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Can 4 to 5 hours be Full Sun?

15 years ago

I've got a perennial bed that gets morning sun until midday and part of it gets dappled sunlight in the late afternoon. Will some perennials that call for full sun work here? I already have a mixture of hostas, ferns, and heucheras in part of the space. It's 75' long and 8-12 feet wide in various places. Any other suggestions?

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Comments (7)

tasymo
15 years ago
Many perennials will do fine there, but will probably not produce as many flowers. On the up side, the blossoms you do get will probably last longer.
momamamo
15 years ago
I agree. You could also look online or GW for "partial sun" suggestions. Have fun! Maureen
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icyveins
15 years ago
My front bed gets about the same conditions you describe and seems to flourish. Granted, one side gets a bit more than the other, so I just compensated by loading down the side with less direct sun with hydrangeas and hosta. There is one rose on that end which is doing better and producing more blooms than all my other roses combined.

I figured I'd just try it, and if something looked unhappy I'd move it or even trim back a few tree branches to provide more sun. A year later everything is working out great.
tasymo
15 years ago
Also be aware that the front edge of this bed will get more sunlight, so sun loving plants will tend to "migrate" in that direction, and you may end up with the taller plants that you put in the back crowding out the short ones in front. You might want to stick with tall shade lovers for the back layers. Kathy
cinlo
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for all the info. Our Lowe's has been clearancing perennials for $1.00, and they're hard to pass up.
arbo_retum
15 years ago
tasymo,
what a smart suggestion!
thanks,
mindy
Donna
15 years ago
Cindy, you will likely find that many, if not most, perennials that call for full sun will do fine in morning sun in the south. Our sunlight is more intense here and the plants appreciate the afternoon shade. Examples are: coneflowers, shastas, rudbeckias, salvias, helianthus, cuphea, heliopsis, and many many more. I even grow zinnias in morning sun with great success. And, many plants that call for part shade will work there too. Just put them closer to the shade source so that they don't get sun for as long.

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