Alphabetical Plant Listing

Best Annual Flowers and Plants for Full Sun

Annual flowers and Plants - These sun lovers are a perfect way to add a burst of color and life to your shade garden


What are Annual Flowers and Annual Plants?

Annual flowers and annual plants complete their entire life cycle within one growing season, from seed to maturity to death, typically within one year. 

In contrast, perennial plants live for multiple growing seasons and continue to grow and bloom year after year, often going dormant during the winter months.

Annuals are often planted for their showy blooms, attractive foliage, and quick growth and provide vibrant color and interest to gardens, containers, and other outdoor spaces. Perennials are valued for their longevity and ability to provide structure and continuity to a garden.

We have listed our favorite annuals, including some native plants, that will add pops of color to your sunny garden.

Guide Information

Plant Type Annuals
Plant Family Tagetes - Marigold, Amaranthus - Amaranths, Calendula - Pot Marigold, Celosia, Gerbera - Gerbera Daisies, Gomphrena - Globe Amaranth, Ageratum - Floss Flowers, Angelonia - Summer Snapdragon, Calibrachoa, Coreopsis, Cosmos, Gaillardia - Blanket Flowers, Helianthus - Sunflowers, Lathyrus - Sweet Peas, Lobularia - Sweet Alyssums, Osteospermum - African Daisies, Pelargonium - Geranium, Petunia, Salvia - Sage, Verbena, Zinnia
Exposure Full Sun
Compare All Tagetes - Marigold Compare All Amaranthus - Amaranths Compare All Calendula - Pot Marigold Compare All Celosia Compare All Gerbera - Gerbera Daisies Compare All Gomphrena - Globe Amaranth Compare All Ageratum - Floss Flowers Compare All Angelonia - Summer Snapdragon Compare All Calibrachoa Compare All Coreopsis Compare All Cosmos Compare All Gaillardia - Blanket Flowers Compare All Helianthus - Sunflowers Compare All Lathyrus - Sweet Peas Compare All Lobularia - Sweet Alyssums Compare All Osteospermum - African Daisies Compare All Pelargonium - Geranium Compare All Petunia Compare All Salvia - Sage Compare All Verbena Compare All Zinnia Great Plant Combination Ideas with Tagetes - Marigold Great Plant Combination Ideas with Amaranthus - Amaranths Great Plant Combination Ideas with Ageratum - Floss Flowers Great Plant Combination Ideas with Coreopsis Great Plant Combination Ideas with Cosmos Great Plant Combination Ideas with Gaillardia - Blanket Flowers Great Plant Combination Ideas with Helianthus - Sunflowers Great Plant Combination Ideas with Lobularia - Sweet Alyssums Great Plant Combination Ideas with Pelargonium - Geranium Great Plant Combination Ideas with Salvia - Sage Great Plant Combination Ideas with Verbena Great Plant Combination Ideas with Zinnia Guides with Tagetes - Marigold Guides with Amaranthus - Amaranths Guides with Calendula - Pot Marigold Guides with Celosia Guides with Gerbera - Gerbera Daisies Guides with Gomphrena - Globe Amaranth Guides with Ageratum - Floss Flowers Guides with Angelonia - Summer Snapdragon Guides with Calibrachoa Guides with Coreopsis Guides with Cosmos Guides with Gaillardia - Blanket Flowers Guides with Helianthus - Sunflowers Guides with Lathyrus - Sweet Peas Guides with Lobularia - Sweet Alyssums Guides with Osteospermum - African Daisies Guides with Pelargonium - Geranium Guides with Petunia Guides with Salvia - Sage Guides with Verbena Guides with Zinnia

ntdanai, Shutterstock

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Plant Type Annuals
Plant Family Tagetes - Marigold, Amaranthus - Amaranths, Calendula - Pot Marigold, Celosia, Gerbera - Gerbera Daisies, Gomphrena - Globe Amaranth, Ageratum - Floss Flowers, Angelonia - Summer Snapdragon, Calibrachoa, Coreopsis, Cosmos, Gaillardia - Blanket Flowers, Helianthus - Sunflowers, Lathyrus - Sweet Peas, Lobularia - Sweet Alyssums, Osteospermum - African Daisies, Pelargonium - Geranium, Petunia, Salvia - Sage, Verbena, Zinnia
Exposure Full Sun
Compare All Tagetes - Marigold Compare All Amaranthus - Amaranths Compare All Calendula - Pot Marigold Compare All Celosia Compare All Gerbera - Gerbera Daisies Compare All Gomphrena - Globe Amaranth Compare All Ageratum - Floss Flowers Compare All Angelonia - Summer Snapdragon Compare All Calibrachoa Compare All Coreopsis Compare All Cosmos Compare All Gaillardia - Blanket Flowers Compare All Helianthus - Sunflowers Compare All Lathyrus - Sweet Peas Compare All Lobularia - Sweet Alyssums Compare All Osteospermum - African Daisies Compare All Pelargonium - Geranium Compare All Petunia Compare All Salvia - Sage Compare All Verbena Compare All Zinnia Great Plant Combination Ideas with Tagetes - Marigold Great Plant Combination Ideas with Amaranthus - Amaranths Great Plant Combination Ideas with Ageratum - Floss Flowers Great Plant Combination Ideas with Coreopsis Great Plant Combination Ideas with Cosmos Great Plant Combination Ideas with Gaillardia - Blanket Flowers Great Plant Combination Ideas with Helianthus - Sunflowers Great Plant Combination Ideas with Lobularia - Sweet Alyssums Great Plant Combination Ideas with Pelargonium - Geranium Great Plant Combination Ideas with Salvia - Sage Great Plant Combination Ideas with Verbena Great Plant Combination Ideas with Zinnia Guides with Tagetes - Marigold Guides with Amaranthus - Amaranths Guides with Calendula - Pot Marigold Guides with Celosia Guides with Gerbera - Gerbera Daisies Guides with Gomphrena - Globe Amaranth Guides with Ageratum - Floss Flowers Guides with Angelonia - Summer Snapdragon Guides with Calibrachoa Guides with Coreopsis Guides with Cosmos Guides with Gaillardia - Blanket Flowers Guides with Helianthus - Sunflowers Guides with Lathyrus - Sweet Peas Guides with Lobularia - Sweet Alyssums Guides with Osteospermum - African Daisies Guides with Pelargonium - Geranium Guides with Petunia Guides with Salvia - Sage Guides with Verbena Guides with Zinnia

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