There are many varieties of trees and shrubs that grow well in full sun in our climate. Try cedars, pines, cherries, azaleas and dogwoods for sunny yards.
Grow trees and shrubs in your garden, to add shade, depth and beauty. Many of these hardy, woody plants require full sun to grow but will produce shade for you and other plants to enjoy! In our climate, it is important to pay attention to the varieties we plant. They need to be able to endure cold winters and hot summers. However, there are still many options for trees and shrubs that will love a sunny yard in zone 5.
The stately, romantic magnolia tree (Magnolia sp.) fills with fragrant pinkish-white blossoms every spring, before the foliage appears. River birch (Betula nigra) tolerates lots of sun and heat and offers a twist on the classic birch by having darker, more cinnamon-colored peeling bark. The flowering crabapple grows well in sunny area and lights up the spring with deep red buds that open to become fragrant pink blossoms. This small, deciduous tree likes full sun and can grow in most soil types, though it does benefit from fertilization.
Blue spruce (Picea pungens) is a large-sized evergreen tree that loves full sun. It is popular for its striking bluish-silvery needles that light up nicely when snow arrives and offers a lovely contrast to the garden the rest of the year. The Norway spruce (Picea abies) grows quite a bit taller and offers darker foliage but the same tolerance for the sun. This tree, in due time, will offer a wonderful shady place in the garden. Sugar Maple (Acer saccarum) tolerates the sun well and offers a brilliant display of yellow and orange foliage each fall.
Many sun-loving shrubs also thrive well in our climate. Red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) grows well in full sun in our climate and lights up the garden with large white flowers in spring and with its red and yellow branches all year long. This shrub is especially durable in the winter. Arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) is another sun-loving shrub that will add depth and color to the garden.
There are many lovely trees and shrubs to choose from, when planting in a sunny yard. One must always take into account our zone and climate, as well as the soil and spacing, when choosing trees and shrubs to populate the garden. By planting those who thrive in sun, you may just earn yourself some shade in the future!
