Top 10 Flowering Plants Ideal for Sunlight in the Afternoon
10 Perennials Perfect for Afternoon Sun: A Guide to Thriving Gardens
Gardening in the afternoon sun can be a challenge, but these resilient perennials are here to help. From vibrant blooms to diverse textures, we've compiled a list of 10 perennials that are well-suited for afternoon sun conditions.
1. Coneflower (Echinacea)
With its daisy-like purple, pink, orange, or white flowers, the coneflower is a long-blooming favourite from midsummer to frost. Attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies, this hardy perennial thrives in full sun to part shade and well-drained soil. To encourage better blooms, avoid overly rich soil and excess water.
2. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
Brighten up your garden with the golden-yellow flowers of the Black-eyed Susan. This tough and drought-tolerant perennial blooms midsummer to fall and prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Once established, it requires minimal watering.
3. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
The woody Russian Sage produces fine lavender-blue flowers and has a sage fragrance. Deer-resistant and drought tolerant, it thrives in full sun and dry to medium moisture, making it suitable for lean soil and compact cultivars available for smaller spaces.
4. Daylily (Hemerocallis)
Daylilies offer vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers in many colours and sizes. Blooming continuously through midsummer, they are drought-tolerant once established and have low pest issues. Some varieties even re-bloom.
5. Turtlehead (Chelone spp.)
Tubular pink or white blooms in late summer/early fall make the turtlehead a striking addition to your garden. This plant prefers consistent moisture and thrives in sun, part sun, or bright shade. However, it does not tolerate dry conditions well.
6. Lobelia
Lobelia boasts blue or red tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and bees. Thriving in part shade to sun and evenly moist soil, this perennial is best for perennial varieties in harder climates to ensure soil stays moist.
7. Hosta
Hostas offer broad foliage in greens, blues, chartreuse, and variegated forms. Shade to part shade is preferred, with consistent moisture for optimal growth. While they can tolerate part sun, they usually don't fare well in full afternoon sun.
8. Ferns (e.g., Ostrich, Japanese painted, Lady fern)
Ferns provide diverse textures and colours, thriving in shade and part shade. They need consistent moisture and fare better in cooler, shaded areas than full afternoon sun.
9. Agastache
Attract hummingbirds with the drought-tolerant, hummingbird-attracting spikes of flowers from the agastache. This perennial thrives in full sun and well-drained, even poor soil, requiring minimal maintenance once established.
10. Coral Bells (Heuchera)
Coral Bells offer attractive foliage in various colours and delicate spikes of flowers. They prefer part shade to sun, well-drained soil, and moderate moisture. In hotter climates, they benefit from some afternoon shade.
In summary, most of these perennials thrive in full sun to part shade, with well-draining soils. Many are drought-tolerant once established, while consistent moisture is important for plants like turtlehead, lobelia, hosta, and ferns. To promote better blooms, avoid overly rich soil or excessive watering for species like coneflowers. Some perennials attract pollinators, such as coneflowers, turtlehead, lobelia, and Russian sage, benefiting your garden ecosystem. This list offers a variety of flower colours, textures, bloom times, and pollinator benefits, making it ideal for balanced and beautiful gardens.
[1] Gardening Know How. (2021). 10 Perennials for Afternoon Sun. [online] Available at: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how/flowers/perennials/10-perennials-for-afternoon-sun.htm
[2] The Spruce. (2021). Perennials for Afternoon Sun. [online] Available at: https://www.thespruce.com/perennials-for-afternoon-sun-2132715
[3] Monrovia. (2021). Perennials for Afternoon Sun. [online] Available at: https://www.monrovia.com/article/perennials-for-afternoon-sun
[4] Better Homes & Gardens. (2021). Perennials for Afternoon Sun. [online] Available at: https://www.bhg.com/gardening/planting/perennials/perennials-for-afternoon-sun/
This list underscores the suitability of perennials like Coneflower (Echinacea), Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia), Daylily (Hemerocallis), and Agastache for home-and-garden settings with afternoon sun, as they are resilient and well-adapted to these conditions. On the other hand, ferns and hostas, with their preference for shade or part shade, might be more suitable for home-and-garden landscapes with areas that receive less direct sunlight, such as home-and-garden features like walls or structures that create shade, resulting in a diverse and vibrant lifestyle garden.
