15 Full Sun Perennials For Hardiness Zone 9

If you’re gardening in USDA hardiness zone 9, you’re lucky to enjoy an extended growing season with warm temperatures and sunny climates. That means you have a wide variety of plants available to grow, including gorgeous, sun-loving perennials. So how do you pick the right perennial plants for your garden with all those attractive options?

Living in zone 9 means that you’ll likely have areas of your garden that get plenty of sun. And not all perennials are made to withstand full sun conditions. It’s also important to pick the right types of plants based on the overall look and care needs that you plan to have in your garden. Some full sun perennials will need a little bit more attention and maintenance.

We’ve hand-picked some of our favorite perennials that can tolerate full sun conditions in the warmer climate of USDA hardiness zone 9. Continue reading to find some perfect perennial companions to add to your garden this season!

Blanket Flower

Scientific Name: Gaillardia aristata

• Plant Type: Perennial
• Geographic Origin: the United States and Mexico
• Plant Size: 12 to 18 inches
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Plant Zone: 3 to 9

Blanket flowers are a heat-loving herbaceous perennial that creates a cheerful and inviting garden. This low-maintenance flower is a member of the Aster family (Asteraceae) and blooms in shades of yellow, red, and orange from July to September.

The flower heads are showy and solitary to few. This plant performs best in well-draining soil and becomes drought-tolerant once established. Planting in a sunny area and providing occasional watering are recommended to maintain this fast-growing flower.

Blanket flowers are also native wildflowers in North America, making it a great planting option for gardeners that only prefer native plants.

Bulbine

Scientific Name: Bulbine frutescens

• Plant Type: Perennial
• Geographic Origin: South Africa
• Plant Size: 1 to 2 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Plant Zone: 9 to 11

Bulbines are low-growing, succulent perennials that are perfect for adding color and texture to the landscape. The tall, spiked yellow and orange flowers appear in late spring to early summer, with some reblooming occurring in the fall.

Bulbines are easy to care for and require little maintenance. They thrive best in evenly moist to dry, well-draining soils in full sun. Once established, they are drought-tolerant but will benefit from occasional watering during extended periods of dry weather.

Bulbines are great perennials for sunnier and humid climates like Florida. Despite enjoying moisture, it’s drought tolerant and can survive in poorer soil conditions.

Butterfly Weed

Scientific Name: Asclepias tuberosa

• Plant Type: Perennial
• Geographic Origin: North America
• Plant Size: 1 to 2 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Plant Zone: 3 to 9

Butterfly Weed is a beautiful and unique addition to any garden that attracts various pollinators, including bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. It resides within the milkweed family (Asclepiadaceae) and blooms from May to September.

This perennial plant has yellow-orange to bright orange flowers clustered together at the top of the flowering stem. The leaves are long and narrow, and the plant has a deep root system. Butterfly weed does best in full sun with well-drained sand, loam, clay, or limestone. This shrub is also tolerant of drought conditions.

Daylily

Scientific Name: Hemerocallis

• Plant Type: Perennial
• Geographic Origin: Asia
• Plant Size: 1 to 4 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Plant Zone: 4 to 9

Daylilies are exotic perennials whose fragrant flowers come in various colors, including yellow, white, orange, red, pink, and lavender. They are a part of the Liliaceae family and come in early, mid-, and late-season varieties, blooming anywhere from late spring to the first frost.

These fleeting flowers last only one day, but the plant produces an abundance of them over several weeks. Daylilies are virtually no-maintenance plants and are considered one of the most adaptable flowering plants. However, they perform best when given full sun and well-drained, fertile soil.

Globe Thistle

Scientific Name: Echinops

• Plant Type: Perennial
• Geographic Origin: Central Asia; Southeastern and South Central Europe
• Plant Size: 2 to 5 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Plant Zone: 3-9

Globe Thistle is an attractive and low-maintenance perennial that produces spherical blue flowers in the summer. As members of the Aster (Asteraceae) family, they’re considered a good choice for xeriscaping or relying on only natural rainfall for irrigation.

This plant loves full sun and likes dry, sandy soils with good drainage, as too much moisture may cause them to die. It is drought-tolerant and relatively easy to care for, only requiring some deadheading to prevent re-seeding. Globe Thistles attract butterflies and make for lovely cut flowers.

Lemmon’s Marigold

Scientific Name: Tagetes lemmonii

• Plant Type: Perennial Shrub
• Geographic Origin: Southeastern Arizona and Northern Mexico
• Plant Size: 3 to 6 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full to partial sun
• Plant Zone: 8 to 10

Lemmon’s Marigold, also known as the Mexican Marigold, is a beautiful and aromatic perennial shrub that produces small, yellow, fragrant flowers. It is a member of the Aster (Asteraceae) family and blooms sporadically throughout fall, mid-winter, and spring.

This plant is drought-tolerant and does best in full to part sun, with well-drained soil. It’s a fast grower and can reach up to 6 feet in height; however, it can be pruned to maintain the desired size. The intense fragrance attracts pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, and deters rabbits, deer, and insects.

Mealycup Sage

Scientific Name: Salvia farinacea

• Plant Type: Perennial
• Geographic Origin: Nuevo León, Mexico, and the United States
• Plant Size: 2 to 3 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full to partial sun
• Plant Zone: 7 to 10

Mealycup Sage, also called Blue Sage, is a perennial plant that produces dark blue, light blue, purple, and white spiked flowers from early summer to frost. It is a mint (Lamiaceae) family member and blooms best in full to partial sun. While mealycup sage is perennial, it’s treated as an annual in colder climates.

It endures a wide range of soils, including clay and sand. While it does require average moisture, it is drought-resistant once established. In addition, Mealycup Sage attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds and may even repel certain types of insects and pests.

Nasturtium

Scientific Name: Tropaeolum majus

• Plant Type: Annual; Perennial in zones 9-11
• Geographic Origin: South America
• Plant Size: 6 to 12 inches or 1 to 3 feet, depending on the variety
• Sun Exposure: Full to partial sun
• Plant Zone: 8 to 11

Nasturtiums are annual flowering plants, although they can be perennialized in suitable zones. Their leaves, flowers, and seedpods are all edible, with a peppery, mustard-like taste. These beautiful, easy-to-grow plants are part of the Tropaeolaceae family, and blooms appear from May until September.

Nasturtium plants have compact, succulent stems with lily-shaped green leaves. Flowers are funnel-shaped, with a short spur off the back, and come in various jewel-colored hues, from pale gold to blood red. In addition, there are two types of Nasturtium varieties: trailing and bush.

Nasturtium is also one of the more popular companion plants. They are commonly grown in vegetable gardens due to their ability to ward off pests.

Pavonia

Scientific Name: Pavonia lasiopetala

• Plant Type: Perennial Shrub
• Geographic Origin: North America
• Plant Size: 1 to 4 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Plant Zone: 8 to 11

The Pavonia is a bushy perennial that produces masses of bright, pink flowers similar to hibiscus. While each flower only lasts a day, they bloom in succession all summer long, making for a long-lasting display.

This hardy plant is easy to grow, does best in full sun, and is drought and neglect-tolerant. To keep Pavonias compact and encourage more flowering, invest some time in frequent pruning and removing dead branches. You’ll be rewarded with a profusion of pretty pink blooms that are perfect for adding color to any garden.

Purple Love Grass

Scientific Name: Eragrostis spectabilis

• Plant Type: Perennial
• Geographic Origin: Central and Eastern North America
• Plant Size: 8 to 18 inches tall
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun
• Plant Zone: 4 to 9

Purple Love Grass is a small perennial grass that produces violet-purple flowers from August to October. It is a member of the Grass (Poaceae) family and is often used as ornamental grass or ground cover. Its billowing, fluffy flowers attract pollinators and songbirds.

This low-maintenance plant doesn’t require much in the way of care and does best in full sun. It is drought-tolerant and tolerant of poor soil conditions. Purple Love Grass prefers sandy or gravelly loam with minimal moisture. It will spread seeds via wind, so it’s best to plant it in an area with room to grow.

Shasta Daisy

Scientific Name: Leucanthemum × superbum

• Plant Type: Perennial
• Geographic Origin: Western North America
• Plant Size: 2 to 4 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full to partial sun
• Plant Zone: 5 to 9

Shasta daisies are herbaceous perennials from the daisy family that produce showy, white flowers with yellow centers. Daisies are popular garden plants and are members of the Aster (Asteraceae) family. They are named after Mount Shasta in California, where they were first discovered.

These plants are easy to grow, require little maintenance, and do best in full to partial sun, with well-drained soil. They will tolerate some shade, but not if it leaves them with soggy roots. In addition, Shasta Daisies are drought-tolerant and bloom from July to September.

Siberian Iris

Scientific Name: Iris sibirica

• Plant Type: Perennial
• Geographic Origin: Central and Eastern Europe
• Plant Size: 2 to 4 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Plant Zone: 2 to 9

The Siberian Iris is a beautiful and striking perennial plant that produces blue, purple, yellow, pink, red, white, or multicolored flowers. It is a member of the Iris (Iridaceae) family and blooms in May and June.

Siberian Irises are versatile and surprisingly easy to grow, although they require more maintenance than some of the other plants on this list. They’re happiest in full sun or partial shade and prefer moist, rich soil; however, they can handle dry spells.

Tiger Flowers

Scientific Name: Tigridia pavonia

• Plant Type: Perennial
• Geographic Origin: South America
• Plant Size: 1 to 2 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full to partial sun
• Plant Zone: 8 to 10

Tiger Flowers, also known as Mexican shell flowers, are eye-catching perennials that produce large, brightly-colored perennial flowers in red, orange, yellow, and pink shades. Each flower possesses a speckled center, said to resemble a tiger’s coat, which is where it got its name. They are part of the Iris (Iridaceae) family and prefer full sun.

Tiger Flowers are relatively easy to grow and care for. They thrive in well-drained soil and enjoy a tolerance to prolonged periods of drought. These beautiful plants will bloom from mid to late summer, and their flowers will attract butterflies and bees to your garden.

Trumpet Vine

Scientific Name: Campsis radicans

• Plant Type: Perennial
• Geographic Origin: Eastern North America
• Plant Size: 25 to 35 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun
• Plant Zone: 4 to 9

Trumpet Vines are woody vines that produce clusters of orange, red, or yellow trumpet-shaped flowers from July to September. These ambitious plants are members of the Bignoniaceae family and are often used for ornamental plants or landscape purposes.

Trumpet Vines are fast-growing and require little maintenance, but they have an aggressive growth habit and can overtake an area if not kept in check. They do well in most soil types and thrive in full sun. This vine is also quite drought tolerant and is perfect for hot, sunny gardens. These plants attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies to your garden.

White Spider Lily

Scientific Name: Lycoris albiflora

• Plant Type: Perennial
• Geographic Origin: China and Japan
• Plant Size: 18 to 24 inches
• Sun Exposure: Full to partial sun
• Plant Zone: 5 to 9

White Spider Lilies, also known as Hurricane Lilies, are showy perennials that produce clusters of creamy, white flowers on tall stems in August and September. These striking plants are members of the Amaryllidaceae family and are often planted as ornamentals.

They prefer full to partial sun and are drought-tolerant. However, they do benefit from supplemental watering throughout the growing season. They are also reasonably easy-going plants, require little to no maintenance, and do well in sandy soils where they’ll attract butterflies and hummingbirds.