If you have a sunny backyard, you need some low-maintenance plants to spruce up your landscape. Azaleas and daffodils are two excellent choices, as they require little maintenance and bloom for years. The good news is that most daffodil varieties will eventually naturalize. This means you won’t have to worry about replanting them every year.
Celosias
In addition to being low-maintenance, celosias are high-impact, as well. This makes them a great choice for public gardens, malls, highway departments, and local merchants. In the right hands, celosias are a spectacular display in a row or mass display. Here are a few ways to make them stand out. Read on to learn more!
Celosias are excellent cut flowers. They bloom from June until frost. Cut flowers will last for up to 10 days in a vase of water. As long as you cut off dead stems early in the season, they will continue to bloom. They also require no fertilizer, but they do benefit from a rich organic matter-rich soil. Once a month, you can use water-soluble fertilizer to encourage the plant to grow.
There are three basic types of celosias: spikes, crests, and plumes. The flower itself is made up of jewel-colored feathers, but it is difficult to pinpoint the exact species from photos. Some varieties have unusual shapes and sizes, so be sure to check the species’ description for specifics. If you’re looking for a bright, colorful flower, celosias are the right choice.
Hostas
A variety of hostas can be grown in full sun. Yellow Hostas are especially well-suited to full sunlight. Thin-leaved varieties can be affected by the heat. In order to avoid damage, choose thick-leafed breeds. These include Piedmont Gold, Sun Power, Guacamole, Stained Glass, Sum and Substance, and the dwarf variety, Iris.
Different hostas respond to full sun conditions differently. Some do better in shady spots while others do better in full sun. A good rule of thumb is to choose a hosta with thicker leaves, which will allow it to absorb more heat and maintain a consistent level of moisture. Hostas that receive full sunlight are likely to turn beautiful colors and form flowers. However, heat-stressed plants will die off, or worse yet, develop brown spots and edges. Full-sun hostas need time to adjust.
When it comes to complementing hostas, think about other shade-loving perennials. These add height, color, texture, and early season interest to your landscape. Heucheras are great companion plants for hostas, with their delicate, showy flowers and foliage. They also look great in mass plantings. For a colorful border, try coral bells or early-blooming primroses.
Succulents
If you have a sunny window and a lot of light, you can plant a succulent or two, but it doesn’t have to be a tropical plant. In fact, many succulents thrive in full sunlight. While some plants thrive in full sunlight, others don’t. Here are some of the best succulents for full sun. The plants you choose should be protected from intense heat and direct sunlight. Otherwise, they will burn, and may even die. To avoid sun damage, condition your plants slowly by placing them in partial shade. In addition to that, partial shade will help acclimatize your succulents to the heat and sun.
Donkey’s tail is another unique succulent. It grows up to 4 inches in length, but it will get thicker over time. The leaves are plump and overlapping. This plant is hardy in USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11 and is easy to grow in containers. Donkey’s tail is a great choice for containers and wall decorations. It can also be grown in hanging baskets. Another succulent that grows easily in containers and is great in full sunlight is Donkey’s tail.
hibiscus
Planting hibiscus is fairly simple – just replant it every year and it will soon bloom! The seeds of hibiscus should be soaked for one hour before sowing them outdoors. Plant them in full sun, in a hole twice the size of the root ball, and evenly distribute the soil. If you’re growing hibiscus in containers, use 50:50 soil mixture. Once established, hibiscus can tolerate drought conditions.
Hibiscus can suffer from two common insect pests. Japanese beetles, which feed on the foliage during summer, may be a problem. Remove the beetles by sprinkling soapy water on the leaves and stems. Aphids are also a concern, so don’t mulch around hibiscus or place mulch over its leaves. Japanese beetles and aphids are common insect pests that attack hibiscus.
Although hibiscus can survive a harsh climate, they do need regular feeding. If you’re planting them in the ground, apply a slow-release fertilizer three times a year. Fertilize once in the spring and again in mid-summer. If you don’t have the time to give them regular feedings, you can simply cut down the number of flowers or prune the plant to grow to full size.
Armeria
Among the many plants that require little maintenance, Armeria is one of the best. It is a perennial that grows from six to 10 inches tall and is often planted in rocky soil. It is hardy in zones four through eight and grows well in full sun. Armeria maritima, also known as sea thrift, has attractive flowers in spring and is an excellent choice for sunny outdoor areas. You can choose from pink or white varieties.
You can also find armeria species for rock gardens. These plants are drought and salt tolerant. They can also grow from seeds. If you want to give your garden a touch of luxury, consider planting this perennial in a trough. It can survive without too much attention and will last for several years. Besides its beauty, Armeria species are also useful medicinally. Dried flowers of this flowering plant are used to treat conditions such as urinary tract infections and obesity.
When growing an Armeria Maritima in a pot, be sure to give it sufficient water during its growing season. After flowering, you can divide and transplant your plants. Make sure to avoid planting the same armeria plants in different locations. Make sure that you choose the correct location so that your plants get enough light. They grow best in full sun or partial shade. A well-drained soil is essential for this plant.
Sedum
The most common question that gardeners ask is “What are the best outdoor plants for full sun?” There are many different types of plants that can grow in full sun, including succulents, annuals, and trees. But if you’re looking for a low-maintenance plant that will thrive in dry soil, you might be surprised to learn that sedum is an excellent choice. Sedum comes in a variety of colors and sizes, including low-growing groundcovers and tall, upright bloomers. You can even buy sedum tiles at garden centers – they’re a living carpet that you just drop on loose soil and water.
If you’re looking for colorful plants that can thrive in full sun, consider planting petunias. These plants are easy to grow from seedlings at a local gardening center. They require a minimum of six hours of direct sun per day, but they do well in filtered light as well. Perennial flowers are another good choice for full sun gardens because they will self-seed. Unlike annuals, perennials do not require yearly fertilization and require little to no maintenance.
California lilacs
If you’re looking for the best outdoor plants for full sun, California Lilacs are an excellent choice. This hardy West Coast native requires very little maintenance and only needs occasional watering to establish its roots. Because they are natives of the West Coast, they don’t require summer watering, either. And, in addition to being easy-to-care-for, they are part of the xeriscape family, which limits the need for fertilizer.
If you’re looking for a flowering shrub, consider Ceanothus arboreus. This evergreen shrub is typically eight to 12 feet tall and grows to be up to 15 feet wide. It has light purple blossoms that have a frosted appearance, and it can be pruned to grow into a small tree. It grows in a variety of soils, and once established, is quite drought-tolerant.
A California lilac is one of the best outdoor plants for full sun because it grows so well in California. It can grow as large as 10 feet, but it can also be a low groundcover. It blooms in late spring, and the flowers are fragrant. There are several different kinds of California lilac, and some are even mat-forming. However, the most common variety is the California lilac, which produces large clusters of flowers.