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Create a beautiful garden in a sunny yard with these low-maintenance plants.
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If you’ve got a sun-drenched yard and no idea what to plant, keep reading! Full sun landscaping can feel tricky because so many plants will look crisp or wilted by evening (especially here in the South Carolina summer heat).
Whether you’re going for a cottage-style border, a structured and formal front yard garden, or something wild and natural, the right mix of sun-loving shrubs, perennials, and annuals will keep your landscape looking full, lush, and colorful all season long.
This post covers some of the best plants for full sun landscaping, including low-maintenance shrubs, long-blooming perennials, and annuals that add instant color. Plus, this covers easy-care tips so your garden will thrive with minimal effort.
Best shrubs for full sun
Shrubs help anchor a garden design and provide year-round structure. These three sun-loving, low-maintenance shrubs add texture, blooms, and greenery to any full-sun landscape.
Azaleas
Most people think azaleas need shade, but sun-loving varieties like ‘Encore’ azaleas bloom multiple times a year in full sun. They offer big, colorful blooms that look stunning in garden beds or as hedges. My Encore azaleas thrive in the intense South Carolina heat and bloom profusely.
Plant azaleas in spring or fall.
Water twice per week once established.
Trim after blooming ends.
Gardenias
Few plants are as classic and romantic as gardenias. With their glossy evergreen leaves and fragrant white blooms, they make an elegant addition to full-sun landscapes. If your winter temperatures ever dip into the low 20s, try Frostproof gardenias because they are more tolerant of cold weather.
Plant gardenias in spring or fall.
Water them weekly.
If your gardenias start turning yellow, check soil pH. Gardenias don’t absorb iron efficiently if soil pH is above 7.0.
Viburnum
A tough, no-fuss shrub, viburnum thrives in full sun while providing seasonal interest with flowers, berries, and fall color. Some varieties even attract birds and pollinators.
Plant viburnums in either fall or spring.
Water every 7-10 days after plant is established.
Pruning is essential to maintain form.
Best Perennials for Full Sun Landscaping
Perennials come back year after year, making them a budget-friendly way to fill your garden with color.
Russian Sage
A must-have for a dreamy, romantic garden, Russian sage features airy lavender-blue flowers and silvery-green foliage that looks beautiful even when not in bloom.
Plant Russian sage in spring or fall.
Water weekly once established.
Cut back to 6 inches in late winter for fresh spring growth.
Lavender
Nothing beats the classic scent of lavender in a full-sun garden. It thrives in dry, rocky soil and requires almost no maintenance.
Water every two weeks once established. Water more frequently if in a pot.
Prune lavender after flowering to keep plants from getting woody.
Coneflower
Coneflowers are a pollinator magnet, bringing bees and butterflies to the garden. Their bright daisy-like blooms last all summer and even provide winter interest when left standing.
Start coneflower seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before your last frost date.
Water every two weeks.
Leave dried seed heads on stalks in the fall for the birds to enjoy.
Best Annuals for Full Sun
Annuals provide instant color, making them perfect for garden beds, borders, and containers.
Vinca
If you want low-maintenance, drought-tolerant flowers, vinca is a top pick. It thrives in heat and humidity, producing colorful blooms all summer without the need for deadheading.
Plant after your area’s last frost date.
Water vincas weekly.
Vincas self seed so, while your original plants will die in the winter, many new ones will pop up from seed the next summer.
Salvia
Some varieties of salvia are perennials and others are annuals, depending upon the cold hardiness zone. Salvia is one of the easiest full-sun flowers to grow (and propagate), producing spikes of deep purple, blue, white, pink, or red blooms that flower for months. Plus, pollinators love salvia!
Plant salvia in the spring or start seeds 8 weeks before your last frost date.
Water salvia weekly.
Deadhead spent blooms to encourage reblooming.
Rosemary
Rosemary is not just for cooking—it’s a tough, drought-resistant shrub-like tender perennial with fragrant foliage and small blue flowers that pollinators love. In warm climates, it can be grown as a perennial, but it will die in the winter in colder areas.
Plant rosemary in the spring.
Water every two weeks if in the ground or once a week if it’s in a pot.
Rosemary can be pruned into a hedge or left wild for a natural look.
Full Sun Landscaping Tips
Use a two-inch layer of mulch to keep soil cool and to lock in moisture.
Water deeply, but less often to encourage strong root development.
Layer your garden by combining shrubs, perennials, and annuals to create a fuller, more dynamic landscape that looks good all year.
While these plants can be planted in the summer too, planting in the summer heat means more water and attention will be required for your plants to thrive.
If you enjoyed this post, check out my other posts with gardening ideas, which are featured below. I’ve also included links to some of my favorite gardening supplies.
If you’re interested in following along with my garden projects or Victorian home renovation, please visit my Instagram and TikTok pages.
Shop My Favorite Gardening Supplies
You May Also Like:
How to Create the Perfect French Potager Garden
How to Create a Beautiful Cut Flower Garden [Beginner’s Guide]
Container Herb Garden Ideas: Easy & Beautiful Ways to Grow Your Own Herbs
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