Broadleaf Evergreens

• U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 12 support the jackfruit, a broadleaf evergreen tree that belongs in full sun. It grows to 70 feet, features a straight trunk and produces what the Missouri Botanical Garden calls the world's largest fruit from a tree. The fruit is edible and averages between 1 and 2 feet long. The powder puff tree, ponytail palm and star fruit are other types of broadleaf evergreens that excel in sunny sites. The wall germander, growing in zones 5 through 10, has more cold tolerance than these other plants, with scalloped, evergreen foliage, suitable for low hedges and rock gardens.
  
  

Needled Evergreens

• Silver-blue to green needles are the highlight of the Atlas cedar, a North African species for hardiness zones 6 through 9 full sun sites. Atlas cedar grows to 60 feet and withstands drought conditions after it takes hold. Cedar of Lebanon and Himalayan cedar are other cedars fit for use as specimen plants in the sun. Other needled evergreens that desire sun include Italian cypress, creeping juniper, Chinese juniper, oriental spruce, Norway spruce and white spruce.
  
  

Ornamental Grasses

• Giant cane bamboo grows to 12 feet in states from New York to Florida and west to Texas. This ornamental grass needs full sunshine and has multiple applications in a landscape, ranging from preventing erosion to forming screens and hedges. Pampas grass and miscanthus two tall ornamental grass species thrive in sunny landscapes. Koeleria features green-blue blades and develops to 12 inches, fitting for ground cover in zones 5 through 9. Other ornamental grass types that love the sun include lovegrass, blue fescue, prairie junegrass and silver hairgrass.
  
  

Trees

• The list of landscaping trees with an affinity for full sun includes many of the hawthorns, oaks, crabapples, pears, elms and aspens. Combine soil with acidic tendencies and full sun and you have an ideal habitat for oaks trees such as the white oak. This tree grows to 80 feet, generates acorns for wildlife, has colorful fall foliage and makes a fine shade tree for large landscapes and yards. The flowering crabapples are highly ornamental during their springtime blooming period. Often grouped together for their flowering effect, cultivars of this tree include Beverly, Callaway, Donald Wyman and Cardinal.