Shrubs for full sun
Shrubs are woody plants that form the foundation of most gardens and planting schemes, adding shape and structure in addition to a wide range of ornamental features. They are distinguished from trees by their multiple stems and shorter height. Shrubs are a highly varied and versatile group, with plenty of varieties to choose from and lots that thrive in a sunny border with more than 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Many are famed for their floral displays but that’s not all you can get from a sun-loving shrub. They can also offer beautiful foliage colour, berries, catkins, peeling bark, unusual branching patterns or evergreen foliage for year-round colour. Cistus plants are a great summer-flowering shrub for a hot, sunny spot that love free-draining bank or gravel garden in a chalky or alkaline soil. Lavender is another with its distinctive look and instantly recognisable scent, growing best in lots of sun and a well drained soil. Spiraea plants cannot be ignored for sunny gardens either with their fabulous flowers and beautiful seasonal foliage colour – best pruned in late winter of early spring to maintain shape. If you have a have a particularly dry and sandy border, you can refine your search using the “By Soil Moisture” filter below.