20 Low-Maintenance Outdoors Plants That Grow in Full Sun - Gardening Channel (2024)

By Jennifer Poindexter

Do you need an outdoor plant that’s low-maintenance and can thrive in full sunlight? If so, you need to check through this list.

I’ve compiled a selection of plants that are meant to thrive in this setting. I’m going to fill you in on some of the growing conditions of each plant and let you know if each are perennial or annual.

Whether you’re trying to landscape your entire yard or have a small, sunny garden plot you’d like to fill, there should be something here for you.

Here are low-maintenance outdoor plants that thrive in full sun:

1. Panicle Hydrangea

Panicle hydrangeas produce fluffy clusters of blooms in a range of colors. This is a larger plant that can reach between eight and twenty feet in height.

Should you choose to grow panicle hydrangeas, be sure to select a growing location with four or more hours of sunlight per day. The more sun the plant receives, the more it blooms. Panicle hydrangeas also need well-draining soil of any variety. This variety of hydrangea is hardy from planting zones three through eight.

2. Daffodils

Daffodils are a bright flower that produces bell-shaped blooms from prominent green leaves. These plants thrive in sunny locations and require at least six hours of sun per day.

Plus, daffodils need well-draining soil. This is vital to avoid issues with rot. Daffodils are perennials and remain hardy in planting zones three through eight.

3. Daylily

If you’d like a gorgeous flower that will add a unique flare and bright colors to your property, don’t overlook the daylily. They’re hard to miss with their bright layered blooms and rich leaves.

Should you choose to grow daylilies, be sure to supply a location with full sunlight and well-draining soil. These flowers are perennial and should return for years in planting zones four through nine.

4. Salvia

Salvia is a gorgeous plant that begins with a base of lush foliage. From there, the plant produces long stems with colorful, vertical blooms. This flower is hard to miss. If salvia is the right plant for your landscape, be sure to supply a growing location with no less than six hours of sunlight each day.

Also, supply the plant with well-draining soil. Salvia comes in different varieties. Some of which are perennial, and others are annual. Perennial salvia is typically hardy in planting zones four through ten.

5. Coneflower

Coneflowers are hard to miss due to their unique shape. These beautiful plants produce colorful petals that drop and cause the center to protrude. Therefore, causing the plant to take on a cone shape.

When growing coneflowers, be sure to supply a location with full sunlight and adequately draining soil. Coneflowers are perennial and remain hardy in planting zones three through nine.

6. Russian Sage

Russian sage is a gorgeous plant that’s known for being tough, too. This plant is more like a shrub as it produces green leaves and light purple blooms. Russian sage can grow to be three feet tall or larger. It also takes on a similar width.

Should you grow Russian sage, be aware that it’s a perennial that’s hardy in planting zones four through nine. It also can withstand periods of high temperatures and drought. Be sure to supply Russian sage with a growing area that has well-draining soil and full sun. The more sunlight, the more this plant will bloom.

7. Virginia Sweetspire

Virginia sweetspire is a unique shrub that produces green leaves and blooms, which resemble a cat’s tail, throughout the bush.

This plant grows best in areas with partial sunlight and fertile soil that’s well-draining. Virginia sweetspire is a perennial and remains hardy in planting zones six through nine. Do keep in mind that this shrub is deciduous.

8. Black Eyed Susan

Black Eyed Susans are hard to miss because of their bright yellow petals and dark centers. If you’d like to grow this flower around your property, ensure you have the conditions right. When growing Black Eyed Susans, it’s important that they’re provided with full sunlight. This keeps the flowers from becoming leggy.

Plus, the plants need fertile, well-draining soil. Black Eyed Susans come in both perennial and annual varieties. Should you choose a perennial option, they should remain hardy in planting zones three through ten.

9. Catmint

Catmint is an exuberant plant filled with gorgeous colors. It begins with small, green foliage and produces an abundance of light purple blooms which add a great deal of life to their growing location.

Once you decide to grow catmint, it’s important to realize this is a perennial plant. Therefore, it should grow in an area where it can be left undisturbed during its dormant period. This plant remains hardy in planting zones four through eight. Be sure to supply a growing location with full sunlight and well-draining soil.

10. Red Hot Poker

The red hot poker plant is a unique option for a low-maintenance plant around your home. It grows to be approximately four feet tall and three feet wide.

Plus, its coloring makes it resemble a red-hot poker. This plant doesn’t need much aside from a location with full sunlight and well-draining soil. It’s a perennial plant and is hardy in planting zones six through nine.

11. Lavender

Lavender is another great plant that starts with small green leaves and produces bright purple blooms. This plant grows in the ground or in containers.

However, no matter where you grow it, lavender must have well-draining soil to avoid disease. Don’t amend the soil as lavender doesn’t require a lot of nutrients. It also needs full sun to encourage prolific blooming. Lavender is a perennial in planting zones five through nine.

12. Holly

Holly is a low-maintenance plant that provides subtle beauty throughout the year. It starts with basic, rigid foliage. In the cooler months, the plant produces red berries.

Plus, you can prune holly to keep it the size you desire. The main thing is to ensure that holly is grown in a location with full sunlight and well-draining soil that’s evenly damp. Holly is a perennial in planting zones five through nine.

13. Shasta Daisies

Shasta daisies are what many think of when they think of the traditional daisy. The flowers produce vibrant white petals with bright yellow centers.

Grow Shasta daisies in areas with full sunlight and rich, well-draining soil. These flowers are perennials in planting zones four through nine.

14. Sedum

Sedum is a difficult plant to overlook. It produces small blooms which come together in clusters to create larger, more colorful blooms. This plant (also known as stonecrop) is low-maintenance and only needs a growing location with full to partial sunlight and well-draining soil.

If the soil remains oversaturated at any time, then you could have issues with disease. Sedum is perennial and should remain hardy in planting zones three through eleven.

15. Pink Muhly Grass

If you want to add some pizzazz to your surroundings, you must consider growing pink muhly grass. This plant reminds me of pampas grass, only it has pink tufts at the top.

Should you decide to incorporate this plant into your landscape, be sure to provide an area with full sunlight and well-draining soil. Pink muhly grass is a perennial in zones six through nine.

16. Bee Balm

Bee balm is such a unique plant. It blooms in a vibrant pink color and forms blooms with wispy petals. This flower will add both color and texture to your landscape.

If bee balm is the right plant for your situation, be sure to plant it in an area that has full sunlight and in soil that’s rich, evenly damp, and well-draining. Bee balm is a perennial plant in zones three through nine.

17. Creeping Phlox

Creeping phlox is a beautiful groundcover which produces small, colorful blooms. When used as groundcover, it appears almost like a colorful carpet sprawling across a designated space. Should you choose creeping phlox, be sure to supply the growing area with ample sunlight and well-draining soil.

You should amend the soil where you’re planting creeping phlox and water it regularly until the plant is established. It’s rather self-sufficient from there. Creeping phlox is also a perennial plant that’s hardy in zones three through nine.

18. Bluestar

Bluestar (also known as amsonia) is a shrub-like plant that produces small, blue, star-shaped blooms amongst its green foliage.

This plant grows well in full sunlight and in soil that’s well-draining. Amend the soil prior to planting to ensure it can retain an adequate amount of moisture without leaving the plant’s roots in a soggy state. This is a perennial plant that’s hardy in zones three through nine.

19. Rose Mallow

Rose mallow is a gorgeous plant that starts in a shrub form (like many roses), but produces blooms which are similar to a hibiscus.

If you’d like to grow this unique, low-maintenance plant around your home, be sure to provide the right growing conditions. Rose mallow thrives in areas with full sunlight and loamy, well-draining soil. This is a perennial plant that’s hardy in zones four through nine.

20. False Indigo

Our last low-maintenance, sun-loving outdoor plant to discuss is false indigo. This is a shrub-like plant which consists of bright green leaves and vertical blooms filled with blue flowers.

False indigo is a perennial plant which remains hardy in planting zones three through nine. Be sure to supply the right growing conditions for this plant as it needs an area with full sun. False indigo has a will to survive, so it can handle any type of soil as long as it drains adequately.

You now have twenty different options for outdoor plants that can handle full sunlight and require little in return from you.

Pick the plants you love, ensure you’re in the right planting zone, and be sure to provide adequate growing conditions. From there, start making your landscape one of beauty and little fuss.

More About Sun-Loving, Low-Maintenance Plants

https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/2004/5-21-2004/perennials.html

https://extension.psu.edu/planting-in-sun-or-shade

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