10 Easy full sun perennials that are hard to kill

So many people ask me for plant suggestions so I figured I would make a guide of my 10 favorites. 

A few disclaimers about these plants: 

-These are all requiring full sun (6-8 hours of sunlight per day)

-Know your zone!! Make sure you are planting things that can live where you live. Most of these have a pretty wide zone range but just be careful! To find your zone go to: https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/Native_Plant_Materials/Native_Gardening/hardinesszones.shtml

-New plants need at least one year commitment of good watering before you can back off. This means every day/ every other day depending on how hot it is outside. 

- After your year of good watering I would just water mine with plant food once a month. If its really hot and nasty outside or its been a long drought then I'll water mine in the morning or at night until the hot weather passes.

1. Daylilies (Hermeocallius)

Zone: 4-9

Bloom Time: Typically late May- Early September depending on the type 

Height: 1 ft tall (front of landscape bed)

Dayliles are my go to plant for any hard areas. Need something in rocky soil? or how about a high traffic area? Plus they grow so well that you can split them every few years and give them to friends or fill in other areas of your yard. The most common color is yellow but they also come in a variety of colors. Plus these often go on sale if you wait long enough at most garden stores so you can get them for pretty cheap. 

Over one winter this pipe froze and then burst covering this entire bed in frozen ice mud water. I thought for sure these dayliles were goners. This is a picture of them in Spring- acting like nothing happened doing fine. One of the reasons I love dayliles. 

2. Cone Flower (Echinacea) 

Zone: 5-8

Bloom Time: Typically June- September 

Height: 2-3ft tall (middle to back of bed)

Besides the fact that they are low maintenance I love that these flowers bloom for a long time! These flowers also spread- but not as fast as daylilies. Their most common color is purple but they come in a variety of colors as well. They are also often discounted. 

3. Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)

Zone: 3-9

Bloom Time: Late June- Late August 

Height: 2-3 ft tall (middle to back of bed)

These bloom later than cone flowers and for not as long but I still love them. They also spread a lot faster than cone flowers. After a few years I was spreading them out amongst other parts of my yard and friends. 

4.Iris

Zone: 4-9- depending on variety

Bloom Time: Mid April- May

Height: 2-3 ft 

Irises are a great filler plant. They only bloom for about two weeks out of the year but if you have a spot that you want to fill with a basic green plant- this is the plant for you. They are great for the middle of a big bed or along the side of your house. See my post about planting and caring for irises: 

5.Seedum 

Zone: 4-9

Bloom time: Late summer- fall 

Height: 1 ft 

I love seedum because it is one of the few plants that bloom in later summer/fall. During the spring and summer it looks like a cool succulent and then it turns pink. These are vary hardy- great for high traffic areas (near sidewalks, mailboxes etc)

Sedum in Summer                                                 Sedum in Fall when it blooms

6. Knockout Roses 

Zone: 5-9

Bloom time: May- October, will bloom multiple times over this time and will self dead head.

Height: 2-4 ft tall 

If you want a basic rose- this is it. I don't love roses, but the previous owners left me one and I am shocked at how well it is thriving with me doing absolutely nothing. If you want a rose that you can abandon this is it! Fun fact: this plant was created in my hometown: Milwaukee, WI. It does have thornes so be careful!

7. Lambs Ear (Stachys Byzantin)

Zone: 4-8

Bloom time: Late May (ish)

Height: 1ft 

Ok so I have always been partial to this plant because sheep are my favorite animal, but this is a great filler plant! It can also do well in part shade! I like it because the leaves are fuzzy. The flowers are a littler underwhelming but this is a great plant to put in a high traffic area or a hard to grow area. 

8. Speedwell (Veronica)

Zone: 3-8

Bloom time: June-August

Height: 1ft 

I always think these are neat and I love the purple/blue colors that these come in. 

9. Bee Balm (Monarda)

Zone: 4-9

Bloom Time: July-August 

Height: 2-3 ft

It's called Bee Balm for a reason- they love it! This mixes well with cone flowers. I like them because they are a little funky. They come in pink and purples. 

10. Blazing Star (Liatris) 

Zone: 3-8

Bloom time: mid June- July

Height:  2-4 ft when blooming 

This is a fun funky looking plant (can you tell I like funky plants). They are often very eye catching and I get alot of comments on them. 

HAPPY PLANTING!