Designing a full-sun garden first requires knowing what is considered full-sun. Full-sun describes areas receiving at least 6 hours of direct sunlight everyday, year-round. When choosing a location for cultivars requiring full-sun, take note of any trees or structures that create shade when sunlight shifts during the day, seasonally or as tree canopies fill out in spring. 

Climate zones and geography also affect what is considered ‘full sun’. Eight hours of full sun in Washington state is not equivalent to eight hours of full-sun in southwestern desert climates. Hardy perennials tolerate and even prefer full-sun in harsh climates, but more delicate full-sun perennials like Dark Towers penstemon will dessicate in eight-hours of desert, summer sun.

With so many perennials labeled ‘full-sun’ to choose from, designing a high light exposure garden can be overwhelming. To simplify selections, we compiled a list of low-maintenance, heat-tolerant, foodscape-friendly, sun-loving perennials for your garden, along with planting and care instructions!

Lycium barbarum-Goji berry grows well in USDA climate zones 5-9 and thrives in all well-draining soil types. This fruiting shrub is best planted in early spring while still dormant and prefers a balanced fertilizer as too much nitrogen reduces fruit production. ClimateGard’s 4-4-4 NPK ratio and superior microbe enriching, organic ingredients provides the perfect plant nutrition for fruiting and flowering cultivars while incrementally enriching soil with each application. Goji berry shrubs grow to an average of five by five feet and their antioxidant-rich berries are preceded by purple flowers. Plant goji berry shrubs from bareroot or pot in early spring while the plant is still dormant. Dig hole 1.5 times the size of the root ball. Add two inches of ClimateGard to native soil and backfill. Water daily to weekly depending on season and climate zone. Goji berry is relatively drought tolerant and a light feeder, but bears heavier fruit with adequate water and supplemental fetilizer. We amend our goji berries by lightly side-dressing with ClimateGard every 8 weeks.  Successive flushes of berries appear June through August.

Cercidium x 'Desert Museum' - Palo Verde ‘Desert Museum’ is a naturally evolved THORNLESS hybrid discovered in the Arizona desert! Like other palo verde species, deciduous Desert Museum has an abundance of yellow flowers, fixes nitrogen and is extremely resilient to scorching temperatures and drought. We personally tested this tree on a slope in 100 degree weather for our local municipality and it thrived! Desert Museum grows to a manageable 25 by 25 feet and needs excellent drainage. To plant, dig a hole 1.5 times taller and wider than the root ball and amend native soil with half an inch of ClimateGard prior to backfilling the hole. Water daily until established (about three months) and gradually decrease water. Once established Palo Verde only needs supplemental watering in arid, desert climates (about twice a month). Palo Verde species do not need supplemental fertilizer or organic amendments after planting, as excess growth causes already vigorous Palo Verde to ‘topple’.

Lavandula intermedia-This hybrid lavender is known for its exceptional heat tolerance and is one of the few lavender species that grows well in humid climates. Lavandula intermedia is drought tolerant once established and unlike most lavender cultivars is cold hardy down to climate zone 4! Dig hole 1.5 times larger than root ball. Amend soil with one inch of ClimateGard and backfill. Keep soil slightly moist until established and water once the top two inches of soil are dry. Fertilize with a sprinkle of ClimateGard scratched into the soil in early spring. In zones 8-9 fertilize again in early August.

Salvia officinalis- This common garden sage thrives in full sun and prefers well drained soil. This classic culinary herb has beautifully textured, gray-green foliage that forms an interesting looking symmetrical mound. Dig hole 1.5 times larger than root ball. Amend soil with one inch of ClimateGard and backfill. Keep soil slightly moist until established and then water once the top two inches of soil are dry. Fertilize with a sprinkle of ClimateGard scratched into the soil in early spring. In zones 8-9 fertilize again in early August. For heavy ‘cut and come again’ culinary use, fertilize every 6 weeks.

Salvia officinalis makes a great low border and ground cover for taller sage species, like Raspberry Delight, Salvia farinacea (blue sage) and Phyllis Fancy which are also remarkably resilient and adaptable to a variety of climates. Check out the previously mentioned cultivars our team is growing in climates from the humid south to the arid southwest!

Opuntia humifusa- Unlike other Opuntias, this prickly pear cactus is cold hardy down to zone 4! To plant, dig hole 1.5 times the size of the root ball and amend soil with half an inch of ClimateGard organic fertilizer. Water weekly until established and continue supplemental watering in arid climates. Large yellow flowers appear in spring, followed by edible fruit! Lower mounding than other prickly pear varieties. The leaf pads are also popular in latin cuisine and are delicious dethorned and bbq’d. Warmer zones can grow larger and more productive Opuntia varieties, including spineless cultivars like O. ellisiana!

Opuntias don’t need a lot of supplemental fertilization, just keep the soil active with ClimateGard’s beneficial microorganisms by lightly side-dressing your cactus garden in early spring.

We hope you found these selections helpful and are inspired to plan your full-sun, perennial garden!