Plant Guide

Full Sun Plants for
Central Maryland

A curated selection of colorful, lush shrubs and perennials that thrive in Zone 7a's hot summers and cold winters โ€” perfect for a beautiful front yard.

โ˜€๏ธ Full Sun ๐ŸŒฟ Zone 7a ๐ŸŒธ Colorful Flowers ๐Ÿก Front Yard Low Maintenance
Knock Out Rose
Knock Out Rose
Rosa 'Radrazz'

A Maryland classic. Blooms spring through hard frost with no spraying or deadheading. Disease-resistant and resilient in heat and humidity.

Height3โ€“4 ft
BloomsSpring โ€“ Fall
Effort
Endless Summer Hydrangea
Endless Summer Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla

Repeat-blooming hydrangea with massive blue or pink flower heads. Handles Maryland's humid summers beautifully and keeps blooming all season.

Height3โ€“4 ft
BloomsSummer โ€“ Fall
Effort
Spirea
Spirea
Spiraea japonica 'Double Play'

Tough and compact with bursts of pink or white flowers in spring and often again in fall. Some varieties have golden foliage that stays colorful all season.

Height2โ€“4 ft
BloomsSpring + Fall
Effort
Russian Sage
Russian Sage
Perovskia atriplicifolia

Silvery-green aromatic foliage with tall lavender-blue spikes mid-summer through fall. Extremely drought-tolerant once established and thrives in Maryland heat.

Height2โ€“4 ft
BloomsMid-Summer โ€“ Fall
Effort
Little Lime Hydrangea
Little Lime Hydrangea
Hydrangea paniculata 'Jane'

Compact panicle hydrangea that prefers full sun. Lime-green blooms turn rosy-pink in fall โ€” stunning and low-fuss anchor shrub for the front yard.

Height3โ€“5 ft
BloomsSummer โ€“ Fall
Effort
Oso Easy Rose
Oso Easy Rose
Rosa 'Meipapili'

Even more vibrant than Knock Outs โ€” paprika orange, cherry red, Italian ice. No spraying, no deadheading. Continuous color with zero fuss.

Height2โ€“3 ft
BloomsSpring โ€“ Fall
Effort
Stella de Oro Daylily
Daylily 'Stella de Oro'
Hemerocallis 'Stella de Oro'

One of the most popular daylilies ever. Cheerful golden-yellow blooms all summer on compact arching mounds of foliage. Nearly indestructible once established.

Height1โ€“2 ft
BloomsSummer โ€“ Early Fall
Effort
Purple Coneflower
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea

A Maryland native beloved by pollinators. Rosy-purple blooms with spiky orange centers all summer. Drought tolerant, deer resistant, and great for birds in fall.

Height2โ€“4 ft
BloomsSummer โ€“ Fall
Effort
Black-Eyed Susan
Black-Eyed Susan 'Goldsturm'
Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm'

Maryland's state flower! Golden-yellow blooms with dark centers light up the garden mid-summer through fall. Spreads happily to fill gaps โ€” a true front yard workhorse.

Height2โ€“3 ft
BloomsMid-Summer โ€“ Fall
Effort
Shasta Daisy
Shasta Daisy
Leucanthemum ร— superbum

Classic white petals with cheerful yellow centers. Blooms early summer and again in fall if deadheaded. Adds crisp contrast to warm yellows and purples, and makes great cut flowers.

Height1โ€“3 ft
BloomsEarly Summer + Fall
Effort

At a Glance

PlantTypeHeightBloom SeasonMaintenance
๐ŸŒน Knock Out RoseShrub3โ€“4 ftSpring โ€“ FallVery Low
๐Ÿ’™ Endless Summer HydrangeaShrub3โ€“4 ftSummer โ€“ FallLow
๐ŸŒธ SpireaShrub2โ€“4 ftSpring + FallVery Low
๐Ÿ’œ Russian SagePerennial2โ€“4 ftMid-Summer โ€“ FallVery Low
๐ŸŒฟ Little Lime HydrangeaShrub3โ€“5 ftSummer โ€“ FallLow
๐Ÿงก Oso Easy RoseShrub2โ€“3 ftSpring โ€“ FallVery Low
๐ŸŒผ Stella de Oro DaylilyPerennial1โ€“2 ftSummer โ€“ Early FallVery Low
๐Ÿ’ Purple ConeflowerPerennial2โ€“4 ftSummer โ€“ FallVery Low
๐ŸŒป Black-Eyed Susan 'Goldsturm'Perennial2โ€“3 ftMid-Summer โ€“ FallVery Low
๐ŸŒผ Shasta DaisyPerennial1โ€“3 ftEarly Summer + FallLow

๐Ÿก Recommended Single-Row Layout

With one row along the front yard, the goal is a mix that varies in height naturally across the bed, blooms from spring through frost, and stays interesting all season. Here's a suggested left-to-right arrangement that works as one cohesive row:

Position 1
๐ŸŒฟ Little Lime Hydrangea
Position 2
๐Ÿ’ Purple Coneflower
Position 3
๐ŸŒน Knock Out Rose
Position 4
๐ŸŒผ Shasta Daisy
Position 5
๐ŸŒป Black-Eyed Susan
Position 6
๐Ÿงก Oso Easy Rose
Position 7
๐ŸŒผ Stella de Oro Daylily

Why this order works: The Little Lime Hydrangea anchors one end at 3โ€“5 ft, creating a natural height taper down to the compact Stella de Oro at the other end. Alternating warm colors (rose, black-eyed susan, daylily) with cooler whites and purples (shasta daisy, coneflower) keeps the row visually balanced without looking too uniform. Bloom timing is staggered so something is always in flower โ€” the roses kick off spring, the coneflower and black-eyed susan carry mid-summer, and the hydrangea closes out fall with its color-changing blooms. Keep Russian Sage and Spirea in reserve as gap-fillers if the bed is longer than expected โ€” they slot in anywhere.

๐ŸŒฑ Local Nurseries Near Odenton, MD

Patuxent Nursery
๐Ÿ“ Bowie, MD ยท ~10 min away
Award-winning 25+ year garden center with acres of perennials, shrubs, trees, and Maryland natives. The closest major nursery to Odenton.
Visit website โ†’
Gambrills Flower Farm
๐Ÿ“ Gambrills, MD ยท ~5 min away
Highly rated local farm with a great seasonal selection, quality flowers and plants, and very reasonable prices. The closest option to home.
Find on Google Maps โ†’
Richardson Nursery & Garden Center
๐Ÿ“ Near Odenton, MD
Local garden center with a solid plant selection and helpful staff. Good stop for shrubs and perennials.
Find on Google Maps โ†’
Valley View Farms
๐Ÿ“ Cockeysville, MD ยท ~35 min
One of Maryland's premier garden centers for 60+ years. Massive selection of natives, perennials, and shrubs with expert staff. Worth the drive.
Visit website โ†’
HoneySmith Bees & Gardens
๐Ÿ“ Crownsville, MD ยท ~15 min
Charming one-stop garden center with a great selection of plants, flowers, and pollinator-friendly options โ€” perfect given several plants on this list attract bees.
Find on Google Maps โ†’
Evergreen Gene's
๐Ÿ“ Maryland
USDA & Maryland's Best Certified nursery with a strong reputation for quality stock and a knowledgeable team.
Find on Google Maps โ†’