Aside from the usual flowering plants, you should also consider a few low-growing ground covers. These ground covers will provide a beautiful ground cover in the garden or patio. Daylilies, petunias, Armeria, and Portulaca are ideal for sunny areas. They’re also attractive and require little maintenance. Read on to discover more about these plants. And don’t forget about the benefits of growing them in full sun.
Daylilies
During the winter, daylilies need to be mulched. Adding up to four inches of hardwood leaves or straw to the soil before planting daylilies is an excellent way to retain moisture. Deadheading daylilies should be done in late April in the North, or in early May if you live in a temperate climate. This helps protect the plants from the thaw in January, which can severely damage the plant.
Despite being a hardy plant, daylilies require regular attention to ensure a long and lush growth. Divide plants every three to four years to promote more blooms. After they bloom, dig up the plants and place them on a tarp. Once cut, divide each branch into two or three separate plants. Make sure to prune the new roots to a height of about 5-6 inches.
Water your daylilies regularly during their first few weeks of growth. Then, depending on the weather, you can water them daily or weekly. After the second growing season, daylilies do not require much watering. Once established, they are drought-tolerant. A good time to plant daylilies in your garden is in the spring or fall. If you want to prevent the plant from overcrowding, mulch around the crowns.
Petunias
Some of the best outdoor plants for full sun are perennials that thrive in a warm climate. Marigolds, for example, can thrive in areas with a hot climate, but they can also withstand some shade. They grow up to six inches tall and require only occasional watering. Their bright, funnel-shaped flowers will draw hummingbirds and butterflies to your yard. Marigolds are easy to grow from seed or from seedlings available from gardening centers. Other great options are cosmo plants, which grow to about 12 inches tall and are drought tolerant.
Another good choice for full-sun gardens are petunias, which can be easily planted from seedlings at your local gardening center. Perennials are ideal because they do not require annual maintenance. Perennial flowers are also great because they reseed themselves and require minimal maintenance. In addition to flowers, they are excellent options for containers. They require very little water and are also drought-resistant. These perennials can also be grown in containers.
Blanket flower is another easy to grow plant that needs a sunny location. While it may require intermittent watering, it prefers a well-drained soil. Adding light mulch to the soil will help it tolerate temperatures below freezing. This plant is a short-lived perennial, but it’s a hardy and drought-tolerant plant. It doesn’t require any deadheading or fertilizing.
Armeria
If you are looking for a flowering plant that thrives in full sun and does not mind wind and salt spray, consider the reblooming perennial Armeria. This plant only needs full sun and a well-drained soil. In addition to its colorful flowers, Armeria has medicinal benefits as well. The dried flowers of the Armeria plant are used in the treatment of various conditions, including obesity, urinary infections, and nervous disorders. Though this plant is considered to be a hardy perennial, it is not recommended for use as an external antibiotic poultice, as it can cause local irritation.
Armeria is a rugged perennial native to Europe and North America. It grows well in coastal cliffs and gravelly tundra. It also tolerates salt and drought. If kept too moist, Armeria will die. Otherwise, it will flower for many years. In addition to being hardy and heat-tolerant, Armeria is a great choice for front of the border, rock gardens, and containers. Planting this plant in large groups is also an excellent choice.
A perennial Armeria is a wonderful addition to a rock garden. Sea pink Armeria forms low clumps and blooms throughout the spring and early summer. It is a low-maintenance plant, and its flowers are pretty enough to cut for arrangements. It also makes a great ground cover. Whether you choose to use it for flower arrangements or as a groundcover, the Armeria maritima will always be in bloom.
Portulaca
If you’re thinking of planting portulaca outside, you should be aware that it doesn’t like to be overwatered. Although the plant is drought-tolerant, it does need a moderate amount of water. In general, it grows best in well-drained soil. It does, however, need two inches of water a week. In addition, portulaca prefers full sunlight and soil that drains quickly.
Known for its vibrant flowers, portulaca is a great choice for gardens in the southwest and southern states. It thrives in both rainy and dry climates, as long as it receives sufficient sunlight. It is also easy to grow from seed, and can fill in gaps around pathways and flowerbeds. Two popular varieties are Afternoon Delight and Sundial. The former keeps its flowers open until the evening.
If you prefer a more formal look for your garden, you can plant portulaca in a hanging basket or pot. It can tolerate a little neglect and still look gorgeous. Portulaca is a great choice for edging or planting in between pavers in a flower bed or path. Because of its easy-care characteristics, portulaca can be used as an ornamental plant for any space, and it’s great for beginners and experienced gardeners alike.
Portulaca also attracts many pollinators, including butterflies. Since they don’t like wet soil, they aren’t likely to attract destructive visitors. However, you’ll want to be aware of slugs and snails, which can nibble at the plant’s leaves and kill it. To avoid these issues, you may want to consider using natural pest control. For the most part, portulaca can tolerate the sun, and thrive with minimal maintenance.
Sedum
When it comes to growing in the full sun, there are several types of annuals and perennials that will tolerate the conditions. A great choice for low-maintenance gardens is sedum, which comes in a range of different forms from a low-growing groundcover to an upright bloomer. For a carpet-like effect, you can buy a sedum tile. Simply drop the tiles onto loose soil and water them regularly.
The best outdoor plants for full sun are usually heat and drought tolerant and will also produce attractive foliage and flowers. If you want your garden to be vibrant throughout the year, choose plants that will bloom in different parts of the year. If you’d like to grow something that blooms on a regular basis, consider rosemary, a plant that can tolerate full sunlight. This fragrant herb will provide a bright spot of color and fragrance to your garden.
Ixora
If you have a sunny spot in your yard, you should consider growing Ixora outdoor plants in your garden. These plants are easy to maintain, and their growth can be stimulated by a little pruning. They can be pruned as early as mid-spring to promote vigorous spring growth and flowering. After the initial flowering period, you can stop fertilizing the plants to encourage new blooms. This plant also responds well to shearing.
Ixora seeds take about 12 weeks to germinate, and many won’t even germinate. If you don’t have the patience to wait this long, you can buy Ixora seeds online or from a specialty dealer. Then, water the seeds thoroughly and keep them moist. You can then transplant them as soon as possible, but planting them in early spring will provide them with the longest growing season.
Ixora can be propagated by stem cuttings. To propagate an Ixora plant, cut a 4 to 6-inch section of new growth, and remove all leaves but two or four at the growing tip. Dip the cutting into a potting mix that is equal parts peat moss and coarse sand. Firmly plant the cutting into the soil. If the cuttings survive, they should grow into an eight-inch pot.