10 Plants That THRIVE in Full Summer Sun

9. Sedum (Stonecrop): Succulent Charm Year-Round

Okay, prepare for a shift in gears! We’ve talked about lots of flowery bloomers, but now let’s dive into something with a totally different vibe – Sedum, also known as Stonecrop. These plants are all about succulent charm and bring amazing texture and toughness to the garden.

I have to be honest, for a while, I kind of overlooked Sedums. They seemed maybe too subtle compared to splashier flowers. But oh, how wrong I was! Once I started appreciating their unique forms, their incredible resilience, and how amazing they look all year long, I was totally hooked. They bring a really cool, almost modern feel to sunny spots.

Built for Sun, Designed for Texture

Sedums are champions when it comes to excellent drought and heat tolerance. Their secret? Those fleshy, succulent leaves act like little built-in water tanks. They basically carry their own water bottle around! This makes them fantastic choices for drought resistant plants and spots where watering might be tricky.

They definitely love full sun, and for many varieties, that sunlight brings out the best color in their leaves – sometimes adding cool reddish, purple, or bronze tints. But beyond color, it’s the texture they provide that’s so valuable from a design perspective. Those plump leaves just look and feel different from everything else, adding wonderful contrast and structure to plantings. They are truly unique full sun succulents.

So Many Shapes, Sizes & A Late Season Surprise

One of the coolest things about Sedums is the incredible diversity of forms. You’ve got low-growing, groundcover types like ‘Angelina’ with its chartreuse needle-like leaves, or ‘Dragon’s Blood’ that turns deep red. These little guys are perfect for tucking into rock gardens, spilling over walls, or edging pathways.

Then you have the upright varieties, like the famous ‘Autumn Joy’ (or its improved cousin, ‘Autumn Fire’). These form sturdy clumps with thick stems and big, flattish heads that look almost like broccoli before they bloom! There really is a Sedum for pretty much any sunny spot you can think of.

While the foliage looks great all season, many Sedums offer a late summer or fall bonus: clusters of tiny, star-shaped flowers, usually in shades of pink, deep red, or sometimes yellow or white. What’s neat is watching the flower heads develop – they often start green or creamy white and slowly take on color, adding weeks of interest before they even fully bloom. They are wonderful fall blooming perennials.

The Easiest Care? (If You Do This ONE Thing)

Want happy Sedums? There is one golden rule: they absolutely need very well-draining soil. I cannot stress this enough! They will quickly rot if their roots sit in heavy, wet soil. If you have clay, amend it generously with compost and grit/sand, or plant them in raised beds or containers using a cactus/succulent potting mix. This is the number one key to success!

Because they store their own water, you need to water sparingly. Let the soil dry out completely between waterings. Seriously, less is more! I definitely learned this lesson by killing one or two with too much love (aka water) when I first started growing them. They are incredibly low maintenance otherwise.

You generally don’t need to deadhead them (unless you want to tidy up for looks). In fact, leaving the dried flower heads and stems standing provides fantastic fall and winter interest. They look gorgeous dusted with frost or snow! This makes them perfect for low-water gardens and contributes to that cool, modern garden design aesthetic. They are truly easy care succulents if you get the drainage right.

So, if you’re looking for something different, incredibly tough, and beautiful in a more textural, structural way, give Sedum a try! They offer so much interest throughout the year with very little fuss, provided you remember that crucial drainage rule.

We’ve reached our last plant on this sunny tour! This one is a real heat-lover known for its glossy leaves and non-stop flowers even when summer is at its most brutal. Click the “next” button below to discover the reliable beauty of annual Vinca!