Annual Flowers For Partial Sun: 15 Beautiful Varieties

Many gardens are a beautiful patchwork of light and shadow, with spots that bask in the morning sun but are shaded by the afternoon, or areas that receive gentle, dappled light all day long.

These “in-between” spaces can feel tricky; they aren’t quite full sun, and they aren’t deep shade. But this is where a special class of plants shines.

The world of annual flowers for partial sun is full of adaptable, beautiful varieties that thrive in these exact conditions, offering a perfect solution for bringing vibrant color and life to every part of your yard.

This guide is your personal tour of the most stunning and reliable annuals that love a little bit of both sun and shade.

We will explore fifteen beautiful varieties that are perfectly suited for the dynamic light of a partial sun garden.

You’ll learn which plants will give you season-long blooms on your east-facing porch, under the canopy of a tall tree, or in a container that gets just a few hours of direct light.

Get ready to discover the perfect plants to transform those transitional spaces into your new favorite garden spots.

Essential Supplies for Your Partial Sun Garden

To help your plants flourish in mixed light conditions, having the right products on hand is key. These essentials are chosen to support the unique needs of annual flowers for partial sun, ensuring a season of healthy growth and gorgeous blooms.

{Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix} by Miracle-Gro: Partial sun spots can dry out, but not as fast as full sun. This potting mix is perfect for containers in these conditions, as it’s designed to absorb excess moisture and release it as the plant needs it, protecting against both over- and under-watering.
{Espoma Organic Flower-tone Plant Food} by Espoma: Annuals in partial sun still need consistent nutrition. This organic, slow-release fertilizer is a fantastic choice, providing a gentle, steady stream of nutrients for healthy roots and beautiful, continuous blooms without the risk of burning the plants.
{Fiskars 3 Piece Garden Tool Set} by Fiskars: A durable trowel, transplanter, and cultivator are must-haves for any planting project. This set from Fiskars features comfortable, ergonomic handles that make digging and planting in any garden spot a much more pleasant task.
{Dramm One-Touch Rain Wand} by Dramm: This watering tool is perfect for reaching plants under tree canopies or on covered porches. It provides a gentle, shower-like spray that mimics natural rainfall, thoroughly soaking the soil without damaging delicate foliage or flowers.
{Felco F-2 Classic Manual Hand Pruner} by Felco: A sharp, high-quality pair of pruners is essential for “deadheading” (removing spent blooms) to encourage continuous flowering. Felco pruners are a lifetime investment, making this garden chore quick, clean, and easy.
{Sluggo Pet Safe Slug and Snail Killer} by Monterey: The moister conditions in partial sun can be inviting to slugs and snails. Sluggo is an essential, pet-safe solution that effectively controls these common pests without posing a danger to pets or wildlife.

15 Beautiful Annual Flowers For Partial Sun

Ready to bring color to those in-between spots? Here are fifteen beautiful and reliable annuals that thrive in partial sun conditions.

1. Begonia

Begonias are a wonderfully diverse and reliable group of plants, making them a top choice for partial sun gardens. From the classic wax begonia to the show-stopping tuberous begonia, there is a variety perfect for almost any shady to partly sunny spot.

Why They Love Partial Sun: While they can tolerate deep shade, most begonias perform their absolute best in bright, indirect light or with a few hours of gentle morning sun. This allows them to produce abundant flowers and, for foliage types, develop their richest leaf color without the risk of scorching.
Growing Tips: Begonias need well-drained soil and good air circulation to prevent rot. They prefer consistent moisture but should not be left in soggy soil. They are fantastic in containers, hanging baskets, and as bedding plants.
Varieties to Know: Wax Begonias are workhorses with waxy green or bronze leaves and non-stop flowers. Tuberous Begonias produce enormous, rose-like flowers that are perfect for hanging baskets. Rex Begonias are grown for their incredibly ornate and colorful foliage.

Begonias are a cornerstone of the partial sun garden, offering incredible variety and reliable performance.

2. New Guinea Impatiens

If you want a blast of vibrant, tropical color, New Guinea impatiens are an exceptional choice. They are the robust cousins of classic impatiens, prized for their large, brilliant flowers and their ability to handle more light.

Why They Love Partial Sun: New Guinea impatiens thrive in conditions with morning sun and afternoon shade. This gives them enough light to fuel their large blooms while protecting them from the intense heat of the late afternoon sun, which can cause them to wilt.
Growing Tips: These plants need rich, moist, well-drained soil. They are heavy feeders and drinkers, so keep them well-watered, especially in containers, and fertilize them regularly with a balanced plant food.
The Look: New Guinea impatiens have a lush, tropical appearance. The flowers are much larger than their shade-loving cousins, and their leaves are often pointed and can be deep green, bronze, or beautifully variegated. They are fantastic annual flowers for partial sun containers.

For big flowers and a bold, tropical feel, New Guinea impatiens are a top-tier performer.

3. Coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides)

Who needs flowers when you have leaves this beautiful? Coleus is a foliage plant that offers more color, pattern, and texture than many flowering plants. It can instantly light up a shady or partly sunny spot with its incredible leaves.

Why They Love Partial Sun: While traditionally considered a shade plant, many modern coleus varieties have been bred to be more sun-tolerant. However, most varieties develop their absolute richest and most intense colors in partial sun. Too much direct, hot sun can cause the colors to fade or the leaves to scorch.
Growing Tips: Coleus thrives in rich, moist, well-drained soil. To keep the plant’s energy focused on producing its stunning foliage, simply pinch off the small flower spikes as soon as they appear. This will also encourage a bushier, fuller plant.
Endless Variety: There are hundreds of coleus varieties, from trailing types perfect for baskets to upright giants. Look for series like ‘ColorBlaze’ or ‘Main Street’ for proven, reliable garden performance.

Coleus is an essential plant for anyone wanting bold, season-long color and texture in their partial sun garden.

4. Torenia (Wishbone Flower)

Torenia, also known as the wishbone flower, is a delightful annual that produces a profusion of unique, trumpet-shaped flowers. It’s a whimsical and charming addition to any partial sun garden.

Why They Love Partial Sun: Torenia is a perfect example of a great annual flower for partial sun. It can handle more sun than impatiens but appreciates some relief from the hot afternoon rays. This allows it to bloom continuously without stress.
Growing Tips: Plant torenia in rich, consistently moist, well-drained soil. It’s a self-cleaning annual, so you don’t need to worry about deadheading it to keep the blooms coming. It’s a favorite of hummingbirds!
Varieties to Try: The ‘Summer Wave’ series has a vigorous, trailing habit that is perfect for spilling out of hanging baskets and window boxes. The ‘Catalina’ series is another excellent choice, known for its vibrant colors and fantastic garden performance.

For a unique flower shape and tireless blooming power, Torenia is an excellent and charming choice.

5. Lobelia

Annual lobelia is prized for its intense, true-blue flowers, a color that can be hard to find in the plant world. It has a delicate, airy texture and is a classic “spiller” plant for containers and hanging baskets.

Why They Love Partial Sun: Lobelia is a cool-season annual that dislikes intense heat. Planting it in a partial sun location, especially one that provides shade during the hottest part of the afternoon, will help it to continue blooming longer into the summer.
Growing Tips: Lobelia must have consistently moist soil. It will decline very quickly if it is allowed to dry out completely. If it starts to look tired and stops blooming in the heat of mid-summer, give it a good “haircut” by shearing it back by half. With continued watering, it will often flush out with new growth and flowers as the weather cools.
Varieties to Try: For the best performance, look for modern, heat-tolerant varieties like the ‘Laguna’ or ‘Techno Heat’ series. These have been specifically bred to withstand summer heat better than older types.

For an unforgettable cascade of electric blue, lobelia is a must-have for your partial sun containers.

6. Fuchsia

With their intricate, pendulous flowers that look like tiny, dancing ballerinas, fuchsias are a classic and elegant choice for a partial sun garden. They bring a touch of sophistication and unique beauty to shady and partly sunny spots.

Why They Love Partial Sun: Fuchsias are native to cool, mountainous regions and detest hot, direct sun. They thrive in locations with bright, indirect light or gentle morning sun. Afternoon shade is essential to keep them from overheating and to ensure they continue to produce their stunning flowers.
Growing Tips: Fuchsias need rich, consistently moist soil and benefit from regular feeding with a balanced fertilizer. They are a favorite of hummingbirds. Trailing varieties are perfect for hanging baskets, while upright varieties are great for containers.
Heat-Tolerant Options: If you live in a warmer climate, look for specific heat-tolerant varieties like ‘Gartenmeister Bonstedt’ or ‘Autumnale’ to get the best performance.

For intricate, decorative flowers that bring a touch of elegance, fuchsia is a stunning addition to a partial sun porch or patio.

7. Pansy & Viola

Pansies and violas are the cheerful harbingers of spring and fall, but they can also be valuable players in the partial sun summer garden. Their ability to bloom in cooler, lower-light conditions allows them to bridge the seasons beautifully.

Why They Love Partial Sun: These cool-season annuals despise the heat. By planting them in a location that gets plenty of afternoon shade, you can extend their blooming season far into the summer, long after their sun-grown counterparts have withered.
Growing Tips: To help them survive the summer, it’s crucial to provide them with consistently moist soil and protection from the hot afternoon sun. Deadheading the spent blooms will also encourage them to keep producing more flowers.
What’s the Difference?: Generally, pansies have larger, “faced” flowers, while violas (also called Johnny-jump-ups) have smaller but more numerous blooms and are often more heat-tolerant.

Don’t overlook these cool-season champs for providing long-lasting, charming color in your partial sun garden.

8. Browallia (Amethyst Flower)

Browallia is a somewhat underused but absolutely fantastic annual flower for partial sun. It produces a cloud of beautiful, star-shaped flowers in brilliant shades of blue, purple, and white and blooms tirelessly all summer long.

Why They Love Partial Sun: Browallia is a versatile performer. It can grow in deep shade, but it produces the most flowers and has the best plant habit in a partial sun location. It is also quite heat-tolerant, continuing to bloom through hot, humid weather.
Growing Tips: Plant browallia in rich, well-drained soil. It appreciates consistent moisture but is more forgiving of occasional dryness than impatiens are. Best of all, it’s self-cleaning, so no deadheading is required.
Varieties to Try: The ‘Endless’ series is aptly named for its non-stop blooming power and beautiful, vibrant colors. It forms a lovely mounded habit that is perfect for containers and garden beds.

For a blast of brilliant, true-blue color that lasts all summer, browallia is an excellent and low-maintenance choice.

9. Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas)

The ornamental sweet potato vine is the ultimate “spiller” plant, prized for its vigorous, trailing growth and beautiful leaves. It’s an essential component for creating lush, full-looking containers and hanging baskets.

Why They Love Partial Sun: While it can handle full sun, the foliage color of sweet potato vine is often at its best in partial sun. The intense afternoon sun can sometimes wash out the color of the dark purple varieties or scorch the leaves of the chartreuse ones. Partial sun provides the perfect balance.
Growing Tips: Sweet potato vines are tough and easy to grow. They are fairly drought-tolerant once established but will look their lushest with consistent moisture. If they get too long or aggressive, simply trim the vines back to the desired length.
Varieties to Know: ‘Margarita’ is the classic, vigorous, chartreuse-green variety. ‘Blackie’ has deep, eggplant-purple, lobed leaves. The ‘Sweet Caroline’ series offers more refined, less aggressive growth habits and comes in a wide range of colors and leaf shapes.

For a fast-growing, dramatic trailing plant to complete your container designs, the sweet potato vine is a must-have.

10. Alyssum (Sweet Alyssum)

While it’s often planted in full sun, sweet alyssum performs wonderfully in partial sun, especially in hotter climates where it appreciates a break from the intense heat. This delicate annual forms a low-growing carpet of tiny, fragrant flowers.

Why They Love Partial Sun: In a partial sun location, sweet alyssum is less likely to “burn out” during the peak of summer heat. The cooler conditions can help it continue blooming through periods when sun-grown plants might take a break.
Growing Tips: Plant sweet alyssum in well-drained soil and provide consistent moisture. If it does start to look tired or leggy, give it a light “haircut” by shearing it back, and it will often re-flush with a new wave of blooms.
Why You’ll Love It: The sweet, honey-like fragrance is a wonderful bonus. It’s a perfect “filler” and “spiller” plant, weaving through other plants and softening the edges of containers and pathways.

For a fragrant, delicate, and versatile plant, sweet alyssum is a wonderful addition to the partial sun garden.

11. Salvia

While many salvias are full-sun lovers, certain types, especially Salvia coccinea (Tropical Sage), perform beautifully in partial sun. These salvias produce airy spikes of delicate flowers that are irresistible to hummingbirds.

Why They Love Partial Sun: In hot climates, many salvias appreciate some afternoon shade to protect them from heat stress. This allows them to continue blooming profusely without wilting.
Growing Tips: Plant these salvias in rich, well-drained soil. They are quite drought-tolerant once established but will bloom better with regular watering. Deadheading the spent flower spikes will encourage continuous blooming.
Varieties to Try: Look for varieties of Salvia coccinea like ‘Lady in Red’ or ‘Summer Jewel’ series. They produce beautiful, delicate flowers on airy stems and are less demanding than their full-sun cousins.

For adding a vertical “thriller” element and attracting hummingbirds to your partial sun garden, salvia is a great choice.

12. Snapdragon (Antirrhinum)

Snapdragons are a cool-season annual that can be a fantastic performer in a partial sun garden. Their tall, stately spikes of flowers add a wonderful vertical element and a touch of nostalgia.

Why They Love Partial Sun: Like pansies and lobelia, snapdragons are not fans of intense summer heat. Planting them in a location that gets morning sun but is shaded during the hot afternoon can significantly extend their bloom time and keep the plants from getting stressed.
Growing Tips: Plant snapdragons in rich, well-drained soil. Keep them consistently moist. Deadheading the main flower spike after it fades will encourage the plant to send up side shoots with more blooms. Taller varieties may require staking.
The Fun Factor: Kids love snapdragons! Gently pinching the sides of the flower makes the “dragon’s mouth” open and close.

Snapdragons bring height, color, and a touch of playful fun to the cooler parts of a partial sun garden.

13. Ageratum (Floss Flower)

Ageratum is a charming annual that produces fluffy, button-like clusters of flowers, most famously in a beautiful shade of powder blue. It has a soft, fuzzy texture that is unique in the garden.

Why They Love Partial Sun: While it can be grown in full sun, ageratum appreciates some afternoon shade in hot climates. This helps the flowers last longer and prevents the plant’s leaves from scorching.
Growing Tips: Plant ageratum in moist, well-drained soil. It benefits from regular deadheading to keep the plant looking tidy and encourage new flushes of bloom. It is attractive to butterflies.
Varieties to Try: Look for modern hybrids that are bred to be more uniform and heat-tolerant. Taller varieties are excellent for cutting, while dwarf varieties are perfect for the front of the border and in containers.

For a unique, fuzzy texture and a beautiful shade of blue, ageratum is a wonderful addition to the partial sun garden.

14. Dianthus (Annual Pinks)

Annual dianthus, often called “pinks,” are charming cool-season annuals with fringed, carnation-like flowers, often with a spicy, clove-like scent. They are a delightful addition to the spring and fall partial sun garden.

Why They Love Partial Sun: Like many cool-season bloomers, dianthus appreciates some relief from the hot afternoon sun. This can help prolong its blooming season well into the early summer.
Growing Tips: Dianthus demands excellent drainage and does not like to have “wet feet.” Plant it in a spot with good air circulation. Deadheading the spent blooms is important to encourage continuous flowering.
The Look: Annual dianthus forms neat, grassy-looking mounds of blue-green foliage topped with a profusion of flowers in shades of pink, red, white, and bicolor. They are perfect for the front of a border or in containers.

For fragrant, fringed flowers and a long bloom season, dianthus is a fantastic choice for partial sun.

15. Nemesia

Nemesia is a beautiful and fragrant cool-season annual that produces a profusion of small, delicate flowers that look like tiny orchids. It blooms in a huge range of colors, including vibrant oranges, pinks, purples, yellows, and reds.

Why They Love Partial Sun: Nemesia is another plant that wilts in the face of intense summer heat. Planting it in a location that gets afternoon shade is crucial for its survival and continued blooming through the summer months.
Growing Tips: Nemesia needs well-drained soil and consistent moisture. It has a sweet, vanilla-like fragrance that is a wonderful bonus. If it starts to flag in the heat, don’t be afraid to give it a significant trim to encourage a new flush of growth when temperatures cool.
Varieties to Try: The ‘Sunsatia’ series is known for being more heat-tolerant than older varieties, making it a great choice for extending the season.

For a fragrant, colorful, and delicate-looking filler and spiller plant, nemesia is a wonderful choice for your partial sun containers.

Recommended Product Summary

Here is a quick reference table of the essential supplies that will help you create a stunning and healthy garden with annual flowers for partial sun.

Product Name	Brand	Use Case
{Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix}	Miracle-Gro	A potting mix that helps prevent over- and under-watering in containers.
{Espoma Organic Flower-tone}	Espoma	A gentle, slow-release organic fertilizer perfect for annuals in mixed light.
{Fiskars 3 Piece Garden Tool Set}	Fiskars	The essential, durable hand tools for planting in your garden beds and pots.
{Dramm One-Touch Rain Wand}	Dramm	For providing a gentle, thorough watering that is ideal for partial sun gardens.
{Felco F-2 Classic Hand Pruner}	Felco	A high-quality tool for deadheading to encourage continuous blooms.
{Sluggo Pet Safe Slug and Snail Killer}	Monterey	An essential, pet-safe way to control common pests in moister garden areas.

Finding the Perfect Balance

Your partial sun garden is a place of beautiful balance, and now you have a whole new roster of plants that are perfectly suited to thrive there.

These adaptable annuals prove that you don’t need all-day, blazing sun to have a garden that is overflowing with color, texture, and life. So, embrace those in-between spaces.

Use them as a canvas to paint with the vibrant foliage of coleus, the glowing blooms of begonias, and the trailing cascades of lobelia.

Get your hands dirty, try a few of these beautiful varieties, and discover the unique and wonderful possibilities of gardening in partial sun.