Sun Plants
A garden bed in full sun opens the door to some of the toughest, most prolific bloomers available — plants that actually perform better with more light, not less.
What "Full Sun" Really Means
Full sun typically means at least six hours of direct sunlight daily, and many sun-loving plants actually want more than that to bloom at their best. Planting a sun-loving perennial in too little light often results in leggy growth and sparse flowering, even if the plant survives.
Coneflower, black-eyed Susan, lavender, and sunflowers all thrive in full sun and tolerate the heat and occasional drought that often come with it.
Sun-loving plants are often more drought-tolerant once established than shade plants, since they're bred to handle the drier conditions that typically come with direct sun exposure.
Watering in Full Sun
Full-sun beds dry out faster than shady ones, so a thick layer of mulch and deep, less frequent watering serve sun-loving plants better than shallow, frequent watering that mostly evaporates.
