Best Plants for Direct Sunlight

A home with little natural light is often frustrating for homeowners trying to grow houseplants, who long for rooms filled with bright light. However, bright light streaming directly through windows for hours on end can be problematic for plants too and affect their growth as much as too little light.
Too much is not always better in the case of sunlight because not all plants can handle direct sunlight for long periods or even more than an hour or two. So, if you have a bright, sunny house, you must choose plants that have adapted to grow well in direct sunlight.
What Is Considered Direct Sunlight?
Direct sunlight is typically described as full sunlight streaming through a window that isn’t shaded by houses, buildings, trees, etc. If you held your hand up in this light, it would cast a hard shadow on the surface below with a defined outline.
Direct sunlight is typically described as full sunlight streaming through a window that isn’t shaded by houses, buildings, trees, etc. If you held your hand up in this light, it would cast a hard shadow on the surface below with a defined outline.
Cacti for Direct Sunlight
Most cactus species like plenty of sunlight, but they prefer it to be filtered. When exposed to long periods of direct sunlight, you may see them turn light green in color. This bleaching occurs as the intense sunlight breaks down the chlorophyll in the plant.
The following cacti are tolerant of direct sunlight and won’t lighten in color:
 
  • Barrel cactus
  • Moon cactus
  • Nivosa cactus
Flowering Plants That Thrive in Direct Sunlight
If a flowering ornamental plant needs “full sun” to grow outdoors, it will typically grow well in direct sunlight inside. Some commonly grown full-sun plants include:
 
  • African violet
  • Bird of paradise
  • Gardenia
  • Hibiscus
  • Jasmine
  • Kalanchoe
Herbaceous Plants That Grow in Direct Sunlight
  • Areca palm
  • Begonia rex
  • Croton
  • Dracaena
  • Grapy ivy
  • Ponytail palm
  • Sago palm
  • Ti plant
Succulents That Like Bright Sunlight
Succulents tend to be more tolerant of bright, intense light than cacti, giving you many options to grow in your sunny home.
  • Aloe vera
  • Burro’s tail
  • Crown of thorns
  • Desert rose
  • Echeveria
  • Hens and chicks
  • Jade
  • Snake plant
  • String of pearls
  • Yucca
  • Zebra haworthia