25 Flowering Shrubs for Full Sun

Add some color to your yard’s sunny areas with low-maintenance shrubs that thrive in full sun.

By: Julie Martens Forney

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A Full Sun Favorite: Sonic Bloom Pink Weigela

A sun-splashed yard delivers big color when you fill it with easy-growing flowering shrubs that thrive in full sun. Sun-loving bushes can dress your landscape with beautiful blooms, colorful leaves and season-long style that will have you wondering why you didn’t plant ‘em sooner. Not sure which shrubs thrive in sun? Find the full sun shrub your yard needs from our collection of favorites.

Sonic Bloom Pink weigela (Weigela florida ‘Bokrasopin’) is a reblooming weigela that delivers a stunning flower show in late spring to early summer, followed by a steady march of blooms until fall frost. The pink flowers are a hummingbird favorite. Plants thrive in full sun, growing 4 to 5 feet tall and wide at maturity. Hardy in Zones 4-8.

Learn More: How to Grow and Care for Weigela

Black Lace Elderberry

Give your garden a dose of drama with the dark tones of Black Lace elderberry (Sambucus nigra ‘Eva’). Lacy leaves add a fine texture to planting beds in full sun and white flowers fade to form immune-boosting elderberries. Black Lace grows 6 to 8 feet tall and wide. Many gardeners treat it as a perennial, cutting it to the ground in early spring. You can find smaller and upright, narrow varieties of dark-leaf elderberry at garden centers. Hardy in Zones 4 to 7.

Learn More: Growing Elderberries

Mock Orange

Fill your yard with the sweet perfume of orange blossoms. That’s the fragrance that mock orange flowers release when they open in late spring to early summer. Look for varieties with double or single flowers. Plant mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius) along a sunny walkway or patio where you can savor the fragrance. Prune immediately after flowering. Hardy in Zones 4 to 8.

Shrub Roses

Beautiful and versatile, shrub roses can fill many roles in the landscape, including as a foundation planting, hedge or mixed border plant. Shrub roses grow best in full sun. These two varieties are modern English shrub roses with rich rose fragrance: white ‘Susan Williams-Ellis’ and pink ‘The Mayflower’. Both grow disease-free, with an average size of 4.5 feet tall and 3.5 feet wide. Hardy in Zones 4 to 11.

Japanese Flowering Quince

Deep pink blooms transform branches into wands of color in late winter to early spring. Place sun-loving Japanese flowering quince (Chaenomeles ‘Pink Lady’) where you’ll see the flowers from indoors. Look for varieties that open pale peach, coral or white blossoms. For early color, clip branches for forcing indoors. Prune immediately after flowering. Hardy in Zones 5 to 8.

Learn More: How to Grow Flowering Quince

‘Crystalina’ Summersweet

Fill your summer garden with the sweet scent of Sugartina ‘Crystalina’ summersweet (Clethra alnifolia). The pretty white blossoms appear in midsummer, beckoning bees and butterflies. Leaves shift to gold in fall. This is a native plant that grows to 3 feet tall and wide. Its tidy size makes a good choice for a full sun foundation or walkway planting. Hardy in Zones 4 to 9.

American Cranberrybush

Choose American cranberrybush (Viburnum opulus var. americanum) for a wildlife or bird garden in full sun. White flowers in spring give way to red berry clusters in late summer. Berries linger only as long as birds leave them alone. American cranberrybush is formerly known as highbush cranberry (Viburnum trilobum). Prune in early spring after plants leaf out. Hardy in Zones 2 to 7.

Fairy Magnolia White

Discover the beauty of a sun-loving magnolia cousin that flowers heaviest from early to late spring. Fairy magnolia white (Michelia x ‘Mic JUR01’) opens fragrant blooms along branches covered with glossy evergreen leaves. The plant has a naturally compact, bushy habit that creates a stunning hedge. Or grow fairy magnolia as a small tree by removing lower branches. Plants grow 9 to 12 feet tall and 5 to 7 feet wide. Hardy in Zones 7b-11.

Sunshine Blue Bluebeard

Brighten late summer and early fall with dazzling blue flowers that are a butterfly favorite. This variety (Caryopteris incana ‘Jason’) offers gold leaves that add season-long color to full sun plantings. Prune in early spring to the point where new growth appears. In northern areas, plants typically die to the ground, but resprout from roots. No pruning may be necessary in southern zones. Hardy in Zones 5 to 11.

Also See: Butterfly Garden Flowers

Zinfin Doll Hydrangea

Ignite your landscape with the floral fireworks of Zinfin Doll panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata). White blooms blanket the shrub in early summer, slowly shifting to bright pink as blossoms age. Expect flowers to provide up to three months of color, unless you cut some to enjoy indoors. Panicle hydrangeas make excellent cut flowers. Prune plants by about one-third in early spring. Plants grow 4 to 6 feet tall and wide. Hardy in Zones 3 to 8.

Learn More: How to Plant, Grow and Care for Hydrangeas

Fothergilla

Give fothergilla (Fothergilla major) a sunny spot in acid soil. Morning sun with a little afternoon shade is ideal. Honey-scented, bottlebrush-like blossoms decorate branch tips in early spring. Leaves have strong veins that introduce texture to plantings. Fall color is breathtaking. Pruning is rarely needed, but if so, tackle it right after flowering. Hardy in Zones 4 to 8.

Summerwine Ninebark

For bulletproof color, it is tough to beat ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius). This late spring bloomer brings the color in every season, thanks to leaves in shades of burgundy, gold, near-black and copper (depending on variety). This burgundy-leafed variety is Summer Wine (‘Seward’), which grows 5 to 8 feet tall and wide. Branches arch, creating a fountain effect in a planting bed. Look for varieties in smaller sizes if your full sun landscape offers tight quarters. Hardy in Zones 3 to 7.

‘Goldfinger’ Potentilla

Rugged and beautiful, potentilla (Potentilla fruticosa ‘Goldfinger’) is a plant-it-and-forget-it shrub. While deer ignore this shrub, butterflies love the gold flowers, which open from early summer to fall frost. Well-drained soil is key to success with this full sun shrub, although plants are drought-tolerant once established. Pruning is rarely needed and is best done in late winter. Hardy in Zones 2 to 8.

Also See: Butterfly Garden Flowers

Lilac

Celebrate spring with the lovely, fragrant flowers of lilac (Syringa). These shrubs perform best and open the most flowers in full sun. Lilacs come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from dwarf types that fit small entry gardens to tall varieties like 'Mount Baker' and 'Pocahontas' (pictured), which reach 10 to 12 feet tall. Prune immediately after flowering. Hardy in Zones 2 to 7.

Learn More: How to Plant and Care for Lilacs

Cut-Leaf Staghorn Sumac

Count on this shrub for outstanding fall and winter interest. Fall leaf color features a blend of red, gold and orange, while winter showcases fuzzy brown stems and red seed pods. Cut-leaf staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina ‘Dissecta’) forms colonies; plant it in full sun where it can spread freely. It’s great on a slope or in areas with poor soil. Pruning is typically done in early spring as a means to curtail rampant growth. Cut stems to the ground each spring to dwarf the plant and corral the spread. Hardy in Zones 3 to 8.

Jetstream Oakleaf Hydrangea

For full sun and fall color, it’s tough to beat oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia). Jetstream updates this flowering favorite with strong, no-flop stems and brilliant orange-red leaf tones in autumn. Flowers open white, slowly fade to pink shades and linger through winter to add interest to a snowy landscape. Plants grow to 6 feet tall and up to 4 feet wide. Hardy in Zones 5 to 8.

‘Magic Summer’ Hebe

‘Magic Summer’ Hebe is best suited for regions with mild winters, where the leaves take center stage in winter, shifting from gray and white variegated to bright red. Purple flowers appear in late spring. In colder zones, grow this beauty in a container you can overwinter indoors. Prune after flowering, cutting branches back by half to maintain the compact shape. Hardy in Zones 8 to 10.

Perfume Princess Daphne

Daphne is renowned for rich fragrance, and Perfume Princess is no exception. What this blushing beauty brings to the garden table is an earlier, longer flowering window (midwinter to spring), along with the ability to grow in full sun. Evergreen leaves give the plant good looks all winter long. Daphne needs acid, well-drained soil to thrive, growing 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Hardy in Zones 7 to 9.

Rockspray Cotoneaster

Small pink flowers appear in spring and fade to shiny red berries in fall on this full sun shrub. Rockspray cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis) is a great groundcover and also works well atop walls or on slopes for erosion control. The low form provides excellent cover for birds and is a good plant to include in a wildlife-friendly garden. Pruning is rarely needed, only to remove damaged or dead branches, and is best done in late winter. Hardy in Zones 4 to 7.

Korean Spice Viburnum

Fill your early spring landscape with the sweet and spicy tones of Korean spice viburnum (Viburnum carlesii). Flowers emerge in clusters that appear before leaves, decorating this native full sun shrub with perfumed beauty. Plants grow 6 to 7 feet tall and wide, but you can find varieties that fit into small garden areas or containers. Explosive fall color sizzles with bright red leaves. Hardy in Zones 4 to 8.

Learn More: How to Grow Viburnum

‘Rose Satin’ Rose of Sharon

Give your garden a touch of the tropics with the exotic blooms of rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus ‘Rose Satin’). This sun-loving shrub flowers in midsummer, putting on a strong color show. Blossoms beckon hummingbirds and butterflies. Pruning is rarely needed and is best done in late winter. Hardy in Zones 5 to 9.

Learn More: Growing Rose of Sharon

Double Play Red Spirea

Tough as nails and easy to grow, Japanese spirea (Spiraea japonica) is a go-to shrub for full sun planting beds. Double Play Red opens crimson-red blooms on plants that grow 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, forming a natural mound of non-stop color. Flowers appear in late spring, and new leaves boast burgundy-purple shades. Look for other spirea varieties with gold or bicolor leaves. Hardy in Zones 3 to 8.

Doublefile Viburnum

Strongly horizontal branches give doublefile viburnum (Viburnum plicatum tomentosum 'Mariesii') an eye-catching form in every season. White flowers rest on branches in mid- to late spring in double rows, earning this shrub its name. Leaves turn purple-red to red in autumn. Use this full sun shrub for a hedge or foundation planting. Prune immediately after flowering. Hardy in Zones 5 to 8.

My Monet Weigela

My Monet weigela (Weigela florida ‘Verweig’) is a dwarf variegated weigela that opens pale pink flowers in late spring to early summer. It’s the perfect weigela for tucking into pots or edging the front of a flower border. This shrub grows 12 to 18 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide. The tiny size means pruning isn’t necessary. Hardy in Zones 4-6.

Learn More: How to Grow and Care for Weigela

Psychedelic Sky Butterfly Bush

Pretty blue-purple flower heads form on this butterfly bush (Buddleia ‘PII BD-III’) all summer long — and up until fall frost if you remove spent blooms. This shrub is a butterfly magnet. Pruning is rarely needed but is best done in early spring. Cut plants back to 12 inches above soil. In coldest zones, plants often die to the ground and resprout from roots. Don’t cut dead stems until all danger of frost has passed. Hardy in Zones 5 to 9.

Learn More: How to Care for Butterfly Bush

25 Flowering Shrubs for Full Sun

Related To:

Shop This Look

A Full Sun Favorite: Sonic Bloom Pink Weigela

Black Lace Elderberry

Mock Orange

Shrub Roses

Japanese Flowering Quince

‘Crystalina’ Summersweet

American Cranberrybush

Fairy Magnolia White

Sunshine Blue Bluebeard

Zinfin Doll Hydrangea

Fothergilla

Summerwine Ninebark

‘Goldfinger’ Potentilla

Lilac

Cut-Leaf Staghorn Sumac

Jetstream Oakleaf Hydrangea

‘Magic Summer’ Hebe

Perfume Princess Daphne

Rockspray Cotoneaster

Korean Spice Viburnum

‘Rose Satin’ Rose of Sharon

Double Play Red Spirea

Doublefile Viburnum

My Monet Weigela

Psychedelic Sky Butterfly Bush

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