Gardening Ideas Sun Loving Plants 12 Plants that Were Made for Sun-Drenched Porches By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on April 28, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Alison Miksch Adding a colorful container garden to an entry is an easy way to spruce up your front porch. Before picking your plants, though, think about how much sun your stoop gets throughout the day. Does your entrance receive six hours or more on a daily basis? For these sun-drenched porches, choose flowers labeled as full sun that can withstand the South's hot summer rays. Here are 12 sun-loving blooms that will thrive in containers from late spring through summer. 01 of 12 Hydrangeas Ralph Anderson The South's favorite flowering shrub can also be grown in containers, usually in part sun or shade. If your porch is sunny during the hottest part of the day, no problem. While many hydrangeas like to be sheltered from afternoon sun, panicle hydrangeas are especially sun-loving. Choose a dwarf variety like 'Little Lime,' which grows 3 or 4 feet tall. Give hydrangea plants a large enough container for their roots to grow and water frequently to prevent wilting. 02 of 12 Lantanas Hector M Sanchez Lantana is a long-lasting, dependable bedding flower or small shrub that craves the summer sun. This flower thrives throughout hot, dry summers in planters, window boxes, or hanging baskets, continuing to bloom until the first frost. In the hottest climates, it can bloom year-round. Give lantana well-drained soil and water when dry. 03 of 12 Verbenas Verbena Easy-to-grow verbena bears showy clusters of red, pink, purple, or white tubular flowers. With moderate water, this pollinator-friendly plant will survive through drought and heat. Plant verbena in containers or hanging baskets in a spot with full sun, where it will keep blooming until frost. 04 of 12 Geraniums Potted geraniums add striking summer color to front porches. Choose a heat-tolerant selection in the Americana, Eclipse, Maverick, or Orbit series. When temperatures start getting really hot, geraniums can experience a "heat check," where the flowers stop blooming until the weather cools off. Avoid this by giving your geraniums some afternoon shade. Grow them in containers or window boxes, and give moderate to regular water. 05 of 12 Pentas Photo: Ralph Anderson Tropical pentas have bright clustered flower heads and thrive in full sun. Be sure to give these flowers plenty of water; they won't survive a drought. Pentas also attract beneficial pollinators like hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Plant them in fertile soil with good drainage. 06 of 12 Scaevolas Photo: Ralph Anderson This Australian flower isn't afraid of heat. Grow fan-shaped scaevolas in window boxes, containers, or hanging baskets in full sun. Blooms range in shades from lavender to blue and pink to white. With moderate to regular water, scaevolas will bloom throughout summer until the first frost. 07 of 12 Spider Flowers Getty Images Plant spider flowers, or cleome, in larger containers, since their stems can grow 3 or 4 feet tall. Cleome grows on a single stem, so group several together for dramatic effect. These blooms are known for the long stamens that protrude from the blooming flowers. With full sun and regular water, spider flower will stay alive throughout summer and into fall, the blooms traveling upward as the plant grows. 08 of 12 Cosmos Laurey W. Glenn Daisylike cosmos come in a range of vibrant colors and has ferny foliage that lends an airy appearance to flowerbeds and containers. Use a dwarf variety of this typically tall annual to avoid lanky flowers that could fall over. Pinch spent blooms to keep it blooming until fall, and give cosmos full sun and moderate water. 09 of 12 Zinnias Alison Miksch Zinnias are a hallmark of summer gardens. Their bright, cheery blooms are great additions to cut arrangements. Typically planted in the ground, zinnias will also grow well in containers. Give these annuals full sun and regular water, and they will continue blooming until first frost. These pink and yellow zinnias are paired with a sun-loving spiller flower, calibrachoa. 10 of 12 SunPatiens Hector Manuel Sanchez SunPatiens are a cross between the New Guinea hybrids and a wild species of impatiens. But unlike their relatives, SunPatiens were bred to grow in full sun and hot temperatures. Find these annuals in warm colors ranging from orange to coral to red. Water regularly to keep them blooming from mid-spring until fall. Usually grown as annuals, they are winter-hardy in USDA Zone 10. 11 of 12 Succulents Succulents were bred to withstand dry, arid climates and little water. Grow sedum, echeveria, or sempervivum in your front-porch container. Plant in fast-draining potting soil, and give full sun and moderate water. 12 of 12 Coneflower Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Location: Alys Beach, Florida Colorful coneflowers are usually planted in a sunny flower bed, but these perennials can also add flair to a container garden. Coneflowers will take regular water, but they can also tolerate drought. Goldfinches and other birds snack on their seeds in fall. The foliage will die back after a frost, when you can transfer it to the garden. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit