Some plants grow best in full sun, others do better in partial shade, and there are even plants that will thrive in constant shade. Take this into consideration when choosing plants for each of your activity zones. Knowing what kind of shade each area has will help you make the right decisions.



A 'full sun area' is, of course, an area that receives sun all day. This means from 6-12 hours or more during the summer. This will vary depending on your geographic location.

An area that receives plenty of light, although not directly, is referred to as 'partial sun' or 'partial shade'. Examples of this are areas that are covered, such as, under awnings, or large thick trees.

All of the light these areas receive is reflected light, and is usually sufficient for most plants. There is a significant energy loss when light is reflected off of different surfaces. The plants that do well in these areas are uniquely suited for this amount of energy and will remain healthy with no drying or burning. There is usually plenty of light and heat for keeping the soil warm and promoting photosynthesis.

'Full shade', then, is obviously an area that doesn't even receive indirect sunlight. The light that reaches these areas has been reflected several times, causing it to loose most of it's energy. It doesn't leave the area in total darkness, but it is quite dim. The result is very little of the suns energy for the plant, and cool soil.

Ground cover plants will do quite well in full shade, but most flowering plants will not be able to survive in these conditions. A good example of the type of plant that grows well in full shade is moss. Think of how much moss you would see in a heavily shaded forest. The conditions are cool and moist, and are home to various types of fungi, such as wild mushrooms as well as moss.

Many flowering plants will thrive in partial shade. In addition to 1-2 hours of direct sunlight per day, there are also several hours of reflected light. Usually the direct sunlight these areas receive will not be the most intense of the day.

Hostas are a good example of partial shade plants. They have large leaves that are ideal for catching whatever light is available in the area. They also yield lovely pale flowers in Spring and Summer, making them quite attractive. Another beautiful flowering plant that does well in partial shade is the impatien. If the soil is not too cool, foxgloves also do very well in partial shade.

Always consider each area's lighting when choosing your plants.