Many perennials that thrive in full sun also attract butterflies and birds, particularly hummingbirds. Several wonderful native perennials that grow well in full sun with moist soil are American Cowslip with it's beautiful shiny yellow blossoms; Blue Star Flower is graceful and delicate looking; great for bright red, white, pink or blue summer color, Bee-balm form large clump or natural masses of blooms; California Fuchsia likes moisture as long as the soils drain; Common Mallow offers huge red, pink and white blooms much of the summer; and Joe Pye Weed adds a stateliness to the fall garden with their tall stems and enormous purple blooms.

Blooming perennial plants that flourish in sunny areas may do equally well in wet soil, average moisture or dry conditions and can be grown in the grown or in decorative containers, window boxes or hanging baskets. Container gardening, with a mix of annuals, perennials, ornamental grasses and tropicals are very popular because they are quick and easy to grow and look lovely all season.

For average, well-drained soils, native perennial recommendations are: Anise Hyssop that stays more compact with full sun; Aromatic Aster add much needed purple color to the fall garden; Black-eyed Susan flowers longer in dry years; California Poppy blooms longer or repeats with extra moisture; for summer lavender, red, pink, white and purple blooms, Clump Verbena will light up the home garden; and Garden Phlox with its wide range of flower colors enliven the summer garden.

To view learn more about perennials that grow in full sun, please visit Virtual Plant Tags.