Encompassing parts of the country from coast to coast, planting zones 5 and 6 are the most common areas to which perennials and bulbs are compatible. So, if you are lucky enough to live in one of these two zones, you pretty much have your choice of nearly any perennial plant on the market! Check out our wide variety of flowering perennials suitable for zones 5 and 6 at Breck’s.
Customize your Plant Search
We make it super easy to find the perfect plants for your zone with our Plant Finder function. This may be the best gardening tool since the bypass pruner! That’s because Plant Finder lets you filter your choices by zones, light requirements, bloom times and size. You can even narrow down your choices by flower colour and how you plan to use the plants, such as for privacy screening, naturalizing or as a ground cover.
Fun in the Midwest Sun
For most homeowners and gardeners in zones 5 and 6, there are so many options available that the choice really comes down to light requirements. Whether you live in a house, apartment, condo or yurt, you most likely have come across one side of the dwelling that receives more sunlight than the others. These areas are prime real estate for a host of full sun perennials that are perfect for adding splashes of bright, bold colour to border gardens or filling in spaces near foundations or fence lines.
And, oh what colours you can have! From snowy white to nearly black, perennial plants that thrive in full sun are more apt to be stronger in hue and more visible in the landscape. So, play around with colour combinations and palettes that tickle your fancy. Try planting dynamic German Iris in unique bicolour (or even tricolour) variations next to solid purple or white allium flowers for a display that really catches the eye. Some gardening pros even design monochrome gardens that wow in the bright sunshine. This is an easy look to recreate with full sun perennials for zones 5 and 6 because you have so many options from which to select your flowers.
One of the most versatile full sun perennials for this part of the U.S. is sedum. This low growing and quick spreading perennial bursts open during the hotter days of summer to take in its share of the sun. Available in a range of bright colours, this flowering ground cover creates a soft, yet vibrant backdrop for taller plants and fills in spaces left behind by springtime border bulbs. It is the perfect plant for the seasonally hot climates associated with zones 5 and 6.
Speaking of seasonal plantings, those of you living in these two temperate planting zones will be overjoyed at the options available that bloom anywhere from very early spring to the frosty first days of fall, and everything in between. Plus, there are a plethora of rebloomers, too. Choose irises, daylilies and more to complete your flower display not once, but twice (sometimes even three times) during one long growing season. Wow! What a show you’ll be able to put on for the neighbours with these sun lovers in residence!
Remember to Please the Pollinators
Not only will you find enough spectacular blooms to enchant the nearby green thumbs, but sun lovers are also famously beloved by pollinators of all kinds, making them a must-have in today’s modern gardens. It’s no secret that the world’s bee populations are dwindling, which is terrible news for everyone. By filling your landscape with pollinator-friendly perennials, you’ll be part of the solution to this international problem. Ideal options for sunny zone 5 and 6 gardens are coneflowers, bee balm and phlox. These diverse perennials add colour, beauty and style to the landscape while giving bees, butterflies and other beneficial pollinators what they need.
Engage the Senses
Another fantastic benefit to planting tons of full sun flowers in your landscape is that many of them emit a lovely fragrance. With enough of these perfumed perennials, placed in strategic sites, you can easily create a sensory garden filled with colour, texture and scent for you, your friends and your family to enjoy. Plant aromatic blooms along a pathway or near a sunny entry and visitors to your home are sure to remark on the delightful gardens. In fact, they may even assume you hired a landscape designer in order to achieve such gorgeous grounds.
The truth is that it really is quite easy to plan and execute a colourful, interesting garden when you live in such a plant-centric zone. Nearly all plants and flowers will grow in zones 5 and 6, with merely a few that should be brought indoors to overwinter. Most of these examples are actually tender perennials or tropicals that can be used as potted plants, adding unique and exotic forms and hues in the warmer seasons. These include colourful caladiums and gorgeous cannas, both of which make impressive displays of form and hue until the first frost.
As you have probably figured out, there is very little that cannot be planted and enjoyed in zones 5 and 6, especially when your property boasts plenty of sunlight. The majority of perennials absolutely love the sun and the moderate climates found in planting zones 5 and 6. Lucky you to be able to call this area home and have the luxury of choosing virtually any perennial plant or flower to adorn your property. For the best, biggest and brightest blooms, check out the Breck’s website for plants, bulbs and décor items for your garden.
Click here to find full sun perennials for zone 5 that will grow and thrive. If you need full sun perennials for zone 6, click here. No matter where you live, Breck’s has the perfect plants for you. Plus, you can shop confidently at Breck’s, thanks to our No-Risk Guarantee. We promise that if, for any reason, you are not completely satisfied with any plant upon receipt, after planting or once it grows and blooms, just contact Breck’s anytime—no time limit—for as long as you garden. No need to return any plant. We will happily replace it or send you a merchandise credit.
