Full sun plants are essential for gardeners who want vibrant outdoor spaces without spending hours on maintenance. If your garden is bathed in sunshine for most of the day, you’ll need plants that can handle intense heat, dry conditions, and still come back strong year after year.
Fortunately, many beautiful plants not only tolerate hot, sunny weather—they actually thrive in it. Whether you’re planting along a sun-scorched wall, filling up raised beds, or designing a border garden, choosing the right full sun plants can make your garden both eye-catching and easy to manage.
In this guide, you’ll find ten standout plants that love the heat and ask for very little in return.
Table of Contents
1. Sedum
Sedum is one of the most reliable full sun plants for hot, dry gardens. Also known as stonecrop, it’s a tough, drought-tolerant perennial that stores water in its thick, fleshy leaves—making it almost immune to summer heatwaves.
Sedums come in many forms, from low-growing groundcovers to tall, upright varieties. Their sculptural foliage adds texture and interest even before the flowers bloom. When they do, expect clusters of star-shaped blooms in late summer through fall, often attracting bees and butterflies.
What makes sedum so appealing for low-maintenance gardeners is its adaptability. It grows happily in garden beds, rocky borders, or sunny containers and needs very little water once established.
Quick Tips:
- Full sun
- Well-draining soil
- Rarely needs watering once mature
2. Coneflower (Echinacea)
Coneflower is a standout among full sun plants for its vibrant blooms, wildlife appeal, and toughness. Native to North America, Echinacea thrives in hot, dry spots and rewards you with bold, daisy-like flowers from early summer through fall.
These perennials are incredibly resilient once established. They tolerate drought, poor soil, and even urban pollution—yet still manage to bloom brilliantly in shades of pink, purple, orange, or white. Coneflowers also attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, making them a smart choice for eco-friendly gardens.
As a bonus, the seed heads add interest in winter and can provide food for birds. They’re also popular as cut flowers and have a long history of use in herbal medicine.
Quick Tips:
- Full sun
- Tolerates drought and poor soil
- Deadhead to prolong blooming
3. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow is one of those classic full sun plants that brings both color and resilience to the garden. Known for its flat-topped flower clusters and feathery foliage, yarrow can handle scorching sun, poor soil, and long dry spells without complaint.
Blooming from late spring through summer, yarrow comes in shades of yellow, red, pink, and white. It’s a magnet for butterflies and other beneficial insects, making it ideal for pollinator-friendly gardens. Its tough nature also makes it deer-resistant—a major bonus for rural gardeners.
Once established, yarrow needs minimal care and will even self-seed if you let it. It works beautifully in cottage gardens, wildflower meadows, or mass-planted in sunny borders.
Quick Tips:
- Full sun
- Well-draining soil
- Minimal watering required
4. Perennial Herbs (Thyme, Rosemary, Sage)
When it comes to full sun plants that serve both beauty and purpose, perennial herbs are hard to beat. Varieties like thyme, rosemary, and sage thrive in dry, sunny spots and bring fragrance, flavor, and structure to your garden.
These herbs are incredibly low-maintenance once established. They actually prefer poor soil and infrequent watering, which makes them ideal for raised beds, rock gardens, or borders along walkways. Rosemary can double as a small hedge, while sage adds texture and color with its soft, silvery-green leaves.
Besides being culinary powerhouses, these herbs are also bee-friendly and visually appealing year-round in warmer climates.
Quick Tips:
- Full sun and well-drained soil
- Prune annually to maintain shape
- Minimal water needed once established
5. Lantana
If you’re gardening in hot, humid conditions and want nonstop blooms, Lantana is a top contender among full sun plants. This vibrant, flowering shrub thrives in intense heat and doesn’t just survive—it puts on a colorful show all season long.
Lantana produces clusters of tiny blooms in brilliant shades of yellow, orange, pink, red, and white. It’s a magnet for pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, making it a great companion for veggie gardens or wildflower beds.
It prefers well-draining soil and can handle drought once established. Best of all, it flowers almost continuously from spring through fall, even in sweltering weather.
Quick Tips:
- Full sun (even hot afternoon sun)
- Tolerates drought and heat
- Keep soil moist early on, then reduce watering
6. Cosmos
Cosmos are among the easiest full sun plants to grow, making them a favorite for beginners and seasoned gardeners alike. These tall, airy annuals produce daisy-like flowers in soft pinks, purples, whites, and oranges, and bloom from early summer to frost.
Native to Mexico, cosmos thrive in hot, dry conditions and actually prefer lean, well-drained soil. Rich soil can make their stems floppy, so they’re ideal for tough spots in your garden where other plants might struggle. They’re also excellent for wildflower gardens or xeriscapes.
Low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, cosmos self-seed readily and attract butterflies, bees, and even birds.
Quick Tips:
- Full sun
- Poor to average soil is best
- No need to fertilize—too much feed causes weak stems
7. Marigold
Few full sun plants are as cheerful and dependable as marigolds. With their rich yellow, gold, and orange blooms, these annuals provide a burst of color that lasts from spring through fall—even when temperatures soar.
Marigolds are incredibly easy to grow from seed or transplants, and they’re perfect for borders, containers, or vegetable gardens. They also act as natural pest repellents, making them ideal companions for tomatoes and peppers. Their resilience in hot, dry weather makes them a summer staple for gardeners of all skill levels.
These plants bloom best in well-draining soil and love full sun exposure all day long.
Quick Tips:
- Full sun
- Allow soil to dry between waterings
- Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms
8. Verbena
If you want continuous color and minimal upkeep, verbena is one of the best full sun plants to add to your garden. This trailing or upright bloomer loves the heat, handles drought like a champ, and puts out clusters of tiny, nectar-rich flowers all summer long.
Purple-flowering varieties are especially popular, but you’ll also find verbena in pinks, reds, and whites. It thrives in containers, hanging baskets, and groundcover borders—especially in areas with full sun and fast-draining soil.
Best of all, verbena attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, making it a fantastic choice for wildlife gardens or pollinator zones.
Quick Tips:
- Needs full sun and good drainage
- Deadhead occasionally to promote new blooms
- Water moderately; avoid soggy soil
9. Hibiscus
For dramatic, oversized blooms that love the heat, Hibiscus is a standout among full sun plants. This sun-loving perennial flourishes with 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily and can tolerate dry spells once it’s well established.
Known for its vibrant red, pink, or orange flowers, hibiscus is common in Mediterranean gardens and warm climates. The lush, tropical appearance makes it perfect for creating a bold focal point in sunny borders or containers.
It’s also a surprisingly low-maintenance choice. As long as you give it sun and don’t let the roots stay soggy, hibiscus will reward you with repeat blooms throughout the warmer months.
Quick Tips:
- Full sun (at least 6 hours a day)
- Prefers moist but well-drained soil
- Cut back in late winter to encourage new growth
10. Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)
Though often grown indoors, the jade plant is a succulent that performs just as well outdoors—especially in hot, dry climates. As one of the most adaptable full sun plants, it stores water in its thick, glossy leaves and thrives in direct sunlight with very little watering.
This slow-growing plant is ideal for containers, patio arrangements, or rock gardens. It prefers at least 3–4 hours of full sun per day but can also tolerate partial shade. Its rounded leaves and branching shape give it a sculptural quality, making it a beautiful addition to minimalist or Mediterranean-style landscapes.
Best of all, jade plants require almost no maintenance once established.
Quick Tips:
- Needs full sun to partial shade
- Water only when soil is completely dry
- Use sandy, well-draining soil to prevent root rot
Conclusion
Choosing the right full sun plants can make all the difference in a hot, sunny garden. The ten plants we’ve covered not only tolerate high heat and intense sunlight—they thrive in it, offering long-lasting color, structure, and even pollinator support with minimal upkeep.
Whether you’re planting a low-maintenance border, filling containers on a sun-soaked patio, or designing a drought-tolerant landscape, these hardy favorites are your best bet. With the right picks, you’ll spend less time worrying about sun damage and more time enjoying a vibrant, easy-care garden that holds up beautifully through the hottest months.