Are you struggling to keep your sunny garden colorful all summer? You plant, water, and hope, only to watch your flowers wilt under the scorching sun by July. That empty, faded space where vibrant blooms should be is frustrating.
Some annuals flourish in brutal heat and full sunlight, pumping out nonstop color from spring through fall. We’ve tracked down 22 of the toughest, most Stunning Annuals for Full Sun that blossom during drought, ignore humidity, and bloom relentlessly while others fade.
Imagine butterflies flocking to neon lantana, hummingbirds hovering over star-shaped pentas, and your neighbors asking, “How do you keep everything so vibrant?” No green thumb is required, just the right plants.
These sun-worshipping superstars deliver maximum impact with minimal fuss. Your easiest, most colorful summer garden starts here.
22 Stunning Annuals for Full Sun That Bloom All Summer
1. Lantana
Lantana is a sun-loving powerhouse that prospers when temperatures fly. Its clusters of tiny flowers shift colors as they mature, creating vibrant displays of yellow, pink, orange, and purple. Butterflies and hummingbirds can’t resist them, making them a lively addition to any garden.
This plant prospers in drought and poor soil, needing little beyond full sun and occasional watering. Once established, it handles neglect like a champ. Some varieties spread low, while others grow into bushy mounds, offering versatility in landscaping.
Lantana’s nectar-rich blooms significantly increase pollinator activity. It’s also deer-resistant, a bonus for gardeners battling wildlife. For non-stop color from spring until frost, few annuals match its resilience and charm.
2. Portulaca (Moss Rose)
Portulaca’s succulent-like leaves and bright, satiny flowers make it a top pick for hot, dry spots. It flourishes where other plants wilt, flowering in electric pinks, oranges, and yellows. The more sun it gets, the happier it is.
Watering is rarely needed, but overdoing it can harm this low-maintenance plant. Its trailing habit works well in containers, rock gardens, or cracks in pavement. Unlike fussy blooms, moss rose opens fully under sunlight and stays vibrant until evening. Gardeners love its ability to self-seed, often returning year after year. If you want color without the work, this is a star choice.
3. Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon)
Angelonia brings vertical interest with its upright spikes of purple, white, or pink blooms. Despite its delicate appearance, it handles heat, humidity, and full sun without drooping. No deadheading is required, as it stays neat all season.
Bees and butterflies visit often, drawn by its light fragrance. It grows well in beds, borders, or pots, needing only well-drained soil and occasional watering. Unlike true snapdragons, it won’t stutter in midsummer heat. For a plant that looks polished with zero effort, angelonia delivers its worth.
4. Zinnias (Profusion Series)
Zinnias are the ultimate low-maintenance, high-impact flower. The Profusion series, in particular, resists diseases and keeps blooming without deadheading. Colors range from fiery reds to soft apricots, fitting any garden style.
They grow quickly, filling gaps with cheerful flowers that attract pollinators. Even in poor soil, they flourish as long as they get full sun. The more you cut them, the more they produce, making them great for bouquets. Few annuals offer such dedicated color with so little work.
5. Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth)
Gomphrena’s clover-like flowers in purple, pink, or white last forever, both in the garden and dried. It shrugs off heat, drought, and pests, needing only sunlight to thrive.
The stiff, papery blooms hold their color when dried, making them perfect for wreaths or arrangements. Butterflies love them, and deer avoid them. Plant them in groups for a striking effect or tuck them between other sun-lovers. Gomphrena is invincible for a flower that looks fresh long after summer ends.
6. Bidens (Golden Empire)
Few plants match the persistent cheer of Bidens. Its golden-yellow flowers spill over containers and hanging baskets like liquid sunshine, blooming nonstop from spring until frost. The delicate, fern-like foliage adds texture, making it a great contrast to bolder plants.
Heat and drought barely slow it down. Once established, it needs minimal care, just plenty of sun and occasional watering. Butterflies and bees flock to its nectar-rich blooms, while deer tend to ignore it.
For people who want effortless color, Bidens is perfect. Its long bloom period and pollinator appeal make it a top performer in sustainable landscapes. Whether trailing from a pot or filling a sunny border, it’s a showstopper.
7. Melampodium (Butter Daisy)
Melampodium is the ultimate “plant it and forget it” annual. It is covered in small, bright yellow daisies. It handles scorching sun, poor soil, and periodic watering without complaint. The more you ignore it, the better it seems to do.
This tough little plant forms tidy piles, making it great for borders or filling gaps in rock gardens. Unlike fussier blooms, it doesn’t need deadheading to keep flowering. Pollinators love it, and its cheerful color lasts until the first frost. If you’ve ever killed a plant by forgetting to water it, Melampodium might be your reprieve.
8. Celosia (Dragon’s Breath)
Only a few flowers make a statement like the Celosia. Its velvety, torch-shaped blooms in deep reds, purples, and oranges look almost surreal. The intense color holds strong all summer, even in brutal heat.
Dragon’s Breath prospers in full sun and well-drained soil. While it appreciates occasional watering, it won’t crumple during dry spells. The vivid plumes work equally well in garden beds or as cut flowers. They even dry beautifully for long-lasting arrangements.
9. Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower)
Towering and bold, Tithonia commands attention with its dinner-plate-sized orange flowers. Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds swarm to it, making it a pollinator powerhouse. Despite its size, it’s surprisingly low-maintenance.
This plant grows fast in full sun, often reaching 4-6 feet tall. Even the Poor soil is not a problem. It prefers it over rich, heavily fertilized ground. Once set, it seldom needs watering. If you want a living beacon for wildlife, Tithonia is a must-grow.
10. Pentas (Starflower)
Pentas earns its keep with clusters of tiny, star-shaped flowers in pink, red, or white. Hummingbirds love them, and the blooms hold up even in humid heat.
This plant stays packed, making it great for containers or mixed borders. It prefers consistent moisture but won’t brood if you miss a watering or two. Unlike some annuals, it doesn’t fade in midsummer; just give it sun, and it’ll keep performing. Pentas is a solid pick for a garden with wings and color.
11. Salvia (Victoria Blue)
Few flowers produce such vivid color with such little effort. Victoria Blue salvia sends up endless spikes of deep, true-blue flowers from spring until frost, creating a unique contrast against green vegetation. Unlike some blues that fade in intense sun, this variety holds its rich hue beautifully.
Bees and butterflies flock to the nectar-rich blooms, while deer typically leave them alone. The plant blossoms in hot, dry conditions. It needs only well-drained soil and full sun. No deadheading is required, and it keeps blooming without any fuss. Its long bloom season and pollinator appeal make it one of the top-performing annuals for sustainable landscapes.
12. Dusty Miller (Silver Ragwort)
While not grown for its flowers, Dusty Miller steals the show with its soft, silvery-white leaves. The velvety texture and pale color make it a natural complement to bold blooms like petunias or marigolds, helping other colors pop.
This tough plant doesn’t mind heat, drought, or poor soil. It flourishes in full sun but can handle a bit of shade, too. Unlike selective green plants, it stays looking fresh all season with minimal care. Whether used in containers, borders, or as an edging plant, Dusty Miller adds instant contrast and sophistication.
13. Cleome (Spider Flower)
Cleome brings a touch of the tropics to any garden with its tall, wispy stems and clusters of pink, white, or purple flowers. The blooms have long stamens that give them a spidery look, hence the nickname “Spider Flower.”
This self-seeding plant prospers in full sun and soil, often growing 3-5 feet tall. Once planted, it’s drought-tolerant and rarely bothered by pests. Butterflies and hummingbirds value it, which makes it a great alternative for wildlife gardens.
14. SunPatiens
Traditional impatiens wither in full sun, but SunPatiens thrive in scorching temperatures. These hybrids bloom nonstop in lively shades of pink, red, orange, and white, even during heat waves.
They’re extremely low-maintenance. They do not need deadheading, and they handle both drought and heavy rain better than other annuals. Whether planted in beds or containers, they stay lush and colorful all season.
15. Cuphea (Bat Face Flower)
Few flowers are as delightful as Cuphea. Its small, tubular blooms resemble tiny bat faces, complete with “ears” in deep purple and bright red. The irregular flowers keep coming all summer, tempting hummingbirds and interested gardeners alike.
This sun-loving plant prospers in heat and handles dry spells once set. It’s great in containers, hanging baskets, or mixed borders, adding a playful touch to any setting. Cuphea is a must-grow for something truly different but still accomplishes its motive.
16. Calibrachoa (Million Bells)
Tiny but mighty, Calibrachoa produces hundreds of petite, petunia-like flowers that cascade over container edges like a living fountain. These strong bloomers come in nearly every shade possible, from soft pastels to electric neon hues, and they don’t need deadheading to stay spectacular, too.
Heat and sun only make them grow. They thrive in well-drained soil and can handle dry spells, though constant moisture keeps them at their best. Hummingbirds and butterflies like the nectar-rich blooms, adding movement to their vibrant display. For hanging baskets, window boxes, or spilling over garden walls, rare plants produce such color with so little effort.
17. Scaevola (Fan Flower)
Scaevola’s delicate, fan-shaped flowers in cool blues, purples, and whites look almost too tender for full sun, but this plant prospers where others droop. Its trailing habit makes it ideal for containers, where it spills gracefully without demanding constant care.
It is also drought-tolerant. It blooms continuously from spring through fall without deadheading. The flowers attract pollinators but repel deer, making them a worry-free choice for sunny spots. If you want something different that enchants like a winner, Scaevola is a beaut.
18. Verbena (Superbena Series)
Verbena’s Superbena series takes this traditional annual plant to the next level. These plants spread energetically, dousing themselves in clusters of bright flowers all season. Colors range from deep purples to hot pinks, and they handle heat, humidity, and even light foot traffic.
Unlike older verbena varieties, Superbenas resist mildew and keep blooming without deadheading. They’re equally cheerful in hanging baskets, as ground cover, or tumbling over retaining walls. These verbenas are a top pick for infallible color that never fades
19. Amaranthus (Love-Lies-Bleeding)
Occasional plants command attention like Love-Lies-Bleeding. Its long, rope-like flowers in deep red or green gush dramatically from tall stems, creating a striking vertical accent. The unusual blooms look almost surreal, especially when backlit by the sun.
This ancient grain thrives in poor soil and scorching heat, often reaching 3–5 feet tall. Birds love the seeds, and the foliage can even be eaten when young. For a conversation piece that succeeds on neglect, Amaranthus is a must.
20. Osteospermum (African Daisy)
African daisies bring cheerful, daisy-like flowers in purples, pinks, and whites to sunny gardens. What makes them unique is their petals that close at night and on cloudy days, reopening with the sun.
These sturdy plants bloom relentlessly in hot, dry conditions and even tolerate light frosts. They’re great for borders, containers, or mass plantings, and pollinators idolize them. It’s an amazing choice for a low-maintenance flower with personality.
21. Coleus (Sun-Loving Varieties)
These coleus varieties prove that leaves can be just as spectacular as flowers. Modern sun-tolerant cultivars explode with vibrant patterns in shades of crimson, lime, and deep burgundy, holding their color even in intense sunlight. Unlike traditional coleus that fade in direct sun, these hybrids blossom in it, making them adaptable for borders, containers, or mass plantings.
Care is refreshingly simple. They grow quickly in well-drained soil and only need occasional pinching to stay bushy. While they can flower, the tiny blooms are insignificant compared to the foliage. Many gardeners snip them off to redirect energy into those eye-catching leaves.
22. Perilla (Magilla™ Purple)
Deep, shimmery purple leaves make Magilla Perilla a darling in any sunny garden. The ruffled foliage starts green before maturing to an almost-black hue, creating a unique backdrop for bright flowers or a bold solo act. It grows fast, filling gaps with its rich color all season long.
This plant is happy with heat and humidity, asking only for well-drained soil and occasional watering once planted. While it can produce small lavender flowers, they’re secondary to those luxurious leaves. The stems make excellent cuttings for indoor arrangements.
For gardens craving depth and contrast, few plants deliver such intense color with so little effort. Pair it with golden bidens or orange marigolds for a fiery, high-impact combo.