Sunlight is essential for the growth of plants, whether outdoors or indoors. On the other hand, excessive exposure to sunlight can scorch, bleach, and damage plants, ultimately killing them. However, some plants thrive in full sunlight, and these sun-loving flowers are ideal for our climate.
Plants cannot grow or bloom without this energy. If a plant doesn't get enough light, it won't grow properly and may even die. It's important to know that sun-loving flowers need regular watering, especially during intense drought periods when there's no rain in sight. Pay special attention to perennial plants as they need enough water to strengthen their root systems and bloom beautifully the following year.
Heat-resistant potted plants dry out faster than those planted in the ground. Porous materials, like terracotta-lined pots, dry out faster than plastic ones, so keep this in mind when choosing where to plant your flowers. As plants grow, their capacity to absorb water increases, so during extreme heat, you may need to water them twice a day.
Garden flowers: Marigold and Sunflower
Sunny gardens typically provide about eight hours of direct sunlight daily, which not all flowers can tolerate. When planning your small garden, choose plants that can handle that amount of sun.
Zinnias are a favorite sun-loving flower because they are hardy and look beautiful. They come in white, pink, purple, and other shades. Zinnias grow tall, making them ideal for garden edges. You can grow them from seeds or buy seedlings.
Marigolds are available in bright shades of yellow and orange. They are one of the easiest sun-loving flowers to grow outdoors. If you're looking for flowers that can handle lots of sun and heat, plant marigolds. Marigolds also repel pests with their scent, so planting them around the garden can be beneficial. You can grow them from seeds or buy seedlings.
Sunflowers, as the name suggests, love the sun. You can easily plant sunflowers from seeds and enjoy their bloom in a short time. They are ideal for dividing the garden into sections or planting along the edges.
Sage, Lemon Verbena, Geranium
Even at the height of summer, there's no reason your garden shouldn't be colorful, vibrant, and lush. In fact, your garden or terrace will become a fragrant oasis if you plant sun-loving flowers.
Lemon verbena is a hardy, sun-loving plant native to South America but now grown worldwide. It's said that Victorian women found relief from the summer heat by placing lemon verbena leaves in handkerchiefs and inhaling the sweet, citrus aroma. Today, you can simply plant lemon verbena near your doors and windows for a pleasant scent. It requires watering only once or twice a week and will bloom from summer to fall.
It’s well-known that geraniums handle heat better than most other plants. However, to keep them healthy, they need constant moisture and should be watered as soon as the soil surface dries. They will also thrive if placed in partial shade during the hottest parts of summer.
Sage blooms for a long time and is easy to grow. Since they originate from the Mediterranean, they are heat-tolerant, prefer full sun, and thrive with minimal watering during the summer, making them ideal for dry gardens and drought-tolerant landscapes. The most striking sages have clusters of lovely blue or purple flowers that bloom all summer and attract various pollinators.
Balcony flowers: Petunia, Lavender, Rosemary
Most rooftop terraces and balconies are exposed to direct sunlight. This makes them perfect spots for sun-loving flowers, herbs, and seasonal plants because they can develop into their full beauty only in full sun.
These plants need to be watered regularly. It's advisable to water them in the morning or evening to prevent evaporation or overheating. Don’t forget to provide them with enough nutrients from fertilizers, as this helps them grow well and build resistance to diseases and pests.
Balcony plants that love the sun include petunia, lavender, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme, and lemon verbena.
Flowers that thrive in full sun are often the most beautiful, as they draw energy from the sun, giving them vibrancy and strength. These plants typically require six or more hours of sunlight each day, although some may prefer a little afternoon shade when the sun is scorching. Be sure to check your sun-exposed plants frequently to see if they need water. And to create a unique terrace, plant several different types of flowers in the same large pot.
Hardy flowers
If you want plants that are easy to maintain and look beautiful, choose those that tolerate various conditions. These plants can withstand drought, poor soil, and harsh winters, yet they bloom beautifully year after year. These include daylilies, epimedium, coreopsis, Russian sage, hellebore, sedum, echinacea, and peonies.
Drought-resistant flowers
When summer heat and drought hit, these resilient plants won’t have a problem. They include yarrow, blanket flower, lavender, and blue star.
Million Bells handle high temperatures perfectly
Million Bells love the sun and warm temperatures. This makes them perfect for summer planting in pots or hanging baskets.
Verbena is a hardy flower that tolerates the sun well
Choose a location with well-drained soil for your verbenas. Verbena can be sown indoors from February to April or directly in the ground in May.
African Daisy tolerates drought
African daisies are quite drought-tolerant. For the best growth, however, they need about 25 mm of water per week from rainfall or irrigation. Keep the soil consistently moist, well-drained, and somewhat acidic, with a pH of 5 to 5.5. Also, add compost to the soil before planting, reports Informer.