The Best Flowers to Plant for All-Day Sun

• A perennial garden in bloom. Dana Hoff/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images

  Vibrant-colored, long-blooming flowers that command attention are the best flowers to plant for all day sun. Many flowers that thrive in full sun are relatively carefree and drought tolerant once established. Deadhead, or remove the faded flowers, to prevent seed formation and encourage re-blooming. Divide perennials, or flowers that come back year after year, every three to five years, or when the clumps become larger than you desire them to be.

Yarrow

• Pink yarrow Yarrow, Achillea millefolium (alternative names Common Yarrow, G image by Tamara Kulikova from Fotolia.com

  The red, pink, white or yellow blooms of yarrow, botanically known as achillea, bring intense color to the summer garden. The fern-like foliage adds texture to the garden. Yarrow ranges in height from 18 to 24 inches that if allowed, will take over a large section of the perennial border in a short period of time. The large, flat flowers that are made up of a variety of small flowers attract a variety of bees, butterflies and beneficial insects. Yarrow will bloom all season long from late spring right up to the first fall frost, according to the University of Idaho Extension. Yarrow is hardy in U.S. Department of Agricultural hardiness zones 3 through 9.

Monarda

• Monarda, also known as bee balm or horsemint, is a member of the mint family that is hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 9, according to the University of Florida IFAS Extension. Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies are attracted to the flowers, whose colors include bright red, pink or various shades of purple. Some varieties have flowers or foliage that is fragrant. The plants range in height from 1 to 3 feet. Monarda is a fast-growing, spreading perennial that like yarrow, will quickly take over the garden. They will flower all summer long and make great cut flowers for bouquets.

Lillium

• Lilies combined with roses in a flower bouquet. red lilies image by Francois du Plessis from Fotolia.com

  Lillium are known for their outstanding garden performance, make excellent cut flowers and once planted, do not require a lot of care, according to Iowa State University. Lillium are true lilies, unlike daylilies, surprise lilies and calla lilies, which are not a member of this family. The Lillium family includes those lilies that come from underground bulbs, such as Asiatic, Oriental, Turk's Cap and Trumpet Lilies. Choose several varieties that bloom at different heights and spread them throughout the garden. The height of true lilies ranges from a mere 2 feet tall to 12 feet tall. The hardiness of these bulbs varies greatly depending on variety, but with hundreds of varieties available, there is sure to be some that are hardy in your specific USDA hardiness zone.