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
Bear’s breeches (Acanthus mollis)
Common Name:
Bear's breeches
Scientific Name:
Acanthus mollis
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
6.6 to 7.5
Flower Color:
White (sometimes pink)
Special Characteristics:
Showy flowers
Hardiness Zone(s):
7 to 10
Height At Maturity:
36-60"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Bearded penstemon (Penstemon barbatus)
Common Name:
Bearded penstemon
Scientific Name:
Penstemon barbatus
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Tolerates drought
Soil PH:
6.1-7.8
Flower Color:
Rose red
Special Characteristics:
Deer-resistant, showy flowers
Hardiness Zone(s):
4 to 8
Height At Maturity:
24-36"
Sun:
Full sun
Beardtongue
Common Name:
Beardtongue
Scientific Name:
Penstemon
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Not much at all. Likes sandy, loose soil.
Soil PH:
5.5 to 7 (neutral)
Flower Color:
Red, pink, violet, yellow, blue, white and orange
Special Characteristics:
Fast-growing / Good for cut flowers
Hardiness Zone(s):
3 through 9
Height At Maturity:
60"
Sun:
Full sun
Beardtongue (Penstemon canescens)
Common Name:
Beardtongue
Scientific Name:
Penstemon canescens
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Tolerates drought
Soil PH:
6-8
Flower Color:
Pale to dark violet
Special Characteristics:
Deer-resistant, showy flowers, easy to grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
5 to 8
Height At Maturity:
12-36"
Sun:
Full sun
Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis “Husker Red”)
Common Name:
Beardtongue
Scientific Name:
Penstemon digitalis "Husker Red"
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Tolerates drought
Soil PH:
6-8
Flower Color:
White
Special Characteristics:
Attracts birds and butterflies, deer-resistant, showy flowers
Hardiness Zone(s):
3 to 8
Height At Maturity:
24-36"
Sun:
Full sun
Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
Common Name:
Beardtongue
Scientific Name:
Penstemon digitalis
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Tolerates drought
Soil PH:
6.2-6.8
Flower Color:
White
Special Characteristics:
Attracts birds and butterflies, deer-resistant, showy flowers, cut flowers
Hardiness Zone(s):
3 to 8
Height At Maturity:
36-60"
Sun:
Full sun
Bee balm (Monarda “Gardenview Scarlet”)
Common Name:
Bee balm
Scientific Name:
Monarda "Gardenview Scarlet"
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Tolerates wet soil
Soil PH:
6.1 to 6.5
Flower Color:
Red
Special Characteristics:
Attracts hummingbirds, deer-resistant, showy flowers, cut flowers, fragrant
Hardiness Zone(s):
4 to 9
Height At Maturity:
24-36"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Bee balm (Monarda “Mahogany”)
Common Name:
Bee balm
Scientific Name:
Monarda "Mahogany"
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Tolerates wet soil
Soil PH:
6-8
Flower Color:
Wine red
Special Characteristics:
Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, deer-resistant, showy flowers, fragrant, cut flowers
Hardiness Zone(s):
4 to 9
Height At Maturity:
24-36"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Bee balm (Monarda didyma)
Common Name:
Bee balm
Scientific Name:
Monarda didyma
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Tolerates wet soil
Soil PH:
6-7
Flower Color:
Red
Special Characteristics:
Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, deer-resistant, tolerates rabbit, showy flowers, fragrant, cut flowers
Hardiness Zone(s):
4 to 9
Height At Maturity:
24-48"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Bellflower (Campanula “Summertime Blues”)
Common Name:
Bellflower
Scientific Name:
(Campanula "Summertime Blues")
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
6.1 to 6.5
Flower Color:
Silvery blue
Special Characteristics:
Deer-resistant, showy flowers, easy to grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
4 to 9
Height At Maturity:
12-24"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Bellflower (Campanula kemulariae)
Common Name:
Bellflower
Scientific Name:
Campanula kemulariae
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
6-8
Flower Color:
Lavender-blue
Special Characteristics:
Tolerates rabbit, deer-resistant, showy flowers, easy-to-grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
4 to 8
Height At Maturity:
6-12"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Bellflower (Campanula latifolia)
Common Name:
Bellflower
Scientific Name:
Campanula latifolia
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
6.8-7.7
Flower Color:
Purplish-blue
Special Characteristics:
Deer-resistant, showy flowers, easy to grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
4 to 8
Height At Maturity:
36-48"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Bellflower (Campanula takesimana “Elizabeth”)
Common Name:
Bellflower
Scientific Name:
Campanula takesimana "Elizabeth"
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
6-8
Flower Color:
Pale pink
Special Characteristics:
Deer-resistant, showy flowers, easy to grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
5 to 8
Height At Maturity:
18-24"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Bellflower beardtongue (Penstemon campanulatus)
Common Name:
Bellflower beardtongue
Scientific Name:
Penstemon campanulatus
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Tolerates drought
Soil PH:
6-8
Flower Color:
Purple-pink to violet
Special Characteristics:
Attracts butterflies, deer-resistant, showy flowers, easy-to-grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
7 to 10
Height At Maturity:
12-24"
Sun:
Full sun
Bells of Ireland (Moluccella laevis)
Common Name:
Bells of Ireland
Scientific Name:
Moluccella laevis
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Medium
Soil PH:
6-8
Flower Color:
White flowers in green calyces
Special Characteristics:
Showy flowers, fragrant, easy-to-grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
2 to 11
Height At Maturity:
24-36'
Sun:
Full sun
Big betony (Stachys macrantha)
Common Name:
Big betony
Scientific Name:
Stachys macrantha
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
5.8 - 6.8
Flower Color:
Pinkish-purple
Special Characteristics:
Deer-resistant, showy flowers, easy to grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
4 to 8
Height At Maturity:
12-24"
Sun:
Full sun
Big blue lilyturf (Liriope muscari)
Common Name:
Big blue lilyturf
Scientific Name:
Liriope muscari
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
6.0 to 7.5
Flower Color:
Lavender
Special Characteristics:
Tolerates rabbit, deer-resistant, easy-to-grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
5 to 10
Height At Maturity:
12-18”
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Bighead knapweed (Centaurea macrocephala)
Common Name:
Bighead knapweed
Scientific Name:
Centaurea macrocephala
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Tolerates drought
Soil PH:
5.8-7.0
Flower Color:
Yellow
Special Characteristics:
Showy flowers, easy-to-grow, cut flowers
Hardiness Zone(s):
3 to 8
Height At Maturity:
36-48"
Sun:
Full sun
Bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae)
Common Name:
Bird of paradise
Scientific Name:
Strelitzia reginae
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
6-8
Flower Color:
Orange/blue
Special Characteristics:
Showy flowers
Hardiness Zone(s):
10 to 12
Height At Maturity:
42-48"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Bird’s foot violet (Viola pedata)
Common Name:
Bird's foot violet
Scientific Name:
Viola pedata
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Tolerates drought
Soil PH:
5-6
Flower Color:
Lilac/purple
Special Characteristics:
Attracts butterflies, deer-resistant, showy flowers
Hardiness Zone(s):
4 to 8
Height At Maturity:
3-6"
Sun:
Full sun
Bishop’s weed (Aegopodium podagraria “Variegatum”)
Common Name:
Bishop's weed
Scientific Name:
Aegopodium podagraria "Variegatum"
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Tolerates drought
Soil PH:
6.1 to 6.5
Flower Color:
White
Hardiness Zone(s):
4 to 9
Height At Maturity:
6-12"
Sun:
Full sun to part shade
Bishop’s wort (Stachys officinalis)
Common Name:
Bishop's wort
Scientific Name:
Stachys officinalis
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
6-8
Flower Color:
Reddish-purple
Special Characteristics:
Deer-resistant, showy flowers, easy to grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
4 to 8
Height At Maturity:
18-24"
Sun:
Full sun
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia “Herbstsonne”)
Common Name:
Black-eyed Susan
Scientific Name:
Rudbeckia "Herbstsonne"
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
6.8-7.2
Flower Color:
Yellow
Special Characteristics:
Attracts butterflies, deer-resistant, showy flowers, easy-to-grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
5 to 9
Height At Maturity:
48-74"
Sun:
Full sun
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii “Goldsturm”)
Common Name:
Black-eyed Susan
Scientific Name:
Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii "Goldsturm"
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Tolerates drought
Soil PH:
5.6-7.5
Flower Color:
Yellow rays with black center disk
Special Characteristics:
Attracts butterflies, deer-resistant, showy flowers, easy-to-grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
3 to 9
Height At Maturity:
24-36"
Sun:
Full sun
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii)
Common Name:
Black-eyed Susan
Scientific Name:
Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Tolerates drought
Soil PH:
6-8
Flower Color:
Yellow-orange rays with purple-brown center
Special Characteristics:
Attracts butterflies, deer-resistant, showy flowers, easy-to-grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
3 to 9
Height At Maturity:
24-36"
Sun:
Full sun
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta “Autumn Colors”)
Common Name:
Black-eyed Susan
Scientific Name:
Rudbeckia hirta "Autumn Colors"
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
5.8-6.2
Flower Color:
Bicolor shades of yellow, orange, red and brown with a brown cone
Special Characteristics:
Attracts butterflies, deer-resistant, cut flowers, showy flowers, easy-to-grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
3-7
Height At Maturity:
18-24"
Sun:
Full sun
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta “Indian Summer”)
Common Name:
Black-eyed Susan
Scientific Name:
Rudbeckia hirta "Indian Summer"
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
5.6 to 6.0
Flower Color:
Bright yellow rays and purplish-brown center disks
Special Characteristics:
Attracts butterflies, deer-resistant, showy flowers, easy-to-grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
3 to 7
Height At Maturity:
24-36"
Sun:
Full sun
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta “Prairie Sun”)
Common Name:
Black-eyed Susan
Scientific Name:
Rudbeckia hirta "Prairie Sun"
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Needs moderate moisture
Soil PH:
5.8-6.2
Flower Color:
Yellow-tipped orange rays with green center disk
Special Characteristics:
Attracts butterflies, deer-resistant, cut flowers, showy flowers, easy-to-grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
3 to 8
Height At Maturity:
30-36"
Sun:
Full sun
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Common Name:
Black-eyed Susan
Scientific Name:
Rudbeckia hirta
Type:
Prennial
Water:
moderate to dry
Soil PH:
6.8 to 7.2
Flower Color:
Yellow, orange, red with maroon to orange banding at petal bases
Special Characteristics:
Attracts birds and butterflies, container, easy-to-grow
Hardiness Zone(s):
3 to 10
Height At Maturity:
24" to 48"
Sun:
Full
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Common Name:
Black-Eyed Susan
Scientific Name:
Rudbeckia hirta
Type:
Perennial
Water:
Medium
Soil PH:
6.5 to 6.8
Flower Color:
Yellow to orange-yellow rays and dark brown centers
Special Characteristics:
Attracts birds and butterflies, Deer resistant
Hardiness Zone(s):
3 to 7
Height At Maturity:
24"-36"
Sun:
Full Sun
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.