When planning your garden, it’s important to consider the sun exposure different areas receive. For spots that bask in afternoon sun, you have many beautiful flower options to choose from. These plants are well-adapted to handle the intense afternoon heat and light, offering a variety of colors and forms to brighten your landscape.
Here are 12 flowers that perform well in afternoon sun, suitable for various garden styles and hardiness zones.
Coreopsis
Tickseed, or coreopsis, is a plant that usually blooms from early summer to October, offering a long season of color. These flowers complement many garden types because they come in a variety of colors, such as yellows, pinks, and reds. Because coreopsis grows best in full sun and prefers well-drained soil, it may be grown in a variety of locales with considerable ease. These flowers are quite low-maintenance despite their beauty; once established, they just need occasional watering and little fertilizer.
Salvia
Salvia comes in a variety of colors, such as red, purple, blue, and white. These plants grow best in full light and do best in well-draining soil. Since salvia is a perennial in hardiness zones 4 through 10, it can withstand a wide range of weather conditions. Furthermore, it attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies, which can help improve the health of your garden ecosystem. Once grown, salvia is relatively drought-tolerant, but regular watering is still required.
Zinnias
Zinnias need full sun to thrive and bloom from late spring until the first frost. Bees and butterflies like these annuals, which improves pollination in gardens. They require only moderate irrigation and are known to withstand droughts; they love well-drained soil. Furthermore, they thrive in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 10, which makes them available to a wide range of gardeners in various locations.
Marigolds
Marigolds are available in an extensive spectrum of hues, such as yellow, orange, red, and various combinations of these. These hardy annuals are known for their ability to tolerate full sunlight, which is essential for their growth. They need modest watering to prevent root rot and grow best in well-draining soils. Marigolds are also resistant to damage from deer and rabbits, which makes them a sensible option for a lot of gardens. Additionally, their potent scent serves to repel pests.
Daylilies
Daylilies are perennial plants that bloom for only one day at a time. Despite this, the plants produce flowers all year long. They need at least six hours of direct sunshine per day to grow to their maximum potential, and they do best in full sun. Because these flowers are hardy in zones 3 through 9, they can be found in a wide range of temperatures. Daylilies are a popular choice for many gardeners since they usually require little maintenance and appreciate well-draining soil.
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)
Once established, Gaillardia, often known as the blanket flower, is a drought-tolerant plant that requires little to no watering. For maximum growth and performance, these flowers need full light and well-drained soil. USDA zones 3 through 10 are where they are hardy, and they can tolerate a wide range of climates. In addition to being very attractive to bees and butterflies, gaillardias also attract pollinators, which is good for garden ecosystems. They require little care in general, though deadheading is advised to promote ongoing blooming.
Lantana
Once planted, lantana requires little care and grows best in full light. In hardiness zones 8 through 11, it is a perennial; in other zones, it may be an annual. Lantanas are available in a variety of colors, including red, orange, yellow, pink, purple, and white. Their blooms can exhibit several different tones at once. Their ability to draw in a variety of pollinators, such as butterflies and bees, makes them a favorite among gardeners who wish to assist the local wildlife.
Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia)
Rudbeckia, or Black-Eyed Susans, provide a long-lasting show of color when they bloom, usually from mid-summer to early fall. They are a great option for sunny gardens because they flourish in direct sunshine. These flowers are hardy in zones 3 through 9, meaning they can tolerate a wide range of temperatures. Maintenance is generally low, requiring only occasional watering and deadheading to prolong the bloom period. For many gardeners, they are a dependable alternative because of their resilience.
Russian Sage
Russian sage, which blooms from mid-summer to fall, is renowned for having a long bloom period. It thrives in full sunlight, requiring at least six hours daily for optimal growth. This perennial plant exhibits strong resilience to deer and rabbit predation and prefers well-drained soil. Russian sage is also a great addition to gardens that aim to maintain local ecosystems because it attracts a lot of pollinators, like bees and butterflies.
Verbenas
Verbenas prefer well-drained soil for optimum development, but they also need frequent watering and full sun to flourish. They bloom in colors ranging from red and pink to purple and white, and they do so from late spring until the first frost. Bees and butterflies, two pollinators, are especially drawn to these flowers. Because they typically require little care, verbenas are a great choice for gardeners seeking an easy-to-maintain accent for their outdoor space.
Gazania
The blooming season of gazania flowers varies, although they usually bloom from late spring to early October. They do well in full sunlight, which promotes more frequent and intense blooms. These hardy plants work well in sandy soils and rock gardens since they prefer well-drained soil. Furthermore, once established, gazanias need little watering due to their drought tolerance, which makes them a low-maintenance choice for gardeners looking to add color without putting in a lot of work.
Japanese Anemone
Japanese Anemones are perennials that bloom from late summer to early fall, making them a reliable choice for end-of-season color. These flowers prefer well-draining, organic matter-rich soil and thrive in partial shade. Although they require frequent watering to keep the soil damp but not soggy, they are rather low maintenance. Japanese anemones are adaptable to many types of gardens since they can tolerate cooler conditions and are hardy in zones 4 through 8.