What is considered a full sun garden? Six-hours of sunshine is a good rule of thumb, but higher elevations have more intense light, especially in the afternoon. Also, northern gardens such as those in Montana are cooler than southern gardens such as Southern Utah so determining what full sun means in your garden usually has to fall back on a judgment call.
Seasonal factors like the slanting of the sun’s rays in fall also make a difference, so the sun requirement varies due to the strength of the seasonal sun.
The time of day in a garden changes the sun’s heat. The western sunset is hotter than an eastern sunrise. Permanent structures like garages, fence lines, or trees also change the full-sun dynamic. If a gardener feels frustrated at figuring out their light potential, a light meter can be used to check the hours of light around the summer solstice. In high elevation gardens, full-sun perennials always seem happier with a partial-shade growing spot. Even with a light meter, a gardener’s observation of how the plants perform is the most accurate method for determining light needs.
Full-Sun Perennials That Thrive in Mountain Gardens:
Nepeta starts blooming in spring in mountain gardens and if cut back by the end of July, will bloom again into fall. The smaller-sized Daylilies like Stella are long-blooming and will still be opening their golden trumpets into August. All Daylilies are full-sun perennials, but their flowers have a richer color when blooming in the partial shade of mountain gardens.
Echinacea and Rudbeckia or Black-Eyed-Susans are sister plants and are often called Coneflowers due to their distinctive center cones. They both tolerate full-sun well.
Shasta Daisies or Leucanthemum add that ‘POP’ of white that brightens a full sun garden.
Gaillardia or Blanket Flower brings full sun color into the fall garden
A mixture of every color starting with the Red Lilium blooming at the top, lavender Phlox, Heliopsis ‘Summer Sun’ and blue spike Veronica are all hardy full sun Perennials for western gardens.
Sun and summer team up for glorious gardens and the abundant choices of full-sun perennials will please any gardener.
