There are different climate zones in Texas, but they all have something in common – lots of sun. And that means you need to know which plants can take the heat and, in some regions, humidity. Texas’ full-sun plants are many and varied, so you do have choices.
You may be looking for full-sun groundcover Texas plants, perennials, native plants, or even Texas superstars. Many annuals and tropicals love full sun, too.
Best Full Sun Plants for Texas Gardens
Perennials are often the staple of a summer garden. They come back year after year from their own roots. They are easily propagated by seed, division, or cuttings. In many cases, division will invigorate the root system of an herbaceous perennial. Any time blooms seem to be subsiding or a clump is dying out in the middle, it’s time to dig up and divide the plant.
Since most perennials have a short flowering period, annuals can provide season-long color. Nectar-rich annuals and perennials also will attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other nectar-seeking insects. Add native plants of Texas to further diversify your landscape with plants acclimated to the area, plus they provide the habitat needed for birds, insects, and other wildlife to survive.
Here are full-sun flowers Texas style:
Annuals:
- Butterfly Deep Pink Pentas (Pentas lanceolata)*
- Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena globosa)*
- Larkspur (Consolida ambigua)*
- Summer Snapdragon (Angelonia angustifolia)*
- Texas Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis), native*
- Tidal Wave Silver and Cherry Petunia (Petunia x hybrida)*
- Vinca Cora Series (Catharanthus roseus)*
Groundcover:
- Australian violet (Viola hederacea)
- Purple Heart (Tradescantia pallida ‘Purple Heart’)
- Dwarf Mexican Petunia (Ruellia brittoniana)
Perennials:
- Agastache (Agastache foeniculum)
- Bearded iris (Iris germanica)
- Belinda’s Dream Rose (Rosa x ‘Belinda’s Dream’)*
- Bird of Paradise, Yellow (Caesalpinia gilliesii)
- Blue Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata)
- Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), native
- Century Plant (Agave americana), native
- Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
- Coreopsis (Coreopsis grandiflora), native
- Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata), native
- Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.)
- Dwarf Indian Blanket (Gaillardia grandiflora), native
- Fall Aster (Aster oblongifolium)
- Garden Canna (Canna x generalis)
- German Red Carnation (Dianthus carophyllus)
- Greek Oregano (Origanum vulgare hirtum)
- Hinckley’s Columbine (Aguilegia Hinkleyana)
- Hummingbird Bush (Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii), native
- John Fanick Perennial Phlox (Phlox paniculata ‘John Fanick’)*
- Knockout™ Rose (Rosa ‘Radrazz’)*
- Lavender ‘Provence’ (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Provence’)
- Lead Plant (Amorpha canescens), native
- Lord Baltimore Perennial Hibiscus (Hibiscus x ‘Lord Baltimore’)*
- Mealy Cup Sage (Salvia farinacea), native
- Mexican Mint Marigold (Tagetes lucida)
- ‘New Gold’ Lantana (Lantana camara)*
- Oxalia (Oxalis crassipes)
- Oxblood Lily (Rhodophiala bifida)
- Pink Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii), native
- Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), native
- Prairie Acacia (Acaciella angustissima), native
- Rock Rose (Pavonia lasiopetala), native*
- Shrimp Plant (Justicia brandegeana)
- Summer Phlox (Phlox paniculata)
- Texas Buckeye (Aesculus glabra), native
- Yellow Bells (Tecoma stans), native
*Texas Superstar plant
There are different climate zones in Texas, but they all have something in common – lots of sun. And that means you need to know which plants can take the heat and, in some regions, humidity. Texas’ full-sun plants are many and varied, so you do have choices.
You may be looking for full-sun groundcover Texas plants, perennials, native plants, or even Texas superstars. Many annuals and tropicals love full sun, too.
Best Full Sun Plants for Texas Gardens
Perennials are often the staple of a summer garden. They come back year after year from their own roots. They are easily propagated by seed, division, or cuttings. In many cases, division will invigorate the root system of an herbaceous perennial. Any time blooms seem to be subsiding or a clump is dying out in the middle, it’s time to dig up and divide the plant.
Since most perennials have a short flowering period, annuals can provide season-long color. Nectar-rich annuals and perennials also will attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other nectar-seeking insects. Add native plants of Texas to further diversify your landscape with plants acclimated to the area, plus they provide the habitat needed for birds, insects, and other wildlife to survive.
Here are full-sun flowers Texas style:
Annuals:
- Butterfly Deep Pink Pentas (Pentas lanceolata)*
- Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena globosa)*
- Larkspur (Consolida ambigua)*
- Summer Snapdragon (Angelonia angustifolia)*
- Texas Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis), native*
- Tidal Wave Silver and Cherry Petunia (Petunia x hybrida)*
- Vinca Cora Series (Catharanthus roseus)*
Groundcover:
- Australian violet (Viola hederacea)
- Purple Heart (Tradescantia pallida ‘Purple Heart’)
- Dwarf Mexican Petunia (Ruellia brittoniana)
Perennials:
- Agastache (Agastache foeniculum)
- Bearded iris (Iris germanica)
- Belinda’s Dream Rose (Rosa x ‘Belinda’s Dream’)*
- Bird of Paradise, Yellow (Caesalpinia gilliesii)
- Blue Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata)
- Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), native
- Century Plant (Agave americana), native
- Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
- Coreopsis (Coreopsis grandiflora), native
- Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata), native
- Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.)
- Dwarf Indian Blanket (Gaillardia grandiflora), native
- Fall Aster (Aster oblongifolium)
- Garden Canna (Canna x generalis)
- German Red Carnation (Dianthus carophyllus)
- Greek Oregano (Origanum vulgare hirtum)
- Hinckley’s Columbine (Aguilegia Hinkleyana)
- Hummingbird Bush (Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii), native
- John Fanick Perennial Phlox (Phlox paniculata ‘John Fanick’)*
- Knockout™ Rose (Rosa ‘Radrazz’)*
- Lavender ‘Provence’ (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Provence’)
- Lead Plant (Amorpha canescens), native
- Lord Baltimore Perennial Hibiscus (Hibiscus x ‘Lord Baltimore’)*
- Mealy Cup Sage (Salvia farinacea), native
- Mexican Mint Marigold (Tagetes lucida)
- ‘New Gold’ Lantana (Lantana camara)*
- Oxalia (Oxalis crassipes)
- Oxblood Lily (Rhodophiala bifida)
- Pink Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii), native
- Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), native
- Prairie Acacia (Acaciella angustissima), native
- Rock Rose (Pavonia lasiopetala), native*
- Shrimp Plant (Justicia brandegeana)
- Summer Phlox (Phlox paniculata)
- Texas Buckeye (Aesculus glabra), native
- Yellow Bells (Tecoma stans), native
*Texas Superstar plant