When selecting bushes and small shrubs for full sun, it’s essential to choose varieties that thrive in bright, direct light and can handle the intensity of summer rays. Shrubs for full sun not only add vibrant color and texture to your garden but also offer resilience and durability in sunny locations.
These sun-loving shrubs can enhance your landscape with their rich blooms, attractive foliage, and ability to withstand the heat, making them perfect for bright, open spaces.
This article provides 30 beautiful flowering shrubs and bushes for full sun, offering you more options for your cherished garden.
Different Types of Bushes and Small Shrubs for Full Sun
Daphne
Daphne shrubs are compact and rounded, ideal for small yards. They produce tubular white to light pink flowers in spring or early winter in warmer climates. The small, light green leaves are evergreen in warm climates but deciduous in colder regions. Varieties like ‘Carol Mackie’ are valued for their variegated foliage. Thriving in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9, they prefer full sun to partial shade and moist but well-drained soil. Note that daphnes are toxic to humans and pets.
Doublefile Viburnum
Doublefile viburnum (Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Mariesii’) is a striking shrub known for its flat-topped, two-row flower clusters. Its white blooms appear in April and May. This fast-growing shrub can reach 8-16 feet tall and 12-15 feet wide, so it benefits from a spring pruning to manage its size. Additionally, its fall foliage and berries add seasonal interest. Thriving in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-8, it prefers full sun to partial shade and medium moist but well-drained soil.
Flowering Quince
Flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) is an early bloomer that thrives in sunny locations, often flowering while forsythias are still in bloom. The vibrant yellow-orange display created when planted together is particularly eye-catching. It also offers red varieties for added color diversity. Suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9, it blooms in early spring and prefers full sun to partial shade with medium moist but well-drained soil. The shrub grows 3-10 feet tall and wide.
Forsythia
Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia) is a vase-shaped shrub that excels in early-season blooms. Thriving in sunny locations, it produces vivid yellow flowers in early spring, often before deciduous trees cast any shade. This makes it a standout in northern gardens, where it is frequently the first shrub to bloom each spring. Ideal for USDA Hardiness Zones 5-8, it prefers full sun to partial shade and medium moist but well-drained soil, growing 2-10 feet tall and wide.
Fothergilla
Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii), native to the southeastern United States, is a dense, multi-stemmed, slow-growing shrub. Popular cultivars like ‘Mount Airy’ are prized for their showy, sweetly fragrant white flowers that attract bees and pollinators. The blooms typically last two to three weeks in spring. This long-lived shrub thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-8, preferring full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained, acidic soil, growing 3-5 feet tall and wide.
Hardy Hibiscus
Hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos), often called dinner-plate hibiscus for its impressive blooms up to 10 inches across, is ideal for northern gardens. It bridges the gap between early summer floral abundance and fall foliage, blooming in late summer. This shrub thrives in rain gardens and other moist areas, preferring full sun and loamy, moist soil. It grows 3-7 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide, and is suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9.
Mock Orange
Mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius) is celebrated for its delightful, citrus-like fragrance and white flowers, making it a popular choice for moon gardens. Blooming from May to June, it continues the floral show after forsythias and flowering quince. This shrub thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8, preferring full sun to partial shade and medium moist, well-drained soil. It grows 10-12 feet tall and wide, providing a fragrant and visually appealing addition to gardens.
Ninebark
Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) is named for its distinctive exfoliating bark, which peels away in thin layers as the branches mature. It blooms in late spring with clusters of fragrant white or pink flowers and bears red fruit in late summer and autumn, attracting birds. Native from southern Canada to Florida and west to Oklahoma and Kansas, this shrub thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 2-8. It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained clay or loamy soil, growing 3-10 feet tall and 3-8 feet wide.
Oleander
Oleander (Nerium oleander) is admired for its extended bloom period, showcasing 1- to 3-inch fragrant flowers in white, pink, red, or yellow from spring through summer and sometimes into fall. In warmer climates, it can bloom year-round. Its dense, leathery, dark green foliage remains attractive year-round. In colder regions, it’s best grown in a container and brought indoors for the winter. Ideal for USDA Hardiness Zones 8-10, it thrives in full sun and well-drained, alkaline soil. Caution: Oleander is toxic to humans and pets.
Summersweet
Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) is a versatile deciduous shrub native to the eastern and southern United States, known for its vibrant color and sweet fragrance during July and August. Its large, fragrant flowers come in white, pink, or rose. This shrub thrives in a range of climates and soil types, including loam, clay, and sand, and is suitable for use as a specimen plant or hedge. It attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, growing 3-8 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide.
Sweetbay Magnolia
Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana), also known as swamp magnolia, is native to the eastern United States and offers a unique charm to gardens. In northern regions, it is deciduous, while in the south, it remains evergreen. It blooms with creamy white, lemon-scented flowers at the end of spring or early summer. Each flower opens in the morning and closes at night, lasting two to three days. Growing 10-35 feet tall and wide, it adds 1 to 2 feet per year and thrives in full sun to partial shade with moist, rich, acidic soil.
Tea Olive
Tea olive (Osmanthus fragrans), also known as fragrant tea olive, is an evergreen broadleaf shrub prized for its highly fragrant white or yellow flowers, which bloom in spring and sometimes again in fall. Native to Asia, it thrives in warm climates. For North American gardeners, Osmanthus americanus offers a native alternative, though its flowers are less showy. Tea olive grows 20-30 feet tall and 10-14 feet wide, preferring full sun to partial shade and moist but well-drained soil.
Virginia Sweetspire
Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica) is a versatile shrub native to the woodlands of eastern North America, ideal for woodland borders and erosion control. It features a rounded habit and produces fragrant, drooping white flower racemes in May and June. This shrub spreads quickly via suckering roots, and its foliage provides vibrant autumn color, turning red, orange, and gold. Virginia sweetspire thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9, preferring full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained, acidic soil. It grows 4-8 feet tall and wide.
Weigela
Weigela (Weigela florida) is a classic shrub, with the straight species being a beloved choice and new cultivars like ‘Wine & Roses’ offering dark leaves that contrast beautifully with rosy-pink flowers. Blooming from April to June, it’s ideal for borders, screens, or foundation plantings. Other varieties may feature variegated or golden foliage. Thriving in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8, it prefers full sun and medium moist, well-drained soil, growing 6-10 feet tall and 9-12 feet wide.
Abelia
Shrubs with abelias have colorful leaves and blooms that persist from spring to October. Butterflies and hummingbirds are drawn to the tubular pink blossoms hanging from pink stems. The colors of the pointed, oval-shaped leaves can vary and can change with the seasons. The colors include yellow, green, pink, orange, bronze, and burgundy. These variegated, multicolored plants do best in USDA Hardiness Zones 4–11. They need loamy, wet, well-drained soil and full sun to light shade. Their height and width range from 2 to 10 feet.
Beauty Bush
The Beauty Bush (Kolkwitzia amabilis), which is native to central China, has an upright, arched, vase-shaped structure that resembles a fountain. It displays a profusion of light pink, bell-shaped flowers in April and May. Full sun promotes the best flowering, while partial shadow brings out the color of the leaves. Pruning this shrub back to the ground every few years is beneficial because it can get dense over time. It spreads 6-8 feet broad and 6-10 feet tall.
Black Lace Elderberry
Black Lace elderberry (Sambucus nigra ‘Eva’) is an ornamental cultivar with striking almost-black lacy leaves and lemon-scented light pink flowers in flat-topped clusters. Bred for its visual appeal rather than edible berries, this shrub thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-7. It benefits from some afternoon shade in warmer climates. Reaching 6-8 feet tall and wide, it prefers moist but well-drained soil and can be toxic to humans and pets.
Blue Beard
Blue beard (Caryopteris x clandonensis), also known as blue mist or blue spirea, is one of the few plants with genuinely blue flowers. Blooming from midsummer to early fall, this hybrid shrub, native to Asia, can be used as a low hedge or in groups. In cooler climates, it dies back each winter like a woody perennial. It thrives in full sun, dry to medium moist but well-drained soil, and grows 2-4 ft. tall and wide.
Blueblossom
Blueblossom (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus) is a hardy evergreen shrub, known for its pollinator-friendly and drought-tolerant nature. With a short trunk and spreading branches, it often cascades over low walls. Its pink-lavender buds bloom into true blue flowers from mid-May to mid-June. Thriving in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9, it prefers full sun to partial shade and moist but well-drained soil, reaching 4-14 ft. tall and 5-14 ft. wide.
Blue Chip Butterfly Bush
The Blue Chip butterfly bush (Buddleia x ‘Blue Chip’) is a sterile, non-invasive cultivar known for attracting butterflies. Blooming continuously from June to September, it features blue-purple flowers. This compact plant grows up to 2 feet tall and wide, thriving in full sun and medium moist but well-drained soil. In some climates, it dies back to the ground in winter, behaving like a herbaceous perennial. Suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9.
Candy Oh Rose
The Candy Oh rose (Rosa x ‘ZLEMatinCipar’) is a low-maintenance landscape rose, ideal for beginners. While it lacks the signature fragrance of many roses, its prolific pinkish-red blooms provide stunning visual appeal from summer to fall. Thriving in full sun and moist but well-drained soil, this shrub grows 3-4 ft. tall and wide. Suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9, it’s a resilient and attractive choice for any garden.
Chinese Fringe Flower
The Chinese fringe flower (Loropetalum chinense) is an evergreen, multistemmed shrub known for its delicate, subtly fragrant blooms. A relative of witch hazel, it features fringe-like flowers and foliage that transitions from red to deep green throughout the year. Thriving in USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10, it prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. The shrub matures at 6-10 ft. tall and wide.
Common Lilac
The common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) is renowned for its powerful fragrance, blooming in early to mid-spring. Its scent is often detected before the shrub itself is seen. These lilacs grow large and spread by suckers. For easier control, consider other species like ‘Miss Kim,’ a popular dwarf lilac cultivar. Thriving in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-7, they prefer full sun and loamy, well-drained soil, reaching 12-16 ft. tall and 8-12 ft. wide.
Cotton Rose
The Cotton Rose (Hibiscus mutabilis) is a large, fast-growing shrub that can become tree-like, with stems reaching impressive heights and widths. Its show-stopping flowers start as white or light pink and transition through magenta to dark pink and red within a few days. The blooms last several more days, providing a stunning display of color changes. This shrub thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7-11, prefers full sun to partial shade, and grows 6-15 ft. tall and 6-10 ft. wide.
Rockrose
Rockrose (Cistus spp.) is an ideal choice for challenging soils where other plants struggle. This fast-growing evergreen shrub from the Mediterranean features dense green foliage, delicate, papery flowers, and aromatic leaves. It’s hardy, drought-tolerant, and resistant to deer and extreme heat. Blooming in summer, its flowers come in pink, yellow, or white. Suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 6-10, it thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, reaching 3-5 feet tall and wide.
Rose of Sharon
Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is a hardy hibiscus that blooms from early summer through midfall, making it a vibrant addition to gardens. Popular cultivars like ‘Sugar Tip’ feature light pink flowers with variegated leaves, while ‘Blue Chiffon’ boasts lavender-blue blooms. It is commonly used in informal hedges, screens, or naturalized masses. Thriving in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-8, it prefers full sun to partial shade and medium moist, well-drained soil, growing 8-12 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide.
