10 Flowers That Thrive in Full Sun

By Southern Living
Alison Miksch

The Southern sun is no match for these bright beauties. They look good in the summer, spring, or fall, as long as the sun is shining. Plant them as a part of a container, or put them in a beautiful flowerbed. No matter which way you work them; the blossoming blooms are sure to be a stunner.

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Pansies

Pansies are the easiest way for new and experienced gardeners to bring cheer to a fall garden. So long as they have full sun, pansies will thrive in flowerbeds or containers.

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Coneflowers

Ralph Anderson

These Southern natives thrive in heat and humidity. They bloom best in full sun but can tolerate a little afternoon shade. Coneflowers can be drought-tolerant, but should be watered regularly in their first season. The wildflowers attract birds, bees, and butterflies and make excellent cut flowers.

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Salvia & Sage

Roger Foley

Hummingbirds and butterfilies love these attractive blooms. Cousin to the culinary sage, these plants are grown mostly for show. The blossoms get big, so keep in mind when planting that they need plenty of room to grow. Combine them with old-fashioned mums, asters, goldenrods, ornamental grasses, or roses.

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Lantana

Hector M Sanchez

A beautifully potted Lantana will give color all summer and fall. The heat-tolerant plant loves full sun, and you only need a few plants to put on a show. Floridians–beware. Lantana seedlings can be invasive, so plant selections that set little or no seed such as ‘Gold Mound’ and ‘Pinkie.’

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Arranging Flowers with James Farmer

We went behind the scenes with SL Editor-At-Large James Farmer at his Perry, Georgia cottage to talk about his best tips and tricks for holiday entertaining. These simple flower arranging ideas will bring your Christmas decor to the next level.

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Mums

Alison Miksch

Mums are meant for sharing, and they make it easy to do so. Heirloom mums grow in clumps and can be passed along in a pot. Mums grow between two and three feet, and are best or sharing in late fall or spring. Combine with salvias, asters, or gasses for a beautiful display.

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Zinnias

Robbie Caponetto

You can’t ask for a more beautiful addition to your garden than Zinnias. The easiest annuals to start from seeds, these bright buds will bloom in containers until an autumn frost. Snip them just as they are beginning to open for a show-stopping centerpiece.

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Violas

Ralph Anderson

According to Jimmy Turner, the director of gardens at the Dallas Arboretum, violas “bloom longer than pansies and are more prolific,” making them a great choice for containers. Violas grow in a range of colors including, white, yellow, pink, red, orange, and even black. Turner also says that newer selections are cold weather tolerant, making them ideal to plant in the Lower, Middle, Coastal, and Tropical South in the fall.

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Serena Angelonia

Van Chaplin

Not only does this beauty love the sun, it also only needs to be watered about once a week.

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Fanflower (Scaevola)

Van Chaplin

Fanflowers will need to be watered about three times a week and does best in containers.

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Peonies

Alison Miksch

We know they make the most beautiful cut flowers, but while in the garden they love full sun. When cutting from the garden, do so in the early morning and choose buds that are just beginning to open.

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