Perennials are among the most popular garden plants. In order for them to thrive and bring joy for many years, it is important to ensure the right lighting conditions at the location. A sunny spot is suitable for the following hardy perennials.
Table of Contents
Hardy perennials for the sun from A to C
Arkansas-Scheinaster (Vernonia arkansana)
- Common name: shore mock aster, Veronie
- Growth: upright, forming clumps
- Growth height: between 150 and 200 centimeters
- Flowers: violet, from September to October
- Soil requirements: fresh to moist, well-drained, loamy-sandy, preferably rocky, pH between 6.5 and 7.5 (neutral)
- Special features: bee-friendly, annual pruning required
Balkan-Bärenklaue (Acanthus hungaricus)
- Trivialname: Stachelähre, Balkan-Bärentatze
- Growth: arching, expansive, clump-forming
- Growth height: between 80 and 100 centimeters
- Flowers: simple, racemose, whitish-pink, from July to August
- Soil requirement: fresh, well-drained, loamy-sandy, pH between 5.9 and 8.0
- Special features: not suitable as a container plant, popular as a cut flower
Bergenie (Bergenia cordifolia)
- Trivialnamen: Bergenia crassifolia
- Growth: compact, creeping, forming rhizomes
- Growth height: usually between 40 and 50 centimeters
- Flowers: simple, bell-shaped or umbel-shaped, white, pink, pink, red or bicolored, from March to May
- Soil requirement: fresh, well-drained, nutrient-rich, pH between 5.9 and 8.0 (neutral)
- Special features: attracts bees, bumblebees and hoverflies, also thrives in partial shade, extremely hardy and easy to care for
Blaukissen (Aubrieta worshipers)
- Trivialnamen: Aubrieta-Hybriden
- Growth: cushion-forming, carpet-like
- Growth height: between eight and ten centimeters
- Flowers: simple, cupped, violet, from April to May
- Soil requirement: fresh, well-drained, loamy-sandy, pH between 5.9 and 7.5 (neutral)
- Special features: evergreen, decorative blue-green foliage, good for rock gardens
Blausternbusch (Amsonia hubrichtii)
- Trivial names: Hubricht’s tube star
- Growth: upright, leafy flower stalks, clump-forming
- Growth height: between 70 and 90 centimeters
- Flowers: simple, umbel-shaped, light blue star-shaped flowers, from May to July
- Soil requirements: dry to fresh, well-drained, mineral, pH between 5.9 and 7.5 (neutral)
- Special features: needle-shaped leaves, yellow, orange or red autumn colours
Blutroter Storchschnabel (Geranium sanguineum)
- Common names: blood cranesbill
- Growth: forms cushions and rhizomes, strong growth
- Growth height: between 20 and 40 centimeters
- Flowers: simple, cupped, bright crimson, from June to August
- Soil requirements: dry, well-drained, loamy-sandy, preferably stony, pH value between 6.0 and 7.0 (neutral)
- Special features: insensitive to diseases, very hardy and long-lived, reddish autumn colour, nutrient perennial, low maintenance requirements
Chrysantheme (Chrysanthemum x hortorum)
- Trivialnamen: Winteraster
- Growth: bushy, upright inflorescences, clumps
- Growth height: between 30 and 90 centimeters (depending on the variety)
- Flowers: depending on the variety, white, red, yellow, golden yellow, pink/pink or bicolored, radiating, October to November/December
- Soil requirements: well-drained, fresh, high nutrient requirement, pH value 5.9 to 7.5 (neutral)
- Special features: late-blooming perennials, a sunny location is a must, also ideal for window boxes and tubs
Tip: Although chrysanthemums are hardy, the leaves should not be cut off after flowering. These serve as natural protection against the cold.
Hardy perennials for the sun from F to L
Fackellilie (Kniphofia uvaria)
- Trivial name: Rocket flowers
- Growth: upright, arching leaves
- Growth height: between 30 and 100 centimeters
- Flowers: yellow-red, spike-shaped, from July to September
- Soil requirement: dry to fresh, well-drained, normal garden soil, pH between 6.5 and 8.0
- Special features: evergreen, flame-like flowers, ideal as a cut flower, very robust and hardy, yet cover the surface of the earth with leaves or similar in winter
Fetthenne (Sedum)
- Trivialnamen: Fettblatt
- Growth: upright, bushy, depending on the variety also carpet-like, creeping, sometimes rooting, such as snow carpet fat leaf ‘Album Superbum’
- Growth height: between 30 and 70 centimeters (depending on the variety), creeping varieties between 10 and 15 centimeters
- Flowers: simple, umbel-shaped, white, reddish, violet, yellowish, from August to September
- Soil requirement: dry to fresh, well-drained, normal garden soil, pH neutral to slightly alkaline
- Special features: succulent leaves, very bee-friendly, deciduous, very uncomplicated and easy-care perennials, tolerates sun and partial shade equally well
Küchenschelle (Pulsatilla vulgaris subsp. vulgaris)
- Trivialnamen: Kuhschelle
- Growth: upright inflorescences, clumps
- Growth height: between five and 20 centimeters
- Flowers: simple, bell-shaped, violet, from March to April
- Soil requirements: slightly dry to fresh, well-drained, calcareous
- Special features: ideal for green roofs and rock gardens, very bee-friendly and hardy perennial, easy to care for
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- Trivial Names: True Lavender
- Growth: upright stems, compact, bushy
- Growth height: between 40 and 80 centimeters
- Flowers: simple, in panicles, violet, pink, white and blue, from June to September
- Soil requirement: fresh, well-drained, humic, nutritious, pH 6.5 to 8.3
- Special features: very undemanding and hardy, intensive flower scent, evergreen, a sunny location is essential
Tip: Aphids don’t like the smell of lavender. If lavender is placed as a border or between plants that are particularly popular with aphids, they will keep their distance.
Lichtnelke (Lychnis chalcedonica)
- Trivial names: Burning love
- Growth: upright stems, clumps, bushy
- Growth height: between 60 and 100 centimeters
- Flowers: bright red, simple, umbellate, from June to July
- Soil requirements: fresh, humic, well-drained, rich in nutrients, pH value between neutral and slightly acidic
- Special features: particularly robust and easy to care for, attracts bees, sunny or full sun location possible
Hardy perennials for the sun from P to S
Pfingstrose (Paeonia hybrida)
- Trivial names: peonies, precious peonies
- Growth: upright, bushy
- Growth height: between 50 and 80 centimetres, a few varieties up to 110 centimetres
- Flowers: deep red, rose/pink, white or cupped in two colors, from May to June
- Soil requirements: fresh, well-drained, rich in humus and nutrients, pH slightly alkaline to acidic
- Special features: early-flowering perennials, lime-tolerant, also ideal for window boxes and tubs
Caution: Peonies are slightly poisonous. Sensitive people, young children and small pets can suffer from mild symptoms of poisoning if poisonous parts of the plant are consumed. Care should be taken to ensure that there is no unsupervised access to peonies for named persons and animals.
Schafgarbe (Achillea millefolium)
- Growth: flat or upright growth
- Growth height: between 30 and 50 centimeters
- Flowers: simple, umbel-shaped, pink, violet-pink, red, white or yellow, from June to August
- Soil requirements: fresh, well-drained, humic, nutritious, pH 6.5 to 8.0,
- Specialties: fragrant, deciduous, lilac-like leaves, very easy to care for, very bright colors in the sun, friendly to bees
Sonnenauge (Heliopsis scabra)
- Common Names: Rough Suneye
- Growth: bushy, upright, loosely upright growth
- Growth height: between 60 and 120 centimeters
- Flowers: simple, radial, yellow, from July to September
- Soil requirements: dry to fresh, nutritious, likes loamy-sandy, pH slightly alkaline to slightly acidic
- Special features: high longevity, lush sea of flowers, does not tolerate drought, full sun is recommended, but it also does well in a sunny spot
Sonnenbraut (Helenium x cultivators)
- Growth: upright leafy stalks, clumpy, slow-growing
- Growth height: between 60 and 120 centimeters
- Flowers: simple, radiating, red, yellow, light yellow, orange-red, from June/July to August
- Soil requirements: fresh, well-drained, nutritious, loamy-sandy, pH neutral
- Special features: bee pasture, cut plant, very undemanding, does not tolerate drought
Perennial Sunflower (Helianthus atrorubens)
- Common names: beet sunflowers
- Habit: bushy, upright inflorescences, fast-growing, runners
- Growth height: between 150 and 180 centimeters
- Flowers: simple, radiating, bright yellow, from August to September
- Soil requirements: dry to fresh, well-drained, nutritious, pH neutral to slightly alkaline
- Special features: not suitable as a container plant, lush flower growth in a sunny location, partially hardy plant, for which protection against the cold in winter is recommended
