.
Patti
Hi Rachel,
I love your story about your Aunt's flower garden. Family pass alongs are great treasures to have in the garden.
In my garden Rose Campion is a great volunteer and one that is easily removed or transplanted making it a keeper.
Thanks for stopping by,
Patti
Cathy
I've recently moved to Texas hill country. Coming from Connecticut I need to learn all over again. Any tips?
Patti
Hi Cathy,
How exciting! Though Texas is quite different from Connecticut I'm sure you will find some really special new plants you never thought of and/or never heard of that work well in your new home. I believe you are looking at zones 8-9 which means that many more plants will make it through the winter but the heat may be too much for some and I don't know how often it rains there. Still, the best way to find out what grows well in your area is see what your neighbors are growing. Take a drive and make a note of plants that you like. Visit your local nurseries and see what they are selling. Take your time and enjoy the process. Sounds like a great adventure to me. Best of luck on the new home!!
Carole West @ Garden Up Green
This is a great list, thank you for this article. I'm going to share it on Facebook this morning. We've had so much rain I've stopped planting for awhile. My roses are doing great though. I'm hoping things will turn around here so I can grow some wonderful this summer.
-Carole
Patti
Thanks Carole! So glad to hear your roses are doing great. You have the magic touch!
Patti
Susan M.
I have been looking for the name of a particular plant for a while. Lucky for me, you featured it in your article. It's the rose campion. And, as a bonus, you have also given some very useful info. Thank you!!