Perennial Plants For Pots In Full Sun

I know…I know… picking the right perennial plants for pots in full sun is not easy. It’s not because you’re short on options. The fact is often on the contrary; a lot of people feel so overwhelmed as there are too many options to consider.

In this article, I’ll give you some promising recommendations. They all are easy to grow, low-maintenance, and uniquely beautiful.

Let’s get started!

Hellebore

Hardiness: USDA 4-9

Spread: 18 inches

Height: 12 inches

Hellebores are woodland edge plants. They tolerate full shade to full sun and will thrive the best in rich, moisture-retentive soil.

Because of their deep rooting nature, hellebores should be planted in deep pots with a wider top than the bottom.

In January and February, hellebores bloom and often attract beneficial pollinators like bees.

Heuchera

Hardiness: USDA 6-9

Spread: 1 to 2 feet

Height: 8 to 12 inches

Heucheras can be evergreen or semi-evergreen.

While most heucheras species love the partial shade, there are still some exceptions.

For example, heuchera villosa is a hardy species that tolerates partial shade to full sun. It's unfazed by high humidity and thrives in slightly dry to slightly wet soil conditions.

Heucheras can be grown in pots or containers.

But remember to ensure the bottom of the pot is well-drained and provide the plant with a loam-based compost to keep the soil reasonably moist during the winter.

Festuca Glauca

Hardiness: USDA 4-8

Spread: 6-9 inches

Height: 9-12 inches

Festuca glauca is a popular ornamental grass with an emphasis on pale yellow flowers and round icy blue foliage, making it fit well in high pots.

A lot of gardeners like this grass because it has a fine texture, grows fast, and is easy to care for.

You just need to mulch your Festuca glauca pots with 3" layers of advisable organic material to suppress weed growth and prevent moisture from evaporating off the soil.

Note: Festuca glauca prefers dry, well-drained soil and blooms in the summer.

Daylilies

Hardiness: USDA 4-9

Spread: 12 inches

Height: 12 inches

Daylilies grow happily in full sun and can be planted in pots. The smaller the daylily variety, the better it is to grow in pots.

Ideally, grow one daylily plant per pot, and you should remember to water it more often than those planted in the ground.

Make sure the pots have drainage holes.

Daylilies are generally easy to maintain and extremely hardy; even young plants tolerate drought.

While you can use any type of soil for this plant, if grown in slightly moist, well-drained soil supplemented with a good amount of organic matter, daylilies will bloom a lot.

Penstemon

Hardiness: USDA 4-9

Spread: 12 inches

Height: 8-20 inches

Penstemons are sun lovers.

They need full sun to decrease the risk of the plant developing leave-involved diseases, prevent the plant from flopping, and put out quality blooms.

Penstemons require fertile soil that's moderately moist and well-drained.

You can grow them in pots or garden boxes as long as they're watered regularly (especially during hot months) and provided with enough nutrients. The best time to start growing penstemons is in spring to early summer, and you can grow from seeds easily.

Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve'

Hardiness: USDA 6-9

Spread: 24 inches

Height: 30 inches

Erysimum 'Bowles's Mauve' is a bushy evergreen perennial with a max height of 30 inches if properly maintained.

This is a great choice for Coastal, Gravel, or Mediterranean-style gardens because it likes full sun and well-drained, moderately fertile soil.

Erysimum 'Bowles's Mauve' is renowned for erect racemes of rich mauve flowers and narrow, dark green leaves.

Lavender

Hardiness: USDA 5-9

Spread: 24 inches

Height: 24-30 inches

Lavender is a Mediterranean perennial herb in many areas and requires at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight every day.

This plant is easy to grow and adaptable to any soil type as long as it's well-drained; in wet spots, lavender roots are prone to rot.

The best condition of lavenders is moderately fertile, dry, or poor soil, including alkaline and chalky soils. Potted in highly fertile soil, they are more likely to develop just stems and leaves rather than flowering.

Lavenders come back every year for around 3-5 years.

Geranium Dreamland

Hardiness: USDA 5-9

Spread: 15 inches

Height: 15 inches

This perennial plant is considered one of the easiest-to-grow and most durable options for beginners. They will grow happily in either part shade or full sun and can adapt to all soil types that are not waterlogged or parched.

Many gardeners love Geranium Dreamland because of its unique beauty: soft pink flowers in large cup shapes with dark veins and a pale center.

Not only in pots but this plant is also grown in the ground and at the front of a border.

Conclusion

There are a lot of options to consider when it comes to perennial plants for pots in full sun. But to pick the right one for your garden, you should determine the weather conditions in your area, your gardening skills, and your preference.

All the picks in this article are the hardiest, easiest to grow, and low-maintenance that anyone can start with ease.

I will keep updating the list, so please come back to get more suggestions.