20 Full-sun annuals for your spring and summer garden

Last Updated on: 14th January 2025, 06:08 am

Here are the annual flowers that thrive in sunny locations.

You’ll agree that as spring unfolds and summer settles in, many garden plants begin to wither under the relentless sun. But while the heat weakens some, full-sun annuals do more than survive—they flourish. That’s the case with these full-sun annuals, which flourish in the NC heat.

These hardy blooms thrive from the bright days of spring through the intense heat of summer, transforming your garden into a vibrant oasis throughout both seasons.

Whether filling garden beds, brightening patio containers, or creating hanging baskets, these annuals will bring lasting beauty and color to your outdoor spaces, even through dry spells.

1. African Daisy (Osteospermum spp.)

With vibrant, daisy-like flowers in captivating hues, African Daisies are built for the sun. They transform even the hottest spots in your garden into colorful displays.

These resilient sun-loving annuals bloom continuously throughout the season, especially when you remove spent blooms. Their striking beauty also attracts pollinators like butterflies, adding life and movement to your garden.

Light: Full sun to part shade
Size: Up to 24 inches tall, 20 inches wide
Zones: 1-11

2. Angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia)

It may seem delicate, but Angelonia is a resilient powerhouse, perfect for hot, sunny locations. The plant produces abundant clusters of purple, pink, or white flowers throughout the season, drawing in butterflies and hummingbirds. Nicknamed the summer snapdragon for its striking, upright blooms, Angelonia thrives in containers and flower beds.

Light: Full sun to part shade
Size: Up to 2 feet tall and wide
Zones: 9-11

3. Mandevilla (Mandevilla spp.)

Mandevilla, with its bold trumpet-shaped blooms in vibrant pink, red, and white, brings a striking tropical vibe to any garden. Thriving in warm climates, its vigorous climbing habit makes it perfect for trellises, fences, and pergolas, creating lush vertical displays. It also flourishes in large containers when given proper support.

Beyond its beauty, Mandevilla attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, infusing life and movement into your space.

Light: Full sun
Size: Depends on variety
Zones: 9-11

NOTE: Although indicated for USDA zone 9 and higher, we have seen a few clients plant Mandevilla successfully in full sunshine locations in our service area.

4. Moss Rose (Portulaca grandiflora)

This annual plant sets forth a stunning carpet of succulent foliage, adorned with bold colorful flowers. Thriving in the harshest, sun-drenched conditions, P. grandiflora excels in rock gardens, hanging baskets, and containers, where its drought-tolerant nature shines.

Light: Full sun
Size: 6 to 8 inches tall
Zones: 2-11

5. Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus)

Snapdragons are a classic full-sun annuals. They’re a lovely addition to any garden and famous for their unique, colorful blossoms. These upright, easy-to-grow annual plants feature stunning flower colors, from pink and purple to red and yellow. While they thrive in warm, sunny areas, snapdragons also perform well in cooler climates, where their blooms can last longer into the growing season.

Light: Full sun to part shade
Size: 12 to 48 inches tall
Zones: 7-11

6. Larkspur (Consolida ajacis)

Larkspur dazzles with its tall, graceful spikes of true blue flowers and beautiful shades of pink and white, creating striking vertical interest in any garden. This cool-season annual flourishes in spring, attracting bees and butterflies with its delicate blooms. However, as the summer heat intensifies, Larkspur naturally begins to fade, especially in warmer climates, making it an ideal choice for early-season color before the mid-summer heat takes hold.

Light: Full sun
Size: Up to 3 feet tall, 2.5 feet wide
Zones: 2-11

7. Garden Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)

With its airy, feathery foliage and striking pink, white, and magenta blooms, Garden Cosmos is a must-have for any garden seeking effortless elegance. This easy-to-grow annual flourishes from seeds sown in late spring, bursting into vibrant bloom from midsummer through the first frost. Its tall, delicate stems are perfect for cutting, and regular snipping encourages even more flowers. Although these graceful plants can grow tall, staking may be needed to keep them standing proud.

Light: Full sun
Size: Up to 4 feet tall, 3 feet wide
Zones: 2-11

8. Marigold (Tagetes spp.)

Radiating bold shades of orange and yellow, Marigolds embody beauty and resilience. These hardy annuals brighten gardens and containers while serving as natural pest repellents. Their attraction to beneficial pollinators makes them invaluable for companion planting.

Light: Full sun
Size: Up to 3 feet tall, 2 feet wide
Zones: 2-11

9. Geranium (Pelargonium spp.)

Geranium shines with season-long blooms in vibrant shades of pink, red, and white, complemented by its lush, rounded foliage. Ideal for window boxes, hanging baskets, and garden beds, it thrives in hot, dry conditions with minimal care.

Its pest-repelling properties make it perfect for companion planting, bringing color and utility to your garden. Some varieties also offer a delightful scent to their visual appeal.

Light: Full sun to partial shade
Size: Up to 2 feet wide, 1 foot tall
Zones: 9-12

10. Pentas (Pentas lanceolata)

These full-sun annuals bloom all summer long, producing colorful clusters of star-shaped flowers in shades of red, pink, lavender, and white. Their cheerful blooms attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, making them a lively addition to any garden.

Light: Full sunlight
Size: Up to 4 feet tall and wide
Zones: 2-11

11. Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)

Zinnias create an eye-catching display with attractive blooms in pink, red, yellow, and orange. Whether single, double, or semi-double, these flowers add bold color and texture to any garden.

Once established, Zinnias are drought-tolerant and attract pollinators like butterflies, ensuring your garden remains lively. To enjoy continuous blooms all season, deadhead the spent flowers regularly, encouraging new blossoms to emerge and keeping the garden bursting with color.

Light: Full sun
Size: 12 to 36 inches tall
Zones: 3-10

12. Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)

Nasturtiums light up the springtime garden with their delicate, papery blossoms set against a lush green foliage. Surprisingly, these vibrant blooms perform best in poorer soils, where they focus their energy on blooming rather than excessive leaf growth.

There’s no need for deadheading, but occasional trimming of these full-sun annuals can help keep the plant’s foliage under control for a neater, more refined appearance.

Light: Full sun to part shade
Size: 12 to 18 inches tall
Zones: 2-11

13. Gerbera Daisy

You’ll instantly fall in love with Gerbera’s bold, daisy-like flowers that come in a wide range of colors. The plant brightens flower beds, containers, and borders, with its large, showy flowers and lush green foliage. Known for its long-lasting blooms, Gerbera is a favorite for cut flowers, bringing a burst of color indoors or out.

Light: Full sun
Size: 12 to 18 inches tall
Zones: 8-11

14. Floss Flower (Ageratum houstonianum)

Floss Flower (Ageratum houstonianum) full-sun annuals

Ageratum’s unique, cheerful flowers, long-lasting in shades of soft blue, lavender, pink, and white, bring a charming touch to any garden. Known for their fluffy, pom-pom-like blooms, these great plants thrive throughout the warm months.

Light: Full sun to part shade
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall
Zones: 4-9

15. Annual Vinca (Catharanthus roseus)

Annual Vinca, with its glossy green foliage and pinwheel-shaped flowers in shades of pink, lavender, red, and white, thrives in tough conditions. Blooming continuously from early summer until frost, this drought-tolerant plant delivers bold, season-long color with minimal care.

Newer cultivars offer even larger flowers and a range of growth habits, from upright to trailing, making Vinca a versatile option for sunny gardens.

Light: Full sun to part shade
Size: 6 to 18 inches tall (depending on variety)
Zones: 2-11

16. Lantana (Lantana camara)

Lantanas attract butterflies and hummingbirds, producing clusters of tubular flowers in vibrant shades, including yellow. These tough annuals tolerate heat and thrive in it, blooming from early summer through frost.

In frost-free areas, lantanas can grow as perennials, adding long-lasting beauty year after year. Whether planted in garden beds or containers, their showy blooms add lasting color to outdoor spaces, even in dry conditions.

Light: Full sun
Size: Up to 3 wide, 1 foot tall (as an annual)
Zones: 1-8

17. Spider Flower (Cleome houtteana)

With its striking dark-green foliage and tall spikes of delicate, colorful blooms, Spider Flowers bring a dynamic touch to cottage gardens. These full-sun annuals bloom continuously until the first frost, adding vertical interest and movement to landscapes. Their flowers attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and even hummingbird moths.

Spider Flowers self-sow, meaning their seeds naturally drop and germinate, giving you fresh plants the following spring without any extra effort.

Light: Full sun
Size: Up to 6 feet tall, 2 feet wide
Zones: 2-11

18. Ornamental Peppers (Capsicum annuum)

These sun lovers soak up the heat, producing bold fruits in fiery shades of red, orange, yellow, and purple. Easy to grow and low-maintenance, Ornamental Peppers bring striking color and texture to borders, planters, and containers.

Mass planting creates a stunning visual display, perfect for adding eye-catching accents to any sunny garden.

Light: Full sun
Size: 12 to 24 inches tall
Zones: 2-11

19. Verbena (Verbena spp.)

These annual flowers thrive in tough conditions, blooming profusely from late spring through the hottest months. Verbena produces vibrant flat clusters of purple, pink, and white blooms that handle humid summers and dry spells easily, especially in the deep south.

Whether in sunny borders, containers, or beds, this tough plant adds a long-lasting display of color with minimal care.

Light: Full sun
Size: 10 to 18 inches tall
Zones: 7-9

20. Feather Celosia (Celosia argentea var. plumosa)

Feather Celosia (Celosia argentea var. plumosa) full-sun annuals

Feather Celosia creates a stunning display with its bold, feathery plumes in rich captivating hues. This extremely heat-tolerant plant thrives even in the hottest summer conditions, providing vibrant vertical accents that beautifully complement other plants in your garden.

While it blooms continuously without needing much care, deadheading can extend the flowering period, ensuring a longer-lasting burst of color.

Light: Full sunlight
Size: 12 to 36 inches tall
Zones: 2-11

Tips for Caring for Full Sun Annuals

All that full sun annuals crave is basic care.

Plant in well-draining soil with a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0. This helps prevent water from pooling around the roots, which can lead to rot. You can find soil pH testing kits at your local garden center to ensure the right balance for optimal plant health.
Water regularly, especially during drought to ensure consistent moisture.
To encourage vigorous growth and abundant blooms, fertilize the plants regularly using a balanced fertilizer. Look for slow-release options or liquid fertilizers for annuals at your local garden centers.

Easy? All these annual beauties need to bloom beautifully all season long until early fall. Please be sure to follow Tayloe’s Lawn Care Services, LLC, on Facebook for more lawn and garden content. Need help? Call or text 252.287.3376.

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Maureen AbuorMaureen Abuor

Maureen Abuor is a professional content marketing strategist and SEO strategist, with particular knowlege of creating landscaping and gardening content that informs and delights her audience. When she's not working, she's a busy mother of three precious little ones and child of God.