The best plants for full sun in Louisiana should be suited to the location and soil type in the area. These include Salvia, Pentas, Vinca, and Irises. Below, we’ve listed a few examples of such plants. If you’re planning to plant a flower garden in Louisiana, these will be great choices. They’ll grow best in full to mostly-sunny locations.
Salvia
Begonias are low maintenance and are great for the shade. The Louisiana Super Plant, Baby Wing Begonia, is a particularly good choice. The Blue Daze plant stays low to the ground and seems largely immune to diseases and bugs. The blue flowering variety lasts until the first freeze of the winter. Caladiums, otherwise known as elephant ear, have showy foliage and are very hardy. There are sun-tolerant cultivars available for the shade.
Petunias thrive in full sunlight and are excellent bedding plants. Plant the seeds from seedlings from a gardening center. Perennials are a good choice because they will self-seed. This means they do not need annual watering and maintenance. Perennials also require minimal care, unlike annuals. Petunias are a great choice if you’re short on space.
Pentas
For the most beautiful flowering plants, choose a variety of Pentas. Pentas are large, star-shaped plants, also known as Egyptian starflowers. Their fragrant blooms attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Pentas are drought and heat tolerant and bloom all summer and fall. They can be grown in containers or in the ground. Depending on the variety, you may also want to grow them in a pot.
Bottlebrush is a native of Australia and thrives in warm climates in the US. It has vibrant flowers that attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. If your climate is cooler than Louisiana, you can grow this plant indoors. Bottlebrush will grow up to 10 feet tall and attract beneficial pollinators. They need moderate watering and fertile soil, but they are worth the effort.
A perennial, Pentas need full sunlight, well-drained soil, and are ideal for containers and gardens. The pentas will reach maturity when they are 15 inches wide, but if your soil is too moist, you should water them daily. Once they are well-established, they will bounce back in spring. They do not require much pruning, and they are disease-resistant and drought-tolerant.
Vinca
One of the most common plants for Louisiana landscapes is vinca, commonly known as periwinkle. This perennial flower looks beautiful during the summer and thrives in hot, dry conditions. Be aware that wet weather can lead to Phytophthora blight, which can destroy entire plantings. To prevent Phytophthora blight, consider mulching your vines with pine straw. This will help prevent soil splashing and prevent the blight from spreading.
Vinca for full sun in Louisiana should be planted 10 to 12 weeks prior to the last date of frost. Seeds will germinate best when the soil temperature is over 75deg F. After that, plant the seedlings outdoors in 65deg F soil. For a more rapid start, you can use a slow-release fertilizer. You can mix vincas with other annuals. Just be sure to make sure they have similar water needs.
Planting periwinkle is easy if you know what to do. The plant’s flowers come in a variety of colors and are heat and drought-tolerant. The flowers are small but very pretty – they can be a beautiful shade of pink, purple, and even red! Vinca for full sun in Louisiana has a long blooming period and is drought-resistant. You can also add it to your landscape as a beautiful backdrop for a shady corner or a sunny window.
Irises
Growing Irises in Louisiana requires an adequate growing season, which stretches about eight to ten months from north to south. Plant them in moist soil, but protect them from extreme heat. Also, keep them covered with mulch during the cold winter months. You can propagate Irises by cuttings or by division of their main rhizomes. You can also divide offsets to grow new plants, but remember that cuttings from the parent rhizome will produce identical flowers.
There are over 60,000 cultivars of iris, so if you’re looking to plant a particular variety, you can select one from the more than six million different varieties available. Plant your rhizomes in late summer or early fall in a sunny spot. Keep them moist and fertile. They need a lot of air circulation, and should be divided occasionally. Irises grow well for many years with the right care and attention.
Native irises can survive in water-logged areas, and they love two to three inches of water. They grow best in moist garden soil with good drainage, and are also well suited to landscape water features. If you want to grow a more exotic variety, you can try the Siberian iris. Siberian iris, on the other hand, grow best in garden soil with good drainage. Native Louisiana irises are tolerant of poor soil and grow best in moist areas.
Creeping liriope
This ornamental grass look-alike has a thorny appearance and thrives in full sunlight. It is susceptible to two common diseases – crown and leaf rot and anthracnose. Anthracnose can affect both liriopes and other plants, and is more common in areas with heavy rainfall and overhead irrigation. Fortunately, these diseases are easy to control – simply mow off leaves and plant new ones.
This herbaceous perennial is native to East and Southeast Asia. Its species include two species: liriope spicata and liriope spp. Both are widely grown in the U.S. and grow well in full sun to part shade. Liriope is also commonly known as monkey grass and creeping liriope. If you’re interested in planting creeping liriope, here are a few tips:
Another plant that is suited for full sun in Louisiana is creeping liriope. This groundcover spreads quickly and has spikes of white or pale lavender flowers in summer. It rarely grows taller than 18 inches and thrives in fertile soil. While creeping liriope is a great plant for full sun in Louisiana, it will be a challenge if you don’t have the right climate.
Lamb’s ear
Plant lamb’s ear in containers with at least three gallons of potting soil. They can be transplanted in spring or fall. In frost-free areas, lamb’s ears will survive through winter. When growing plants from seed, prepare the soil well by adding organic matter and compost. Plants need full sun or partial shade. Once the roots have formed, divide the plants every three years. Lamb’s ear thrives in rocky soil and sandy loam.
Lamb’s ear is a native plant that grows in the southern United States. This succulent plant grows well in full sun or part shade. It grows well in medium to dry soil that is slightly acidic or alkaline. The soil should be well-drained and should not be overly rich. Lamb’s ear can be a tough plant to grow in full sun, so avoid planting it in soggy soil.
Lamb’s ear is easy to grow and has a rich history. It is often called “woolly woundwort” due to its astringent properties. Its leaves are often used as toilet paper and bandages in medieval times. In the American Civil War, it was even used to bandage wounded soldiers. Today, lamb’s ear is grown in gardens as an interesting landscape plant. The foliage is particularly beautiful in sensory gardens and historic gardens.
Petunias
When it comes to plant care, petunias are a top choice. They are tolerant of a wide range of conditions, including drought and heat. However, they do not like to dry out completely, so you should mulch to help prevent weeds. If you plan to plant your petunias in pots, you may want to consider staking them as they tend to grow taller in rainy regions.
Petunias do best in Louisiana when planted in fall. This allows them to overwinter in fall and spring. They are also heat-tolerant and can survive summer months. Petunias do best in full sun and well-drained soil, and should be transplanted when they have three true leaves. Plant petunias in the fall when temperatures are at their lowest.
If you plan to plant petunias in pots, make sure they are spaced about 12 inches apart. Once they’ve established, you can then divide them by 6 inches and cut them back to get them back to their slender form. The next step is to keep them protected from the midday sun for the first few days. Once they are established, water them regularly.