Want to brighten up those hot, sunny spots in your yard but not sure what to plant? Don’t worry – I’ve done all the hard work for you!
After years of testing different flowers in my super sunny garden, I’ve found 10 that are basically impossible to kill, even in full sun.
1. Black-Eyed Susan
I fell in love with Black-Eyed Susans the moment I planted them in my front yard border.
These cheerful wildflowers are practically bulletproof, spreading quickly and creating waves of golden blooms that light up the garden from late summer through autumn.
Their daisy-like flowers, with vibrant yellow petals surrounding dark centers, never fail to attract butterflies to my garden.
2. Million Bells (Calibrachoa)
My porch wouldn’t be complete without hanging baskets overflowing with Million Bells.
These delightful trailing plants produce countless mini bell-shaped blooms in every color imaginable – from bright pinks to deep purples and sunny yellows.
I especially love how they keep flowering from spring until the first frost, giving me months of gorgeous color with minimal effort.
3. Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon)
When the summer heat sends other flowers into retreat, my Angelonia stands tall and proud.
These elegant spikes of orchid-like blooms have become my go-to for hot, sunny spots where other flowers struggle.
I only need to water them once a week, making them perfect for busy moms like me who sometimes forget their gardening duties!
4. Chrysanthemums (Mums)
Every fall, I treat myself to fresh mums to brighten up my garden’s autumn display.
These spectacular plants become completely covered in blooms, offering everything from classic daisy shapes to fluffy pom-poms.
I’ve started dividing my perennial mums to share with neighbors, creating a wonderful community of mum enthusiasts in our neighborhood.
5. Coneflowers
My garden wouldn’t be complete without these tough-as-nails beauties.
They handle our hot, humid summers like champions, and the birds and butterflies simply can’t resist them.
I love cutting a few stems to bring inside, where they last for days in a simple mason jar arrangement.
6. Cosmos
If you’re looking for a flower that gives maximum impact with minimum effort, cosmos are your answer.
I simply scatter their seeds in spring, and they reward me with masses of starry blooms all summer long.
These carefree flowers have become my children’s favorites, as they love watching the butterflies and birds they attract.
7. Delphiniums
These stately flowers add much-needed height to my sunny border.
While they need some support to stand tall, their magnificent blue, pink, and purple spikes are worth the extra effort.
I’ve found that giving them eight hours of sunlight daily results in the most impressive blooms.
8. Daylilies
Talk about easy-care plants – daylilies are the definition of low-maintenance beauty!
I started with just three plants, and now I have a gorgeous collection in nearly every color imaginable.
Even during our worst drought years, these tough plants kept blooming reliably.
9. Foxgloves
These enchanting flowers bring a touch of cottage garden charm to my sunny spaces.
Their bell-shaped blooms never fail to delight my children, who call them “fairy houses.”
I appreciate how adaptable they are, thriving in both full sun and partial shade in my garden.
10. Hibiscus
For pure tropical drama, nothing beats the dinner-plate-sized blooms of hibiscus.
I grow mine in large containers that I can move around the patio to create instant focal points.
They do need regular watering and feeding, but those spectacular flowers make it totally worth the extra attention.