Discover 101 perennials that like the sun. Extensive A to Z database of sun-loving perennials that includes photos and all the details you need to know if it's the right option for your garden.
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Find out more about each sun-loving perennial by clicking the toggle button below the images. Ordered A to Z by default.
Sun-Loving Perennials Gallery
Adriatic bellflower (Campanula garganica “Dickson’s Gold”)
Common Name:
Adriatic bellflower
Scientific Name:
Campanula garganica "Dickson's Gold"
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
6.6 to 7.5
Flower Color:
Blue
Special Characteristics:
Deer-resistant, showy flowers, easy to grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
5 to 7
Height At Maturity:
3-6"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Sub Type:
Groundcover
African tuliptree (Spathodea campanulata)
Common Name:
African tuliptree
Scientific Name:
Spathodea campanulata
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
5 - 7.5
Flower Color:
Reddish-orange with yellow corolla margin
Special Characteristics:
Showy flowers
Hardiness Zone(s):
10 to 11
Height At Maturity:
360-480"
Sun:
Full Sun to Part Shade
Sub Type:
Evergreen
Agave (Agave geminiflora RASTA MAN)
Common Name:
Agave
Scientific Name:
Agave geminiflora RASTA MAN
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Tolerates drought
Soil PH:
6-8
Flower Color:
Greenish-yellow
Special Characteristics:
Showy flowers, container
Hardiness Zone(s):
9 to 11
Height At Maturity:
24-36"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Alpine aster (Aster alpinus)
Common Name:
Alpine aster
Scientific Name:
Aster alpinus
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
6-7.5
Flower Color:
Blue-violet rays with yellow centers
Special Characteristics:
Attracts butterflies, showy flowers, easy-to-grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
5 to 7
Height At Maturity:
6-12"
Sun:
Full sun
American blue vervain (Verbena hastata)
Common Name:
American blue vervain
Scientific Name:
Verbena hastata
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Medium to wet
Soil PH:
4.5–8.0
Flower Color:
Purplish-blue
Special Characteristics:
Attracts birds, showy flowers, easy-to-grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
3 to 8
Height At Maturity:
24-72'
Sun:
Full sun
Sub Type:
Groundcover
American boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
Common Name:
American boneset
Scientific Name:
Eupatorium perfoliatum
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Tolerates wet soil
Soil PH:
5.8 - 6.8
Flower Color:
White
Special Characteristics:
Attracts butterflies, deer-resistant, cut flowers, showy flowers, easy-to-grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
3 to 8
Height At Maturity:
48-72"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
American century plant (Agave americana)
Common Name:
American century plant
Scientific Name:
Agave americana
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Tolerates drought
Soil PH:
6-7
Flower Color:
Greenish yellow
Special Characteristics:
Showy flowers, container
Hardiness Zone(s):
8 to 10
Height At Maturity:
36-72"
Sun:
Full sun
American century plant (Agave attenuata)
Common Name:
American century plant
Scientific Name:
Agave attenuata
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
6 to 7.5
Flower Color:
Yellow green to white
Special Characteristics:
Showy flowers, container
Hardiness Zone(s):
10 to 12
Height At Maturity:
24-36"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
Common Name:
Anise hyssop
Scientific Name:
Agastache foeniculum
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Tolerates drought
Soil PH:
6-8
Flower Color:
Lavender to purple
Special Characteristics:
Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, deer-resistant, showy flowers, fragrant, cut flowers
Hardiness Zone(s):
4 to 8
Height At Maturity:
24-48"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Sub Type:
Herb
Anise-scented sage (Salvia guaranitica)
Common Name:
Anise-scented sage
Scientific Name:
Salvia guaranitica
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Medium
Soil PH:
5.4 to 5.8
Flower Color:
Deep blue with purple-blue calyx
Special Characteristics:
Attracts butterflies, deer-resistant, fragrant, showy flowers, easy-to-grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
8 to 10
Height At Maturity:
24-60'
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Sub Type:
Groundcover
Annual honesty (Lunaria annua)
Common Name:
Annual honesty
Scientific Name:
Lunaria annua
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
6-8
Flower Color:
Purple
Special Characteristics:
Showy flowers, easy-to-grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
5 to 9
Height At Maturity:
24-36"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Apple mint (Mentha suaveolens)
Common Name:
Apple mint
Scientific Name:
Mentha suaveolens
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Tolerates wet soil
Soil PH:
6-8
Flower Color:
Pink to white
Special Characteristics:
Attracts butterflies, deer-resistant, tolerates rabbit, showy flowers, fragrant
Hardiness Zone(s):
5 to 9
Height At Maturity:
12-24"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Sub Type:
Groundcover
Aruncus (Aruncus “Misty Lace”)
Common Name:
Aruncus
Scientific Name:
Aruncus "Misty Lace"
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Tolerates wet soil
Soil PH:
6.1 to 6.5
Flower Color:
Creamy white
Special Characteristics:
Showy flowers, easy-to-grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
4 to 7
Height At Maturity:
18-24"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Ashy sunflower (Helianthus mollis)
Common Name:
Ashy sunflower
Scientific Name:
Helianthus mollis
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Dry to medium
Soil PH:
4-5
Flower Color:
Yellow
Special Characteristics:
Attracts birds and butterflies, showy flowers, easy-to-grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
4 to 9
Height At Maturity:
24-48'
Sun:
Full sun
Sub Type:
Groundcover
Asian mint (Persicaria odorata)
Common Name:
Asian mint
Scientific Name:
Persicaria odorata
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Tolerates wet soil
Soil PH:
6.0 to 6.8
Flower Color:
White
Special Characteristics:
Attracts butterflies, deer-resistant, tolerates rabbit, showy flowers
Hardiness Zone(s):
9 to 11
Height At Maturity:
6-18"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Sub Type:
Herb
Aster (Aster sedifolius “Nanus”)
Common Name:
Aster
Scientific Name:
Aster sedifolius "Nanus"
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
6-8
Flower Color:
Blue rays with yellow center disk
Special Characteristics:
Attracts butterflies, showy flowers, easy-to-grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
4 to 7
Height At Maturity:
12-18”
Sun:
Full sun
Sub Type:
Groundcover
Avens (Geum “Borisii”)
Common Name:
Avens
Scientific Name:
Geum "Borisii"
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
6-8
Flower Color:
Orange
Special Characteristics:
Deer-resistant, showy flowers, easy to grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
3 to 7
Height At Maturity:
6-12"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Sub Type:
Groundcover
Avens (Geum “Mrs. J. Bradshaw”)
Common Name:
Avens
Scientific Name:
Geum "Mrs. J. Bradshaw"
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
5.6-6
Flower Color:
Orange/scarlet
Special Characteristics:
Deer-resistant, showy flowers, easy to grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
5 to 7
Height At Maturity:
12-24"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Sub Type:
Groundcover
Avens (Geum “Totally Tangerine”)
Common Name:
Avens
Scientific Name:
Geum "Totally Tangerine"
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
5.8-6.4
Flower Color:
Orange-peach
Special Characteristics:
Deer-resistant, showy flowers, easy to grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
5 to 7
Height At Maturity:
12-30"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Sub Type:
Groundcover
Avens (Geum coccineum “Cooky”)
Common Name:
Avens
Scientific Name:
Geum coccineum "Cooky"
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
6-8
Flower Color:
Orange with orange-yellow stamens
Special Characteristics:
Deer-resistant, showy flowers, easy to grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
5 to 7
Height At Maturity:
6-12"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Sub Type:
Groundcover
Avens (Geum coccineum)
Common Name:
Avens
Scientific Name:
Geum coccineum
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
6-8
Flower Color:
Red-orange
Special Characteristics:
Deer-resistant, showy flowers, easy to grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
5 to 7
Height At Maturity:
12-18”
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Sub Type:
Groundcover
Azure monkshood (Aconitum carmichaelii)
Common Name:
Azure monkshood
Scientific Name:
Aconitum carmichaelii
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
5-6
Flower Color:
Deep purple (inside) and pale blue (outside)
Special Characteristics:
Deer-resistant, showy flowers
Hardiness Zone(s):
3 to 7
Height At Maturity:
24-36"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii)
Common Name:
Baby blue eyes
Scientific Name:
Nemophila menziesii
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Medium
Soil PH:
6.5 - 7.5
Flower Color:
Blue
Special Characteristics:
Showy flowers, easy-to-grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
2 to 11
Height At Maturity:
3-6'
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Sub Type:
Groundcover
Baby’s breath (Gypsophila paniculata “Bristol Fairy”)
Common Name:
Baby's breath
Scientific Name:
Gypsophila paniculata "Bristol Fairy"
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Tolerates drought
Soil PH:
7.0 to 7.5
Flower Color:
White
Special Characteristics:
Showy flowers, cut flowers
Hardiness Zone(s):
3 to 9
Height At Maturity:
24-36"
Sun:
Full sun
Balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus “Astra Blue”)
Common Name:
Balloon flower
Scientific Name:
Platycodon grandiflorus "Astra Blue"
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
6-8
Flower Color:
Blue
Special Characteristics:
Showy flowers, easy-to-grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
3 to 8
Height At Maturity:
3-6"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Sub Type:
Groundcover
Balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus)
Common Name:
Balloon flower
Scientific Name:
Platycodon grandiflorus
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
5.8 - 6.8
Flower Color:
Purple-blue
Special Characteristics:
Showy flowers, easy-to-grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
3 to 8
Height At Maturity:
12-36"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Basket of gold (Aurinia saxatilis “Gold Dust”)
Common Name:
Basket of gold
Scientific Name:
Aurinia saxatilis "Gold Dust"
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Tolerates drought
Soil PH:
6-8
Flower Color:
Bright yellow
Special Characteristics:
Showy flowers
Hardiness Zone(s):
4 to 7
Height At Maturity:
6-12"
Sun:
Full sun
Sub Type:
Groundcover
Basket of gold (Aurinia saxatilis)
Common Name:
Basket of gold
Scientific Name:
Aurinia saxatilis
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Tolerates drought
Soil PH:
6-8
Flower Color:
Yellow
Special Characteristics:
Showy flowers
Hardiness Zone(s):
4 to 7
Height At Maturity:
6-12"
Sun:
Full sun
Sub Type:
Groundcover
Bear’s breeches (Acanthus “Summer Beauty”)
Common Name:
Bear's breeches
Scientific Name:
Acanthus "Summer Beauty"
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
6-7
Flower Color:
Creamy white subtended by purple bracts
Special Characteristics:
Showy flowers, tolerates rabbit, cut flowers
Hardiness Zone(s):
6 to 10
Height At Maturity:
36-72"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Bear’s breeches (Acanthus hungaricus)
Common Name:
Bear's breeches
Scientific Name:
Acanthus hungaricus
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
5.8 – 7.5
Flower Color:
Rose-purple
Special Characteristics:
Showy flowers, easy-to-grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
5 to 10
Height At Maturity:
36-48"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Related: Our list of the 30 Prettiest Perennial Flowers
As we all know, perennial plants are those that bloom perfectly during their growth seasons in spring or summer and would wilt to dormancy during winter. However, these plants will most likely sprout back to life during their active seasons through their rootstocks and these types are known as herbaceous perennials.
What’s nice about perennial plants is that most of them love the sun and would prefer to stay exposed all throughout the day, while some considerably cannot tolerate too much sun exposure but are otherwise reliant to a few hours sun bathing for their greenery and pigmentation and would likely need moist soil to survive. See our gallery of perennials that like shade as well.
Perennialss are important ornaments for non-shady and sunny locations like front yards and pathways, as these locations do not need distractive shading and coverings blocking the house’s view.
Some examples of these sun-loving perennials are artimisia, bearded iris and beardtongue, which we will give you further info below.
There are also self-seeding or self-sowing perennials plants that naturally grow in spring and summer without further efforts to cultivate them. Once spring or summer arrives, you will be amazed how they magically start to sprout out and cover the ground.
And as promised, here are a few of the best perennial plants you can grow outdoors. We have included some important requirements like the appropriate light and water they need as well as the best season and zones for these sun-loving foliage.
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