If you have a spot in your garden that gets full sun—meaning it gets six or more hours of direct sunlight each day—then you’ll want to choose shrubs that can tolerate and even thrive in those conditions. Here are five of the best full sun shrubs for your garden.
Gold Mound Spirea (Spiraea japonica ‘Gold Mound’)
A low-growing shrub that tops out at around three feet, Gold Mound Spirea is an excellent choice for borders, foundation plantings, and mass plantings. It’s also deer-resistant, which is a bonus if you live in an area where deer are a problem. Gold Mound Spirea has bright gold foliage that turns orange and red in the fall. It blooms in late spring or early summer with clusters of white flowers. Gold Mound Spirea is hardy in zones 4-8.
Flamingo Willow (Salix integra ‘Flamingo’)
With its bright pink stems and leaves, Flamingo Willow is sure to add some color to your garden. It’s a fast-growing shrub that can reach up to 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide, so it’s perfect for screening or backdrops. If you live in a colder climate, you can grow Flamingo Willow as an annual; just be sure to bring it indoors before the first frost. Flamingo Willow is hardy in zones 4-7.
Diabolo Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diabolo’)
A versatile shrub that’s perfect for both formal and informal gardens, Diabolo Ninebark grows anywhere from six to 10 feet tall and wide. It has deep purple foliage that contrasts beautifully with its white flowers, which appear in early summer. Diabolo Ninebark is easy to care for and tolerant of a variety of soil conditions. It’s also resistant to deer and rabbits—an added bonus if you live in an area where these critters are a problem. Diabolo Ninebark is hardy in zones 3-7.
Dwarf Fothergilla (Fothergilla ‘Mount Airy’)
A small deciduous shrub that only grows to about three feet tall, Dwarf Fothergilla is perfect for foundation plantings, rock gardens, or fronts of borders. In spring, it’s covered in white bottlebrush-like flowers; in fall, its foliage turns shades of orange, yellow, and red. Dwarf Fothergilla is easy to care for and tolerant of a variety of soil conditions. It’s also deer-resistant and rabbit-resistant—an added bonus if you live in an area where these critters are a problem. Dwarf Fothergilla is hardy in zones 5-8.”
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
A deciduous shrub that typically grows anywhere from six to eight feet tall (although it can sometimes reach heights of up to 12 feet), Oakleaf Hydrangea is perfect for foundation plantings or mixed borders. It has large oak-shaped leaves that turn shades of red, purple, and bronze in the fall; in late spring or early summer, it produces clusters of white flowers. Oakleaf Hydrangea is easy to care for and tolerant of a variety of soil conditions; it does best in moist soils but can also tolerate drought conditions once it’s established.”
Tiger Eyes Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina ‘Bailtiger’)
This eye-catching shrub has yellow and orange leaves that resemble a tiger’s eye. It is a fast grower and can reach up to 15 feet tall. It is tolerant of most soil types as long as it is well-drained.
Rock Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis)
This spreading shrub has small white flowers that bloom in the spring, followed by red berries in the fall. It grows 6-10 feet tall and 10-15 feet wide. It prefers well-drained soil and does not tolerate wet conditions.
Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
This deciduous shrub is native to North America and grows 6-9 feet tall. In the fall, the leaves turn a beautiful yellow color. The highlight of this shrub is the bright purple berries that appear in the late summer and early fall. Beautyberry prefers moist, well-drained soil but can tolerate dry conditions.
Pussy Willow (Salix discolor)
As its name suggests, this shrub has soft, furry catkins that appear in early spring before the leaves emerge. It grows 10-15 feet tall and wide and prefers moist, fertile soils. Pussy willow is tolerant of occasional flooding but does not like extended periods of drought.
Tatarian Dogwood (Cornus alba)
This attractive shrub has dark green leaves that turn red or purple in the fall. In late spring, small white flowers give way to white berries that are enjoyed by birds. Tatarian dogwood grows 6-8 feet tall and wide and prefers moist, well-drained soils. It is tolerant of clay soils as well as light shade.
Japanese Falsecypress ‘Golden Mop’ (Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Golden Mop’)
As its name suggests, this slow-growing evergreen has golden needles that give it a “mop” appearance. It only grows 1 foot per year and can reach a height of 10 feet. Japanese false cypress prefers moist, well drained soils but can tolerate some salt spray making it a good choice for coastal gardens.
