Often, when you think of growing plants under trees, you imagine varieties that can handle shade.
Not all trees are alike, and many provide the perfect conditions for sun-loving plants to thrive beneath them.
Explore our selection of beautiful plants and choose the ones that best complement your garden.
Beautiful Sun-Loving Plants For Under Trees
1. Daylilies
Thriving even in less-than-ideal conditions, Daylilies are a great choice for sun-drenched spaces beneath trees.
Their trumpet-shaped blooms add a splash of color ranging from vibrant yellows to deep reds.
Easy to maintain, they keep gardens lively from early summer to fall.
- USDA Growing Zone: 3-9
- Blooming Duration: Several weeks
- Blooming Period: Early summer to fall
- Average Mature Size: 1-4 feet in height and 1-4 feet in spread
- Annual or Perennial: Perennial
- Botanical Name: Hemerocallis spp.
2. Coneflower
With their distinctive, bold blooms that attract pollinators, Coneflowers are perfect for sunny spots under trees.
These resilient natives to the prairie region stand out with their raised, spiky centers and daisy-like appearance, offering a perennial show of color.
- USDA Growing Zone: 3-8
- Blooming Duration: Several weeks
- Blooming Period: Late spring to late summer
- Average Mature Size: 2-4 feet in height and 1.5-2 feet in spread
- Annual or Perennial: Perennial
- Botanical Name: Echinacea spp.
3. Black-eyed Susan
Celebrated for their bright, golden-yellow flowers with a dark center, Black-eyed Susans are a standout under full sun trees.
These flowers are not only beautiful but also robust, tolerating poor soil and dry conditions with ease.
- USDA Growing Zone: 3-7
- Blooming Duration: 1-3 months
- Blooming Period: Mid-summer to early fall
- Average Mature Size: 2-3 feet in height and 1-2 feet in spread
- Annual or Perennial: Biennial or Perennial
- Botanical Name: Rudbeckia hirta
4. Hostas
Ideal for adding lush foliage under sunny trees, Hostas may be primarily known for their shade tolerance but many varieties thrive in sunnier spots too.
Their large leaves come in shades from deep green to blue-green, often with striking variegations.
- USDA Growing Zone: 3-9
- Blooming Duration: 2-4 weeks
- Blooming Period: Summer
- Average Mature Size: 1-3 feet in height and 2-6 feet in spread
- Annual or Perennial: Perennial
- Botanical Name: Hosta spp.
5. Sedum
Stonecrop is an excellent groundcover for dry, sunny areas under trees, offering succulent leaves and clusters of star-shaped flowers.
It’s highly drought-tolerant, making it perfect for sunny and tough growing conditions.
- USDA Growing Zone: 3-9
- Blooming Duration: 4-5 weeks
- Blooming Period: Late summer to fall
- Average Mature Size: Varies greatly, typically 3 inches to 3 feet in height
- Annual or Perennial: Perennial
- Botanical Name: Sedum spp.
6. Catmint
Catmint delights with its soft, lavender-blue flowers and aromatic leaves, proving irresistible to bees and butterflies.
This hardy perennial thrives under full sun and pairs beautifully with other garden classics, creating a tranquil yet lively garden scene.
- USDA Growing Zone: 3-9
- Blooming Duration: Several weeks
- Blooming Period: Late spring to early fall
- Average Mature Size: 1-2 feet in height and spread
- Annual or Perennial: Perennial
- Botanical Name: Nepeta spp.
7. Japanese Anemone
Known for their graceful and airy blooms that dance atop slender stems, Japanese Anemones add a touch of elegance to sunny garden spots beneath trees.
These late bloomers extend the garden’s color palette into the fall.
- USDA Growing Zone: 4-8
- Blooming Duration: 4-6 weeks
- Blooming Period: Late summer to fall
- Average Mature Size: 2-4 feet in height and 1.5-2.5 feet in spread
- Annual or Perennial: Perennial
- Botanical Name: Anemone hupehensis
8. Salvia
Salvia bursts into vibrant spikes of flowers, ranging from deep blues to fiery reds, making it a standout in any sunny garden.
This drought-resistant plant is a favorite for its long blooming period and ability to attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
- USDA Growing Zone: 4-9
- Blooming Duration: Several months
- Blooming Period: Late spring to fall
- Average Mature Size: 1-5 feet in height and 1-3 feet in spread
- Annual or Perennial: Perennial
- Botanical Name: Salvia spp.
9. Lavender
With its unmistakable fragrance and silvery foliage, Lavender is not only a garden favorite but also a superb companion for full-sun gardens under trees.
It thrives in dry, poor soil, providing a splash of color and soothing aroma throughout the summer.
- USDA Growing Zone: 5-9
- Blooming Duration: 3-4 weeks
- Blooming Period: Summer
- Average Mature Size: 1-2 feet in height and spread
- Annual or Perennial: Perennial
- Botanical Name: Lavandula spp.
10. Ferns
Though commonly associated with shady locales, some Fern varieties, such as the sun-loving bracken, Lemon Button, Japanese Painted Fern and Autumn Fern are perfect for bright, sunny spots beneath trees.
They add a lush, prehistoric feel to garden spaces with their feathery, green fronds.
- USDA Growing Zone: Varies widely, typically 3-8
- Blooming Duration: Non-flowering
- Blooming Period: Non-flowering
- Average Mature Size: 1-6 feet in height, depending on species
- Annual or Perennial: Perennial
- Botanical Name: Various spp.
11. Bee Balm
A garden showstopper, this plant’s vibrant, crown-like flowers are magnets for hummingbirds and butterflies.
Flourishing in full sun, Bee Balm fills the summer air with its sweet fragrance and adds a bold splash of color to the landscape.
- USDA Growing Zone: 4-9
- Blooming Duration: 4-6 weeks
- Blooming Period: Mid-summer to early fall
- Average Mature Size: 2-4 feet in height and 2-3 feet in spread
- Annual or Perennial: Perennial
- Botanical Name: Monarda didyma
12. Hydrangea
Large, lush blooms that can range from blues to pinks, based on the soil’s pH, make Hydrangeas ideal for brightening up dappled sunlight areas beneath trees.
They bring a touch of classic charm to any garden setting.
- USDA Growing Zone: 3-9
- Blooming Duration: Several months
- Blooming Period: Summer to fall
- Average Mature Size: 3-10 feet in height and width, depending on variety
- Annual or Perennial: Perennial
- Botanical Name: Hydrangea spp.
13. Hellebores
Cherished for their early blooms, which often appear from winter to early spring, Hellebores provide subtle hues and elegant forms.
They offer serene beauty to sunny spots beneath trees.
- USDA Growing Zone: 4-9
- Blooming Duration: 6-8 weeks
- Blooming Period: Winter to early spring
- Average Mature Size: 1-1.5 feet in height and spread
- Annual or Perennial: Perennial
- Botanical Name: Helleborus spp.
14. Astilbe
Feathery plumes of flowers in shades from whites and pinks to deep reds light up garden spaces.
Astilbe thrives in spots with full sun to partial shade, adding texture and vibrant color from late spring through summer.
- USDA Growing Zone: 3-8
- Blooming Duration: 4-6 weeks
- Blooming Period: Late spring to mid-summer
- Average Mature Size: 1.5-2 feet in height and 1-2 feet in spread
- Annual or Perennial: Perennial
- Botanical Name: Astilbe spp.
15. Ajuga
Sporting glossy foliage and spikes of blue flowers, Ajuga is a fast-growing groundcover perfect for full-sun areas under trees.
It’s known for its ability to spread quickly, providing dense coverage and vibrant color in spring.
- USDA Growing Zone: 3-10
- Blooming Duration: 3-4 weeks
- Blooming Period: Spring
- Average Mature Size: 6-9 inches in height and spreading indefinitely in width
- Annual or Perennial: Perennial
- Botanical Name: Ajuga reptans
16. Foxglove
Tall spikes adorned with tubular flowers make Foxglove a striking addition to any garden.
Thriving under full sun to partial shade, it brings vertical drama and a spectrum of colors to the garden landscape.
- USDA Growing Zone: 4-9
- Blooming Duration: 4-6 weeks
- Blooming Period: Early to mid-summer
- Average Mature Size: 2-5 feet in height and 1-2 feet in spread
- Annual or Perennial: Biennial or Perennial
- Botanical Name: Digitalis spp.
17. Lily of the Valley
Renowned for its delicate, bell-shaped flowers and sweet fragrance, Lily of the Valley fills the air with scent and charm under sunlit trees.
This low-growing perennial spreads to form dense patches of green foliage.
- USDA Growing Zone: 2-7
- Blooming Duration: 3-4 weeks
- Blooming Period: Spring
- Average Mature Size: 6-12 inches in height and spreading
- Annual or Perennial: Perennial
- Botanical Name: Convallaria majalis
18. Shasta Daisy
Characterized by its large, radiant white petals circling a bright yellow core, Shasta Daisy is a perennial favorite.
It thrives in full sun, bringing cheerful blooms to the garden from early summer into fall.
- USDA Growing Zone: 5-9
- Blooming Duration: Several months
- Blooming Period: Early summer to fall
- Average Mature Size: 2-3 feet in height and 1-2 feet in spread
- Annual or Perennial: Perennial
- Botanical Name: Leucanthemum x superbum
Want More?
If you enjoyed looking at plants that grow well in full sun under trees, you may like learning about these flowering plants for under trees, these plants that do well under oak trees or these plants that thrive under maple trees.
