Hey there, sun lovers! Ready to turn your garden into a dazzling oasis of color and life? Welcome to our guide on the best flowers for pots in full sun! If you’ve got a sunny spot begging for some floral flair, you’re in for a treat. Whether you’re looking to jazz up hanging baskets, brighten up window boxes, or create a spectacular container garden, we’ve got the perfect picks for you.
Picture this: heat-tolerant and drought-tolerant beauties thriving under the summer sun, while sweet potato vine and vibrant blooms attract pollinators, making your outdoor space a buzzing haven.
Let’s get planting and watch your sunny spots burst into life!
Best Flowers for Pots in Full Sun
Here are some of the best flowers for pots you can grow in full sun:
1. Zahara Zinnia
These plants thrive in well-drained soil that keeps them comfortably dry throughout their life cycle. Plant them in a sunny spot with at least six hours of full sun a day, ensuring good air circulation to ward off powdery mildew. When watering, aim for the roots and avoid soaking the foliage to keep it dry and happy.
Zinnias, with their cheerful flowers, absolutely love basking in full sun containers. They are highly attractive to pollinators, especially butterflies, and come in three delightful bloom types: single, double, and semi-double. Pair them with sweet potato vine for an eye-catching container arrangement, or add them to cut flower arrangements for a burst of color.
2. Diamond Frost Euphorbia
Grow Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’ in full sun or partial shade, nestled in rich, moist, well-drained soil. Whether you treat it as an annual and compost it when it’s past its prime or overwinter it in a bright, frost-free spot, this plant is a versatile gem.
Bring it indoors as a houseplant and provide plenty of light. It effortlessly fills in between other plants in a container, making it a superstar in any container arrangement.
This beauty thrives in full-sun but also shines in partial sun. It pairs wonderfully with other plant choices, like coral bells and the striking canna lily. Don’t forget about its ability to handle heat and drought like a champ! With its delicate white flowers, it adds a touch of elegance to your flower bed.
3. Mandevilla Vine
Mandevilla plants love sunshine and need at least six hours of sunlight daily to thrive. While they can handle a bit of shade, full sun is their happy place for the best blooms. Ideal temperatures for these versatile annuals range from a warm 70-90°F (21-32°C) during the day to a cooler 60-65°F (15-18°C) at night.
If you grow a mandevilla in a spot with less than six hours of direct sunlight, you might miss out on a bounty of beautiful flowers. But if you’re in a sizzling hot locale like Phoenix or Austin, your Mandevilla will actually appreciate some afternoon shade during the peak of summer.
4. Gomphrena
Gomphrena is a hardy plant that can handle a variety of soils as long as it has good drainage. When planting in pots, be sure to use a high-quality, all-purpose potting mix to keep them happy. Though these proven winners are somewhat drought-tolerant once established, they thrive best with regular watering for optimal vigour and flowering.
Grow Gomphrena in sun for the best blooms, making it a fantastic choice for summer and fall displays. While it’s an annual in most zones, some varieties can be perennial in zones 9 to 10. This plant does well in dry conditions, but remember to water young plants and during drought conditions to help them thrive. Perfect for pots and baskets and even as a filler among petunias, Gomphrena adds a pop of color to your lawn.
Enjoy their beautiful foliage and vibrant hues all season long!
5. Verbena
Verbena thrives in sun or partial shade, making it a fantastic addition to your patio or lawn. This sun-loving plant prefers a location that gets at least 6-8 hours of full or partial sun, though 8-10 hours is even better. Drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, it is perfect for xeriscaping or low-water gardens.
To keep your plant happy and blooming, fertilize it once a month with a slow-release, balanced fertilizer.
Pair it with other patio favorites like lantana and geraniums for a stunning display. For a touch of variety, consider adding variegated plants or even some yellow accents to make your flower bed burst with life.
6. Calibrachoa
Calibrachoa loves to soak up the sun, preferring sun to partial shade with at least six hours of sunlight daily. While these proven winners can tolerate a bit of shade, too much will leave you with fewer blooms and leggy growth. For the most spectacular flowering and healthy plants, make sure your Calibrachoa gets plenty of bright, direct sunlight.
Pop them into hanging baskets alongside petunias for a dazzling display that can handle the heat. With their love for sunlight, Calibrachoa will bloom their hearts out, turning any space into a sunny paradise.
7. Dahlias
Dahlias absolutely thrive in sun, soaking up those rays to grow sturdy stems and produce vibrant, abundant blooms. However, if you’re gardening in a particularly hot climate, your dahlias will appreciate a bit of afternoon shade to shield them from the intense heat and prevent plant stress.
For a truly stunning flower bed display, mix in some purple dahlias with cheerful yellow growth and perhaps a splash of red from your geraniums. And don’t forget about coleus! Their colorful foliage can add a striking contrast to your vibrant dahlia blooms. With the right care and location, your lawn will be a kaleidoscope of color all summer long!
8. Supertunia Petunia
Supertunia Vista Jazzberry loves basking in sun and shows off cheerful flowers when it gets plenty of rays. But don’t worry, even if it gets a bit of light shade, especially in warmer climates, it will still bloom beautifully. If you’re giving your plants all the food and water they need but they aren’t bursting with blooms, try moving your container arrangements to a sunnier spot.
For the best results, these proven winners should be planted in a location that gets at least 6 hours of sun.
As a versatile annual, it pairs wonderfully with other container plants, and for an extra splash of color, why not mix in some blue flowers too? Your flower bed will be the talk of the neighborhood with these dazzling blooms!
9. Parsley
Like most herbs, parsley loves the sun and attract butterflies. It thrives best in a sunny spot that gets six to eight hours of direct light each day. While it can handle a bit of light shade, it prefers to bask in the rays.
Italian Parsley can be a sun worshipper, but there’s a fine line between basking and baking! Too much direct sunlight can stress the plant, causing it to drop its leaves as a sign of surrender. So, give it the right balance and watch it flourish. This versatile herb makes a great filler in your pots alongside sun annuals like geraniums. Whether you’re growing it as a perennial or an annual, parsley will add a lush green touch to your lawn.
Conclusion
And there you have it, sun-loving gardeners! With these fabulous flowers for pots in sun, your garden is sure to be the envy of the neighborhood. From the cheerful Zahara Zinnias to the tropical charm of Mandevilla Vine, and the elegant white flowers of Diamond Frost Euphorbia, there’s something for every sunny spot in your outdoor space.
Don’t forget to mix and match with other vibrant plants like petunias, sweet potato vine, and coleus to create stunning container arrangements that will dazzle all season long.
So grab your gardening gloves, get those pots ready, and let the sunshine work its magic. Your garden will be buzzing with butterflie and brimming with beauty in no time.
