Flowers That Do Well in the Sun

Coneflower

• The coneflower is also known as Echinacea. This little flower from the composite family comes in yellow and purple varieties. If you like to have flowers blooming throughout at least three seasons, the coneflower is a good one to plant for late summer and fall blooms. If you have a particularly dry spot in your yard or garden that is in full sun, plant some coneflowers there as they can handle a lack of water once established. Start your plants by sowing seed directly into the ground after all danger of frost has passed. In subsequent years you may notice more and more flowers as the coneflower has a tendency to self-propagate, which is good for those who want more plants

Aster

• The aster is another flower from the composite family that enjoys full sun. Choose from either the annual or the perennial variety, depending on the garden space you have and whether you like different flowers from year to year. Annuals must be replanted each year, but perennials will come back year after year, eventually growing new plants that may need separation every few years. The aster comes in different colors, such as blue, pink, purple and white.

Lavender

• Lavender is another sun-loving flower that you can grow from seeds or from transplants. And advantage of lavender is that it does well both in the ground and in a pot. If you do have seeds you may want to start them inside about six to eight weeks before your last frost to give them a bit of a head start. Be patient, as perennial flowers take up to a month to germinate. When planting your lavender outside be sure to give it plenty of room as it will grow and spread from year to year. If you end up with a lot of lavender, you can dry it and use it in homemade potpourri and sachets.

Petunia

• Petunia is an ideal flower to plant along sunny paths or borders in your yard and garden. Petunias will bloom from late spring all the way up to fall. You can choose from a variety of colors for the flowers. When transplanting the flowers outdoors it is best that you do it on a day that is a little overcast. Petunias not only look good in your garden, but they also can dress up your porch or patio by planting them in baskets. The flowers and the vines will naturally spill over the sides, making it a great addition. If you do plant your petunias in containers, water them every day so the soil is always moist, but be careful not to over-water.