Full sun is usually describe as six to eight hours of sunlight per day . But some garden may be gay eight , 10 or even 12 hours a day — blazing hot Sunday . Fortunately , there are perennial that thrive in utmost sun and the dryness that tends to go with it .
I start thinking about extreme sun plants after inflict a admirer who wanted to re - landscape an area of her backyard . The area flank a tumid patio and beyond the patio and planting area was an grand lawn with a view of a pond . All the tree on the multi - acre property were off to the sides . She preferred perennials over shrub for the area . So , what to plant ? Here are five to consider ( plus a few more just for fun . )
Yarrow . you could not tucker out yarrow ( Achilleaspp . ) for area of utmost Sunday . Yarrow thrives in live , sunny areas and tolerates dryness as well . While usual yarrow has a livid , umbrella - like rosiness , newfangled cultivars boast blooms that are scarlet , peach , yellow , pinkish and multicolored . Once plant , it needs short maintenance . It bloom for weeks , and will rebloom if you cut it back after bloom . Butterflies have it away it . Yarrow also adds texture and colour to sweetness , gain it a near cut blossom .
Achillea spp. Image courtesy of Mary Lahr Schier
Gaillardia . Commonly call in blanket flower , Gaillardiais a native to the western United States and boom in red-hot , dry , very sunny location . It is stout to USDA Zone 3 so anyone can develop it . Its blooms proffer undimmed shades of red , chickenhearted and orange and bloom tend to last for weeks . It make a great cut flower , too . It attracts pollinators and cervid and rabbit stay aside from it . If you have a very gay garden , you could n’t require for a better plant than mantle flower .
Sedum . Yes , Autumn Joyis over - planted , a favourite of office - construction landscape everywhere , but that ’s just the beginning of the sedums available for northern gardeners . If you like black foliage , try‘Night Embers’or‘Dark Magic’orRock N’Grow ™ ‘ Back in Black’tall sedum . Or peradventure you choose vary foliage . PlantAutumn CharmorFrosted Fire . Sedum also offers groundcover choice , such as‘Pink Emperor’orSedum Atlantis ™ ,a inadequate , vary sedum that ’s a conversation appetizer . Whichever you plant , they ’ll thrive in your sunniest garden .
Russian salvia . This plant ( Perovskia atriplicifolia ) is gentle to acquire in northern climates thanlavenderand less floppy than catmint ( Nepeta ) , though both of those are also big full - sun options . But for leisurely care and season - retentive bloom , you’re able to not beat Russian sage in a full - sunshine site . Its clear purple flowers emerge in midsummer and keep blooming until drop . Once set up , it can take very dry sites and does n’t ask much fertilizer . Its only defect is it lean to fall flat , especially in wet seasons . new varieties , such as‘Denim N ’ Lace’and‘Blue Jean Baby’tend to be shorter , denser and more upright than common Russian sage .
Gaillardia aristata‘Arizona Apricot’
Daylilies . While not quite as low - maintenance as the other options , daylilies bloom more and more beautifully in extreme sunlight . And , they come inso many varietiesthat you could have a garden filled with sun - loving daylily and never be world-weary . They are not fussy about land though they do necessitate adequate moisture when first planted . To keep the blooms come , you will want to deadhead ( get rid of ) the spent blossoms every day during bloom time .
More Sun buff
Mary Lahr Schieris the writer ofThe Northern Gardener : From Apples to Zinnias .
Perovskia atriplicifolia‘Denim N’ Lace’
Note : Feature image ( frog in daylily ) good manners of Mary Lahr Schier . All other images are courtesy ofWalters Gardens Inc.unless otherwise submit .
Learn more inNorthern Gardener®magazine…
Four seasonal issues full of arise bakshish and featured garden — written and edit by local northerly gardening pros just for you .
Hemerocallis‘Carnival in Caracas’Image courtesy of Mary Lahr Schier
