Plants That Like Full Sun and Heat

Ask any gardener what one of the biggest challenges they face is keeping a well-rounded and thriving garden year-round, and many will declare that solving the heat problem during long, hot summers is top of the list. 

The good news is that there are lots of beautiful plants that actually love full sun and plenty of heat, meaning that summertime is their jam. Listed below are some of our favorite plants that like full sun and heat. Try planting a few of them in your garden this summer, and see what happens!

1. Lemon Verbena 

Lemon Verbena is a herbaceous plant native to South America, mainly in the areas of Argentina, Peru, and Chile, although it can grow in other locations. The flowering season of Lemon Verbena extends through late summer into early fall. 

Lemon Verbena needs weekly watering and does exceptionally well during the summer season and heat. One of its more attractive features is sweet and citrusy aroma that can be very refreshing, especially if you have it near a porch area. Nothing like a nice breeze and a waft of Lemon Verbena as you enjoy the sunset!

2. Marigold

Marigolds are a flowering plant that blooms in the sweltering heats of summer (it's practically one of the best dry climate plants) and during the moody autumn season. They’re one of the most commonly seen warm-weather plants, but some variants are more resilient. For example, the African Marigold is known to be a drought tolerant plant. Marigolds should be potted in well-draining soil and allowed to dry a little between waterings. Ideally, you should start planting them during early spring because they grow and flower much slower. 

If you aren’t sure about a good watering schedule, be sure to check out our app. When in bloom, Marigolds produce stunning shades of yellow and orange.

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3. Cosmos

Cosmos are tall flowering plants with flowers somewhat similar to daisies. Cosmos is native to Mexico and is used to thriving in a hot, drought-like climate. These characteristics make it ideal for gardening in poor quality soil, as it is not used to getting a lot of nutrition, so much so that a well-nourished soil will make the plant weak and sick. They bloom in a lot of colors, from shades of pinks to yellows and oranges. 

4. Egyptian Star Flower

The Egyptian Star Flower, also called Pentas, is an annual flowering plant. It is native to hot areas such as Africa, Madagascar, and Arabia. 

Due to its native environment, Pentas is designed to withstand a hot climate and blooms best under full sun. Egyptian Star Flowers come in various colors, including red, pink, lavender, and white, and usually bloom from early summer to late summer. 

5. Begonia 

Begonias have many different types, but only some thrive under full sun. While Begonias are heat tolerant plants, they need a lot of care and maintenance to ensure they’re sturdy enough to withstand the heat. 

Begonias come in a variety of colors and sizes and are considered trailing plants. When potted in the right container, they will grow in a lovely cascade that spills out over the edge of the pot.

Photo by Canlose

6. Lantana

Lantana is a tropical plant; it can actually thrive in hot climates as long as it gets water when it needs it. It grows best in hot and humid environments with moist soil. 

Lantanas love being in the sun, and especially love the afternoon sun. Their small flowers bloom in clusters, displaying various yellow, pink, orange, white, and red. The Lantana plant is favored by bees, so it’s a great idea to grow it around plants that need pollinated.  

7. Geraniums

Geraniums have always been comfortable in hot climates. However, recent modifications in Hybrid Geraniums make them suitable even for temperatures above 100 degrees! 

To make sure your Geranium can survive the heat, water it regularly and maintain a constant moisture level throughout the summer season. Use our app to guide you if you aren’t sure. Also, note that geraniums prefer afternoon shade in high summer. 

8. Bottlebrush

The Bottlebrush is a flowering plant known for its unique brush-like shape. These desert perennials are native to Australia and don’t require much water to survive. 

Bottlebrush plants love the sun and require moist, well-draining soil for proper growth. The flowers of this plant come in various sizes, from dwarf size to some reaching as much as 15 feet in height. 

9. Sedum

Sedum, also called Stonecrops, are succulents that are ideal for living life under the hot sun. This low-maintenance plant is heat-resistant, drought-resistant, and grows well even in poor soil. This is because these plants are designed to store moisture in their thick leaves. 

The flowers of Sedums bloom in summer, while the rest of the time, you simply see the succulent green leaves. Make sure to plant them in well-draining soil for the best results.

10. Salvia / Sage

Sage is a famous herbaceous plant renowned for its touted health benefits. Sometimes the terms Salvia and Sage are used interchangeably, which can be confusing. However, not all Sage plants are Salvias, although they can be a Salvia. For a Sage plant to be a Salvia, it must be in the same Salvia genus. Not all Sage plants are in that Salvia genus. 

However, despite the confusing naming conventions, Sage plants are used to living under full sun and are quite heat-tolerant. Moreover, they don’t require a lot of water. Some types of Sage will bloom with beautiful purple flowers throughout the summer, making them a perfect choice for a summer garden.

Photo by ​​Echeverhia

11. Hibiscus 

Hibiscus plants are native to tropical regions and thrive in warm-temperature areas. This flowering plant blooms under full sun and loves a nice, humid environment to live in. Hibiscus plants can bloom in many different colors, such as red, orange, pink, white, yellow, and even purple! Whatever colors you opt for, they are all beautiful.

12. Ageratum 

Also called the Floss Flower, this plant has a unique flowering design, characterized by fringed edges that are feathery and often emit a lovely fragrance. They bloom throughout the summer and autumn seasons without requiring too much in the way of care and maintenance. 

Ageratums are considered perennial or annual shrubs and herbs, with flowers most commonly blue, although you can find some in white, lavender, or pink as well. Additionally, Ageratum plants are well-loved by bees and other pollinators.

13. Princess Flower 

The Princess Flower plant also called the Spider Flower, is a hot-weather flowering plant native to Brazil. It thrives under the full onslaught of the sun and is drought-resistant. 

Princess Flowers do require well-drained soil for proper growth. This plant boasts dark green leaves and stems, with rich purple flowers that create a stunning contrast. If you love the color purple, Princess Flowers might be your new favorite summer plant! 

14. Cuphea

Cuphea plants are sometimes called the Firecracker plant as well as the Mexican Cigar plant due to their unique shape. These flowering plants do best under the full sun but can live just fine beneath some shade as well. They are perennials that are grown as annuals and can do great indoors during the winter.

They also require well-drained soil to grow in, with a slightly moist environment. Another enticing feature of the Cuphea plant is that it’s known for attracting hummingbirds when grown outdoors. Perfect if you’re a birdwatcher!

15. Penstemon 

Penstemon, also called Beardtongue or Bearded Tongue, is named so due to its tubular flowers. Its flowers come in varying shades of pink, red, and purple, prompting the tongue reference in the name. 

The foliage of Penstemon has a beautiful burgundy tint, making the whole plant look quite unique. Penstemon also attracts a lot of hummingbirds, songbirds, and pollinators such as bees, and they need well-drained soil and full sunlight to flourish.

16. Vinca 

Vincas are beautiful plants with fragile flowers in various colors, ranging from shades of pinks to white and purple. Also called Periwinkles, these flowering plants bloom annually and are somewhat drought-tolerant.  

17. Liatris

Liatris are stunning plants with long purple stalks. They require full sun to bloom and thrive. Liatris are known to attract butterflies and can be a perfect plant when you want to add a touch of magic to your garden. 

18. Blanket Flowers

Blanket Flowers, also called Gaillardias, are flowering plants that bloom annually. They flourish in hot climates and bloom with stunning shades of coral, yellow, orange, and hot pink. 

19. Zinnia 

Zinnia Flowers are also known to thrive in sunny climes. These flowering plants are easy to grow and require minimal maintenance. They attract butterflies and bees and bloom in rich shades of pink. 

20. Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums are known for their multi-petaled blooms. As one of many sun loving plants on this list, Chrysanthemums are best exposed to at least 6 hours of sunlight (but can tolerate more). Not many know that Chrysanthemums is a native plant of China and is also considered one of the best air purifying house plants.

21. Sunflowers

How can sunflowers not be included in this list? Perhaps one of the most unique aspects of this plant is how its yellow flowers follow the sun. Sunflowers usually bloom from early summer to late summer. This outdoor plant is pretty low-maintenance and is considered one of the many best plants for beginners.

There are countless plants that like full sun and heat in this world. Some are more well-known than others, but all do very well in hot climates whether humid heat or arid heat. Hopefully, this short list gives you a great starting point as you plan what to plant in your summer garden next!