Perennials for Sun

 

Zauschneria latifolia July 2010

Paeonia veitchii May 2010

Kniphofia nelsonii June 2009

Lilium 'White Henryi' July 2010

 Sedum 'Matrona' August 2008

Here is a list of sun-loving perennials for gardens in Seattle, the Pacific Northwest & USDA Zone 8.  It includes xeric perennials (those that like dry conditions) & perennials for moist sites.  Most of these plants are fairly common in the temperate gardens of North America & Europe. None are difficult to grow.  A perennial is any plant, not woody, that lives for at least a few years, although some are short-lived.  Perennials include bulbs & grasses.  Perennial groundcovers are listed in Groundcovers for Sun.  Some genera have species that are both annuals & perennials, or both perennials & shrubs.  Some perennials blur the line between perennials & shrubs, & are often called sub-shrubs.  Some can be weedy, spreading widely by seeds.  Others spread by stolons, which are horizontal above-ground shoots.  Those are noted, although the worst of them are not listed here.  A single common name is noted when the plant has a common name.  While some have several common names, others have none at all.  An excellent reference book for perennials is Perennials: The Definite Reference With Over 2,500 Photographs by Roger Phillips & Martyn Rix.

Perennials for Sun

Acanthus hungaricus, Acanthus mollis, Acanthus spinosus (Bear's Breeches): & other species

Achillea (Yarrow): many species

Agapanthus campanulatus (Lily of the Nile): often sold as Headbourne Hybrids

Alcea rosea (Hollyhock): many cultivars

Allium (Ornamental Onion): many species

Anthemis tinctoria (Marguerite Daisy): xeric

Armeria maritima (Thrift): xeric

Aster (Michaelmas Daisy): many species & cultivars

Astrantia major (Masterwort): some cultivars

Baptisia australis (False Indigo): sun, tolerates some dryness.

Camassia leichtlinii, Camassia quamash (Camas): xeric

Campanula (Bellflower): many species

Centranthus ruber (Valerian): xeric

Cheiranthus cheiri (Wallflower)

Clematis integrifolia: not a vine

Coreopsis (Tickseed): xeric

Crocosmia (Flaming Iris): taller cultivars need support

Crocus: many species & cultivars

Cynara cardunculus (Cardoon): tall & dramatic

Delphinium (Larkspur): many cultivars, needs staking

Dianthus (Carnations & Pinks): many cultivars

Digitalis (Foxglove): short-lived but will return from seed

Echinops ritro (Globe Thistle): xeric

Echinacea paradoxa (Yellow Coneflower) Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower): & other species & many cultivars

Erigeron glaucus (Beach Aster) Erigeron karvinskianus (Santa Barbara Daisy) Erigeron speciosus (Showy Fleabane): & other species

Eriophyllum lanatum (Oregon Sunshine): xeric

Eryngium amethystinum, Eryngium bourgatii, Eryngium planum, Eryngium variifolium  (Sea Holly): & other species, E planum needs support

Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve' (Wallflower)

Eucomis comosa (Pineapple Lily): many cultivars

Eupatorium purpureum (Joe Pye Weed): & other species, needs moisture, may need staking

Euphorbia characias, Euphorbia x martinii, Euphorbia rigida (Spurge): & other species

Festuca ovina ‘Elijah Blue’ (Blue Fescue): short-lived with some seeding

Fritillaria imperialis (Crown Imperial) Fritillaria meleagris (Chequered Lily): & other species

Galtonia candicans (Summer Hyacinth)

Gaura lindheimeri (Gaura): xeric, spreads widely by seed

Geranium cantabrigiense, Geranium 'Johnson's Blue', Geranium sanguineum (Cranesbill): many species & cultivars, not to be confused with Pelargonium (Geranium)

Geum (Avens): many species & cultivars

Gladiolus (Gladiolus, often Gladiola): many species & cultivars, some need staking

Helianthemum nummularium (Sunrose): several cultivars, xeric

Helenium autumnale (Sneezeweed): & other species, does not cause sneezing

Hemerocallis (Daylily): very many cultivars

Hyacinthus orientalis (Hyacinth): many cultivars, not to be confused with Muscari (Grape Hyacinth)

Iris douglasiana, Iris sibirica, Bearded Iris, Dutch Iris: many species & cultivars

Kniphofia (Torch Lily): many species & cultivars

Lathyrus vernus (Perennial Vetch): short-lived with some seeding

Liatris spicata (Gayfeather)

Lilium (Lily): many species & cultivars

Limonium latifolium (Statice)

Linaria (Toadflax)

Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower): needs moisture, Lobelia tupa (Tupa): xeric, & other species

Lupinus (Lupine): many species & cultivars, some are shrubs

Lychnis coronaria (Rose Campion): xeric

Mimulus (Monkey Flower): many species, needs moisture or wetness

Monarda didyma (Bee Balm): several cultivars

Narcissus pseudonarcissus (Daffodil) Narcissus jonquilla (Jonquil): many species & cultivars

Nectaroscordum siculum (Mediterranean Bells)

Oenothera (Evening Primrose): spreads widely by seed

Ornithogalum umbellatum (Star of Bethlehem): xeric

Paeonia (Peony): many species & cultivars, some are shrubs, very long-lived

Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass): xeric

Papaver orientale (Oriental Poppy): & other species

Pennisetum setaceum (Fountain Grass) 

Penstemon (Beardtongue): many species & cultivars, some shrubby, short-lived

Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage): xeric
Persicaria affinis, Persicaria amplexicaulis, Persicaria bistorta, Persicaria virginiana (Knotweed): needs moisture, can be invasive
Phlomis russeliana (Jerusalem Sage): xeric

Phlox (Phlox): many cultivars

Pulsatilla vulgaris (Pasque Flower): several cultivars

Ratibida columnifera (Mexican Hat): xeric

Romneya coulteri (Matilija Poppy): xeric, spreads widely by stolons

Salvia (Sage): many species, short-lived

Scilla peruviana (Giant Squill): xeric, from Spain, not Peru

Solidago (Goldenrod): many species

Tradescantia virginiana (Spiderwort): some cultivars

Tulipa batalinii, Tulipa turkestanica, Darwin Hybrid Tulip, Lily Flowering Tulip: many species & cultivars

Scrophularia macrantha: xeric
Sedum 'Autumn Joy', Sedum 'Matrona', Sedum 'Vera Jameson' (Stonecrop): & other cultivars, xeric

Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears) Stachys monieri 'Hummelo' (Betony): & other species

Veronica spicata (Speedwell): & other species & cultivars

Zauschneria californica (California Fuchsia) Zauschneria latifolia: & other species, spreads widely by stolons