10 Full Sun Perennials for Low-Maintenance Container Gardens (Lazy Gardener Edition)
Full sun spots can be brutal. But with the right plants, you don’t need to be a full-time gardener to enjoy nonstop blooms and lush foliage. These perennials love heat, laugh at neglect, and come back stronger every year—all while living happily in containers. No stress. No daily care. Just color and ease.
1. Lavender Loves the Heat (and Neglect)
Lavender is one of those plants that actually prefers tough love. It thrives in full sun, hates soggy soil, and barely needs watering. In containers, it drains fast, stays tidy, and fills the air with its calming scent. Even better? Bees love it, and pests leave it alone.
2. Coreopsis Blooms for Months
Coreopsis looks delicate, but it’s one of the hardest-working container flowers out there. It delivers waves of cheerful yellow or pink blooms from spring to frost and keeps going even when you skip a few waterings. It’s practically bulletproof and brings serious cheer to any patio.
3. Russian Sage Brings Height and Haze
Need something tall, light, and breezy? Russian sage brings that airy cottage-garden feel, even in a container. Its silver stems and violet-blue blooms shimmer in the sun, and once it’s established, it barely needs a thing. It’s heat-tough, drought-resistant, and always elegant.
4. Sedum Just Doesn’t Quit
Sedum stores water in its fleshy leaves, making it perfect for sunny containers. It thrives in hot, dry weather and still looks plump and pretty when everything else is drooping. Once you plant it, forget it—it’ll take care of itself. And it even turns brilliant colors in fall.
5. Echinacea Is as Tough as It Is Beautiful
Coneflowers don’t just survive—they thrive in full sun. These daisy-like blooms bring pollinators, handle dry spells like a champ, and keep blooming for months. In containers, they stay more compact but still make a big visual impact. All you need to do is water occasionally and enjoy.
6. Salvia Handles Heat Like a Desert Native
Salvia offers bold spikes of purple, pink, or red—and it keeps blooming through the hottest parts of summer. It’s a hummingbird favorite and loves full sun. A quick mid-season trim keeps it flowering, but even if you forget, it still performs beautifully.
7. Gaillardia Is Basically Bulletproof
Also known as blanket flower, Gaillardia adds bold, warm color and thrives in rough conditions. It doesn’t mind poor soil, hot decks, or missed watering days. In a container, it keeps blooming with a wild energy that never looks messy.
8. Yarrow Refuses to Die
Yarrow isn’t just easy—it’s almost impossible to mess up. Its fern-like foliage and flat-topped flowers bring texture and charm to sunny containers. Once planted, it’s super low-maintenance, resists deer, and powers through dry weather without blinking.
9. Daylilies Thrive with Little Help
Few plants are as forgiving as daylilies. These perennials bloom again and again with hardly any attention. Just drop them in a big enough pot with good drainage, give them sunshine, and they’ll reward you with daily flowers in every shade you can imagine.
10. Verbena Fills In Gaps Beautifully
Verbena is your go-to for soft, trailing color. It spills over the sides of containers, filling gaps and softening edges with delicate blooms. It thrives in sun, doesn’t need constant watering, and stays pretty without fuss. Pair it with taller perennials for a full, layered look.
