The ideal complement to a sunny garden arrangement are flowering evergreen plants in full sun. Evergreen bushy plants add visual appeal all year, whether they are sun-tolerant or not. These plants fill front and rear yards with gorgeous fragrant blooms from spring till fall, and their leaves remain throughout the winter, basking in at least six hours of sunlight.
In direct sunlight, many flowering shrubs with evergreen leaves thrive. Camellias, tropical hibiscus, cape jasmine, and rhododendrons bloom all season despite the fact that it is sunny. In addition, the blooming bushes keep their leaves throughout the winter, giving your landscape a year-round look. Since some landscaping shrubs struggle with all-day-long direct sunlight, selecting the best flowering evergreen shrubs for planting in sunny areas is critical. Without sun damage to their foliage and flowers, shrubs labeled as full sun or partial sun will blossom and thrive.
The best blooming evergreen bushes for full sun are listed in this article. Moreover, finding the best plants for adding floral displays to your garden landscape will be aided by descriptions and images of sun-loving landscaping shrubs. Many sun-tolerant flowering shrubs keep their leaves in freezing weather, even if you reside in colder climates.
What Are Flowering Evergreen Shrubs For Sun?
Woody, multi-stemmed plants that need at least six hours of direct sunlight to bloom are called flowering evergreen shrubs for full sun. Sun-tolerant evergreen blooming plants are commonly separated into two groups: full-sun plants and partial-sun plants.
Flowering evergreen shrubs for full sun Six to eight hours of daily sunlight is ideal for them. Decorative bushes are often incompatible with shade; if they do, they may produce fewer flowers or develop a sickly appearance.
Ornamental evergreen shrubs for partial sun It will survive on four to six hours of direct sunlight. A few hours of shade is usually tolerated by shrubby plants. Nonetheless, partial sun plants are more heat and light tolerant than partial shade plants.
How to Choose Flowering Evergreen Shrubs For Full Sun
How can you select suitable evergreen shrubs for a full-sun floral landscape display? First, purchase USDA-approved shrubs for your area. Next, consider the full-sun shrub’s mature height and breadth. Next, think about such things as soil type, pruning demands, sunlight exposure, and moisture levels.
Let’s say you have a little, tidy yard. The best option in such a situation is to plant dwarf flowering evergreen bushes in sunny yards. To maintain their tiny size and form, they only need a little care and trimming. Planting bigger evergreen shrubs, on the other hand, is the best option for privacy in a backyard if you want to create a towering, evergreen privacy hedge that blooms.
Types of Flowering Evergreen Shrubs For Sun (With Pictures) – Identification Guide
For full sun, there are a variety of blooming evergreen shrubs. So, which shrubs are the finest for your front or backyard? This guide will help you identify some of the most popular and stunning bushes that perform well in your garden area.
Camellia Sasanqua (Camellia sasanqua)
Camellia sasanqua cultivars range from dwarf to full-sized landscaping shrubs. They bloom in bright settings and tolerate both hot and cold climates. The gorgeous double flowers of camellia bushes range in color from pink to red, with green glossy leaves and a lengthy blooming period. Camellia shrubs that love the sun can grow up to 12 feet (3.6 meters) tall.
Beautiful flowers with ruffled petals make Camellia sasanqua evergreen shrubs even more stunning. The fragrant blooms last up to four weeks and bloom in late winter and early spring. Planting in USDA zones 7 to 9 is recommended. A dwarf shrub variety is ideal for growing evergreen flowering bushes in a tiny garden or container.
The Camellia sasanqua ‘Bonanza dwarf,’ for example, is a tiny landscaping evergreen shrub with crimson blooms. The Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica) is another variety of blooming evergreen plant for partial sun. These permanent shrubbery with pink, crimson, or white blooms thrive in partial to full shade.
Chinese Fringe Flower (Loropetalum chinense)
Chinese fringe flower thrives in full sun to partial shade and tolerates all levels of sunlight, from direct to indirect. The little olive-green leaves and spindly petals that make up this blooming full sun shrub are its distinguishing characteristics. Depending on the cultivar, Chinese fringe flower shrubs may grow from 1 to 6 feet (0.3 to 1.8 meters) tall.
USDA zones 7 to 9 are ideal for this low-maintenance landscaping shrub. As a result, sunny central and north Florida landscapes may be suitable for this small flowering shrub. In colder climes, you may also grow the shrubby plant in pots and overwinter it indoors.
Ornamental purple shrubs with dark purple leaves and vividly colored deep pink blooms, some varieties of sun-loving Chinese fringe flowers are ornamental. As a small flowering hedge, the shrub is ideally placed along a foundation line, margins, or driveway.
Evergreen Abelia (Abelia floribunda)
Abelia prefers to grow in wind-protected areas and is a lovely flowering shrub for sunny gardens. In the summer and autumn, Abelia shrubs are recognized for their trumpet-shaped pink flowers. Against the dark glossy leaves, the pink tubular blooms stand out. Abelia grows up to 12 feet (3.6 meters) tall and thrives in full sun or partial shade.
In cold temperatures of 14°F (-10°C), the drought-tolerant shrub remains evergreen. Abelia shrubs should be planted in full sun, protected from the wind, and grown in well-drained ground.
Doghobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana)
In both full sun and shaded settings, dog hobble is a beautiful white flower cluster that blooms with glossy, leathery leaves. This white- flowering decorative shrub thrives in full sun, but will also tolerate partial shade. The dangling clusters of bell-shaped, fragrant white blooms and colorful red leaves of doghobble are what make it so appealing in the fall.
In temperate regions, full sun and consistent moisture are required for Doghobble to thrive. USDA zones 4 to 6 are ideal for the flowering evergreen shrub. The shrub’s foliage and flowers stay vibrant thanks to the abundant fall and winter sunlight. The ornamental bushy plant grows to be 2–6 feet (0.6–1.8 meters) tall and broad, with an 8-foot (2.4-meter) spread. The evergreen lanceolate leaves are 5″ (12 cm) long, and the drooping flower clusters are 2″ to 3″ (5 – 7.5 cm) long.
Andromeda Japonica (Pieris japonica)
As its leaves mature, Andromeda Japonica’s pink-red young leaves turn green. The showy white or pink cylindrical flower clusters on red stems are what distinguish this evergreen shrub. It blooms in late winter and early spring, and its blossoms last two to three weeks. The slow-growing landscaping shrub thrives in direct sunlight for at least six hours a day, also known as fetterbush or lily-of-the-valley bush.
Landscapes in USDA zones 4 to 8 can be planted with the cold-hardy bushy plant. Plant the huge shrub in rich, acidic soil with excellent drainage for optimum performance. As a foundation planting, sunny border plant, or specimen plant, Plant andromeda japonica is suitable.
Evergreen Viburnum Shrubs
In warmer regions, Viburnum x burkwoodii Mohawk (shown in the image) is an attractive evergreen plant that may tolerate full sun or partial shade. Viburnum blossoms are tiny star-shaped white or pink flowers that form umbrella-shaped clusters. The shrub’s glossy green lanceolate leaves contrast with the showy white flowers. The shrub produces clusters of ornamental berries after blooming in the summer. Viburnum bushes prefer full sun. USDA zones 4 through 8 are ideal for growing cold hardy shrubs.
In zones 7 and 8, however, the most evergreen viburnum bushes retain just their leaves throughout the year. The shrub is a flowering deciduous landscaping plant in colder climates. Viburnum plants that adore the sun grow to be 3 to 10 feet (1–3 m) tall.
As a privacy hedge, foundation planting, shrub border, or stunning specimen plant, ornamental white-flowering bushes are ideal. Burkwood viburnum (Viburnum x burkwoodii), Walter’s viburnum (Viburnum obovatum), and viburnum ‘Eskimo’ are examples of semi-evergreen viburnum shrubs.
Scarlet Firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea)
Scarlet firethorn is a thorny evergreen flowering shrub with tiny white flowers blooming in showy corymbs that grows in full sun to partial shade. White flowers on red stems, stiff thorny branches, small evergreen leaves, and clusters of vibrant red berries distinguish this fast-growing shrub.
The robust shrub may grow up to 20 feet (6 meters) tall and breadth and is also known as scarlet pyracantha. The flower clusters are also 1.5″ (4 cm) wide, and its serrated lanceolate leaves are 1.5″ (4 cm) long. Scarlet firethorn is a good security hedge or foundation plant for the front of the house because to its heavy growth and pointed, spiky branches. For sunny landscapes, you can also grow scarlet firethorn as an evergreen border or specimen plant.
Indian Hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica)
Pink or white blossoms prefer full sun, and Indian Hawthorn is a flowering shrub with those characteristics. Indian hawthorn, also known as a pink-flowering evergreen shrub, is a full sun and heat requirement. The flowers are fragrant, with pale pink or pinkish-white petals and dark-green leathery leaves.
The decorative black or purple berries add to the luster. The height and width of Indian Hawthorn trees range from 3 to 12 feet (1 to 3.6 meters). In USDA zones 7 to 10, Indian hawthorn thrives best in warmer regions. The dark green leaves contrast with the appealing pinkish-white four- or five-petalled flowers. As a foundation plant, privacy Screen, or specimen plant, the drought- and salt-resistant bush performs well in mass plantings.
Dwarf Chenille (Acalypha Reptans)
Dwarf chenille is a tiny flowering ground cover that thrives in part or full sun, and produces masses of deep red blooms. Cylindrical crimson flower spikes up to 3″ (7.5 cm) long characterize the spreading shrub. The heart-shaped serrated leaves create an evergreen ground-hugging mat of crimson and green hues, contrasting with the crimson flowers.
The bright or partial sun-loving, heat-tolerant evergreen plant thrives. In USDA zones 9 to 11, however, the shrub only grows in the ground throughout the year. As a result, this full-sun ground cover plant is appropriate for Florida gardens. 1 to 2 feet (0.3 to 0.6 meters) tall and broad, dwarf chenille For hot, humid environments, the landscaping plant is ideal. Indoors, this exquisite crimson-flowered plant may be found in hanging baskets or pots..
Bottlebrush (Callistemon viminalis)
Bottlebrush is a tiny evergreen red blooming shrub that thrives in full sun to moderate shade. It has deep leaves and bright crimson flowers. The bottlebrush’s distinguishing traits are its tiny, narrow leaves and compact, rounded development. Apart from the spiky-looking crimson blooms, this is the most common coloration. The drought-tolerant shrub grows to be 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 meters) tall and broad.
The bottlebrush shrub has a compact stature that makes it suitable for medium-sized gardens with full sun. Unfortunately, just USDA zones 10 and 11 are suitable for the decorative bush. As a foundation plant, border, low hedge, or evergreen screen in hot and humid climates, plant bottlebrush. In addition to a burst of color on a sunny balcony, patio, or decking area, the multi-stemmed shrub performs well in containers.
Evergreen Hibiscus Shrubs (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)
Hibiscus plants come in a wide range of colors and prefer sun. The long protruding stamens of evergreen hibiscus shrub flowers range in size from 6″ (15 cm) to 8″ (20 cm). The oval-shaped glossy green leaves contrast with the eye-catching flowers. Hibiscus tropical grows to be 8 to 10 feet (2.4 to 3 meters) tall.
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis blooms continuously in frost-free regions throughout the year. Sun-loving plants thrive on organically rich, moisture rich soils with excellent drainage. In USDA zones 10 to 12, you can plant evergreen hibiscus bushes as a flowering hedge or specimen plant.
Do you reside in a temperate area and want to landscape a front or back yard with hibiscus trees? In this scenario, you can have gorgeous floral displays all summer long by planting deciduous hardy hibiscus shrubs.
Oleander (Nerium oleander)
Oleanders are poisonous blooming evergreen plants that thrive in full sun. Pink or red five-petalled funnel-shaped blooms, thin lance-shaped evergreen leaves, and a vase-shaped form are some of the distinguishing characteristics of oleander bushes. When in bloom throughout the summer, the profusion of blossoms nearly obscures the plant. The tallest oleander blooming shrub (Nerium oleander ‘Alsace’) grows to be 15 to 20 feet (4.5 to 6 meters) tall.
Nevertheless, there are selections of 3 to 6-foot (1.8 m) high evergreen shrubs that may be used in smaller garden settings. USDA zones 9 to 12 are ideal for most oleander cultivars, such as ‘Petite Pink’ and ‘Salmon Petite.’ In growing zones 7 to 12, however, oleander cultivars such as ‘Hardy Pink’ and ‘Hardy Red’ perform well.
It’s important to understand that oleander leaves and stems are all poisonous. As a result, it’s not recommended to put bushes in gardens where youngsters or pets may play.
Cape Jasmine (Gardenia jasminoides)
Cape jasmine is a white-flowering, evergreen shrub with pure white blossoms and black green foliage that adds beauty to sunny or partly shaded gardens. The fragrant star-shaped white blooms, glossy dark-green leaves, and tiny orange berries in the autumn are some of the distinguishing features of cape jasmine. USDA zones 7 to 11 are ideal for growing Cape jasmine.
Cape jasmine shrubs are excellent sun-soaked garden plants, with their waxy white blooms and leathery leaves. To protect cape jasmine from harsh sunlight in the middle of the day and early afternoon, however, it’s preferable to grow it in part sun. Bushy jasmine plants typically reach 3 to 4 feet (1 to 1.2 meters) in height.
The blooming shrub, on the other hand, has dwarf cultivars that grow to be 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 1 m) tall. For a backyard, foundation planting, or specimen plant to attract pollinators, plant the shrubs to create evergreen hedges.
Sun-Loving Rhododendron Shrubs
Rhododendron bushes are lovely, bright green spring-blooming bushes that can flourish in full sun or partial shade. The large clusters of pink, red, white, and purple bell-shaped or funnel flowers make broadleaf evergreen rhododendrons popular. In addition, the big shrubs continue to have glossy olive-green leathery leaves throughout the year.
Rhododendron shrubs reach a height of 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 meters) depending on the cultivar. In the spring, the mounded shrub is covered with gorgeous flowers by sun-loving evergreen plants.
Most USDA zones are suitable for growing evergreen rhododendron species. Rhododendron plants that are cold-hardy may also remain green in zone 4. Planting in borders, along driveways, flowering hedges, or a dense privacy screen is ideal for Rhododendrons.
Azaleas grow in full sun and partial sun and are a subspecies of rhododendron. Rhododendron bushes have bigger leaves and blossoms than azalea bushes in full sun. They, too, produce lovely flower shows comparable to those of bigger rhododendrons.