Understanding Sun Exposure
While light is necessary for plant growth, foliage, and flowering, the amount of sun a plant is exposed to greatly affects its development and survival.
If a sun-loving plant doesn't receive enough sun, it may produce less foliage and flowering. If a shade-loving plant receives too much sun, the foliage may wilt and scorch. Either way, a plant is put under a lot of stress when trying to grow in improper lighting conditions.
Plant care instructions help us to know sun exposure requirements, but what do they mean? Exactly how much sun is "full sun" and just how much shade is "part shade?" Unfortunately, there is not an exact science as there are always other factors to consider, for example, the orientation of the plant in reference to the sun's location throughout the day and whether or not the plant is heat and drought tolerant. Here are some general guidelines to help you determine how much sun your plants need along with suggestions from the Southern Living® Plant Collection.
Full Sun plants need at least 6 - 8 hours of direct sunlight. Sometimes there is the misconception that full sun plants need to sit in the sun all day long, but this is not always a healthy choice unless the plants are heat and drought tolerant. When planting full sun plants that are not considered heat and drought tolerant, select a location in your yard that gives them a full 6 - 8 hours of morning and early afternoon sun with a little shade or indirect light in the later hours. Otherwise, if your plants are heat and drought tolerant, they should perform beautifully, and even thrive, in an all sun area. Try these Southern Living® Plant Collection heat and drought tolerant sun-lovers:
Cajun Blue Scaevola (Annual) blooms blue/purple clusters of flowers late spring through summer.
Ragin Cajun Ruellia (Perennial) blooms vivid red flowers later spring through summer.
Lilac Wonder Tulip (Fall Bulb) spring-blooming bulb with soft pink petals and a bright yellow base.
Oxblood Lily (Spring and Fall Bulb) fall-blooming bulb with red trumpet blooms.
Full Sun to Part Shade plants can tolerate 6 hours of direct sun, but should be shaded in the heat of the afternoon sun. You probably don't want to plant full sun to part shade plants in areas that receive full sun all day, or at least not full direct sun. These plants like the sun, especially in the morning, but they need a little rest from intense heat. Nonetheless, full sun to part shade plants need more sun than shade. Southern Living® Plant Collection offers several plant varieties that thrive in full sun to part shade.
Bonita Shea Begonia (Annual) has reddish green foliage and blooms little while flowers in spring and summer.
Queen Mum Agapanthus (Perennial) blooms tall white and violet blue flower heads late spring through summer.
Heirloom Snowflake (Fall Bulb) spring-blooming bulb with strappy green foliage and delicate white flowers.
Pink Crinum Lily (Spring Bulb) summer through fall-blooming bulb that multiplies soft pink petals year after year.
Golden Breeze Miscanthus (Ornamental Grass) a new ornamental grass introduced in the spring 2011 collection with gold plumes in late August.
October Magic Orchid Camellia (Shrub) a new Camellia variety introduced in the spring 2011 collection with white and magenta blooms in fall.
Early Bird Crapemyrtles (Tree) blooms lavender, purple, or white flowers as early as May.
Shade to Part Sun plants need mostly shade with a little sun. These plants perform best when receiving dappled sunlight, for example, sun that is filtered through the branches and leaves of trees. Shade to part sun (or part shade) plants need just enough sun to grow and develop, but should never be placed in direct afternoon sun. A few hours of early morning sun is fine, but then the afternoon needs to be full shade or slightly dappled shade. In spring 2011, the Southern Living® Plant Collection introduces these new shade-loving shrubs.
Southgate Radiance Rhododendron a new Rhododendron shrub that grows 4 - 5 feet tall and blooms purple flowers in spring.
Big Daddy Hydrangea a new Hydrangea shrub that grows 5 - 6 feet tall and blooms huge blue (acidic soil) or pink (alkaline soil) flowers in summer.
Soft Caress Mahonia a new shade garden shrub (similar to bamboo) that grows 3 feet tall and blooms bright yellow flowers in early winter.
To learn more about the Southern Living® Plant Collection or to view the entire collection, click here.
