A garden question
Sun, Part Sun & Shade
Curated abundance with a touch of whimsy
Almost every plant we sell has a light requirement on the tag, and almost nobody knows which of those words describes their own yard. It is the first question worth answering, because no amount of watering or feeding fixes a plant in the wrong light.
Quick tips
-
Right plant, right place
Sun lovers bloom best in bright spots, while shade plants prefer gentler light.
-
Morning sun counts
Many plants enjoy morning light and a little afternoon relief.
-
Watch the pot
Containers in full sun dry faster than those in part shade or shade.
Quick pick by light
Full sun
- Mums — big fall color for porches and beds
- Drift® roses — repeat-blooming color for bright garden spots
- Asclepias (milkweed) — pollinator favorite for sunny beds
- Asters — late-season blooms for sun and pollinators
- Daylilies — easy color for sunny borders
- Blueberries — need sun for best fruit
Part sun
- Hydrangeas — many enjoy morning sun and afternoon shade
- Camellias — happy with filtered light or part shade
- Quince — flowers well with plenty of light
- Pansies & violas — cool-season color that handles sun to part sun
- Snapdragons — colorful and bright in sun to part sun
- Bay laurel — likes bright light and some protection from harsh afternoon heat
Shade & part shade
- Hosta — classic shade favorite with bold foliage
- Liriope — easy edging and texture for part shade
- Camellias — a strong choice where afternoon shade helps
- Hydrangeas — great when the light is softer
How to find out what you have
Pick a Saturday and look at the spot five times: eight in the morning, ten, noon, three, and six. Note whether the sun is actually on it.
Count the hours of direct light. That is your answer, and it beats guessing every time.
A few things worth knowing while you count:
- Afternoon sun is stronger than morning sun. Four hours from two to six is harder on a plant than six hours from seven to one.
- It changes with the season. A bed shaded by an oak in July is in full sun in March, which is why spring bloomers do well under deciduous trees.
- Reflected heat counts. Light-colored brick, concrete and west-facing siding all raise the temperature well beyond what the hour count suggests.
When you are not sure
Start softer. A sun-loving plant in slightly too little light grows tall and thin and blooms less — a slow, visible, fixable disappointment. A shade plant in too much sun can scorch in a single afternoon.
Then watch. A plant reaching and leaning wants more light. A plant with bleached or crisping leaf edges wants less. Both are telling you something, and both are easier to fix in the first month than in the third year.
A little field guide to help you match the light at the Patch.