A guide to understanding sunlight and plant tags!
Reading a plant tag can be overwhelming even for many experienced gardeners… especially when it comes to light requirements. Full sun, part sun, part shade, full shade… how do we make sense of it all? The time of day also plays a factor – morning sun is much less intense than afternoon.
Then there are plants for which light requirements can vary based on what hardiness zone it is planted in. A good example being Azaleas, which you will frequently see labeled for full sun to part shade however the further south you go, the more shade they require. An Azalea planted in full sun in a rock or stone flower bed will not be happy – it will slowly but surely “cook”. If you have questions about a particular plant please ask us!
Here’s the basics:
- Full sun – more than 6 hours of direct sun per day
- Part sun – 4 to 6 hours of direct sun per day, including some afternoon sun
- Part shade – 4 to 6 hours of direct sun per day, mostly before midday
- Full shade – less than 4 hours of direct sun per day
When the tag says full sun:
The plant needs 6 or more hours of direct, unobstructed, sunlight. A plant that requires full sun but is planted in less than full sun will survive and grow but likely never thrive.
When the tag says full sun to part sun:
The plant needs a minimum of 4 hours of direct sunlight. Ideally at least a few of these hours will be in intense midday/afternoon sun.
When the tag says part sun to part shade:
The plant also needs a minimum of 4 hours of direct sun but would prefer to avoid the hot afternoon sun.
When the pant tag says full shade:
The plant still needs sunlight but prefers filtered or indirect light.
When the tag says full sun to shade:
The plant isn’t picky and will adapt to most any spot you plant it.
As with many other aspects of gardening, often the best way to find what works for your yard is trial and error. Part of the fun of gardening is trying both new and different plants as well as methods of growing them. Don’t let one underperforming (or dead) plant discourage you. Try a new spot for that plant and find something else for the original spot!
