My front gardens get FULL sun, and unless I water daily, gets dry too. What would be best to plant there. Also- what would be good to plant to "drown out" prickly thistle weeds?

Autumn sun is great in full sun. Plus, the ones I planted last year are coming up really nice this year!!!

I am going to get some more. They are $6 a plant and last year I found some $5 off coupons. I hope I find more this year!!!

Same question for the NC people.
I need a flower for my pots on the front porch that can take full sun. I did geranium last year and I was so surprised that they didn't work out.

The only thing I can think of right now for direct sun would be hanging petunias..will think about that some more..

Hibiscus plants do really well in the sun, just remember to water them regularly.

I goggled and found this. HTH

Here are some flowers that are supposed to thrive in full sun.

Asters: These are annuals (annuals are flowers that complete their entire lifespan in one year). They flower late in the season.

Bachelor Buttons. These are labeled as annuals. But mine keep coming back year after year. They also thrive in even poor soil.

Poppy: This is a perennial (meaning they come back year after year). They bloom early in the spring.

Cosmos: These are also labeled as annuals, yet they reseed themselves. Reseeding means that they usually come back on their own. They also thrive in poor soil.

Hollyhocks: These are perennials. But hollyhocks usually will not bloom until the second year.

Lupines. These are perennials. They prefer rich soil.

Marigolds: These are considered one of the easiest flowers to grow. They are annuals. The sparky mix kind will bloom from spring to frost.

Morning Glories: These are annuals that need a support like a trellis.

Black-eyed Susan: This is a perennial. It blooms all summer.

Shasta daisy: This is a perennial. It blooms all summer.

Snapdragon: This is an annual. It has long colorful spikes that are called snaps. It flowers all summer.

Strawflower: This is an annual that gets especially tall, 24" to 36". Plus, the more sun it gets the brighter the colors get.

Sunflowers: These are annuals. The sunflower itself usually last up to 5 weeks. If you buy the autumn beauty variety it can withstand a lot of heat and even drought.

Zinnia: This is an annual.

Geraniums: These are annuals.


Full sun flowers are flowers that can thrive in eight or more hours of direct sunlight a day. You can check the tags that come with each flower to see what type of exposure it can handle.

Portulaca, lantana, echinachea, purple cone flower, mondardia (bee balm)
coreopsis, lambs ears (deer resistant) rudbeckia (black eyed Susans), sedum, ornamental grasses,
lavendar, shasta daisy, Russian Sage, Scabiosa, yarrow, blackberry lilly are all great full sun flowers and do not need daily watering if well established and well mulched. Mulch makes all the difference in our hot southern climate, don't know about your area. Google full sun plants, there are a world of helpful links.

Has anyone had any experience with Gerbera daisies in pots in full sun?

I plant them in mixed planters every year, they do well until it gets to the 104 or greater here in the summer, (Arkansas weather for you!) but if I keep them watered they will come back out as the weater cools off some.

How do I keep up with them? Do I snap the heads off when they get start to get ugly?

Yes, as soon as they wilt or start to turn brown... that will encourage blooming, All of your flowers can be deadheaded to encourage more blooms. You can throw the heads in your flowerbed, sometimes the seeds will self sow. AND I feed my mixed planters which will make the gerbera's bloom more.

I've got the Miracle grow ready!