One year, we learned just how shade tolerant Shasta daisies could be when a seedling - somehow – ended up growing and thriving under the rather deep shade in one of the hosta gardens. Of course, it did lean toward the sun and the flowers weren’t as numerous as in the sunny gardens, but flower it did! Some plants like pulsatilla and chelone will grow in either except they will flower later in the shade. Learning these idiosyncrasies of the plants we grow is one of our chief pleasures in gardening. We hope you agree.
The discussion about what creates the best light conditions for ideal plant growth and health is one that causes great puzzlement for gardeners. Becoming better acquainted with the quality and quantity of the prevailing light in your garden will help immensely when choosing or siting new or unknown plants. The following guidelines are the ones used at Plainview Farm.
Shade: This condition exists in areas that receive no direct sun at any part of the day. This category can be further divided into dense and light shade. Dense shade is the deepest, usually because of high walls or buildings or evergreen and deciduous trees of size. Light shade exists where deciduous trees do not have heavy foliage, where shorter walls, buildings or trees allow reflected light (or dappled light) to enter an area or where flashes of direct sunlight may reach the ground (but never for more than a total of one or two hours for the day).
Part shade (aka half shade and part sun): This condition exists in areas where either morning or afternoon sun directly shines on a spot. Steady light of less than 5 hours is stronger than 5 hours of intermittent sunlight accumulated throughout the day. Additionally, morning light is easier on plants than afternoon light. Late afternoon light entering a shady area is generally not strong enough to affect plants adversely.
Sun: This condition exists in areas that receive direct sun for more than 5 hours per day. It is best that these be consecutive hours but a total of 5 hours per day does meet the minimum expectations. Morning sun is always considered the best. We start counting sun hours after 8 a.m., as a rule. Since the sun “travels across the sky” (not scientifically correct) differently through the season, it is helpful to monitor the shadows through the growing season to fully understand the sunlight/shade conditions of one’s gardens.
Such definitions should be used merely as a place to start, since your plants’ response to growing conditions provide the only real definition of sufficient light. These, then, are approximate guidelines for describing the different levels of light exposure. Success in the garden comes from experience, so be prepared to experiment! One year, we learned just how shade tolerant Shasta daisies could be when a seedling—somehow—ended up growing and thriving under the rather deep shade in one of the hosta gardens. Of course, it did lean toward the sun and the flowers weren’t as numerous as in the sunny gardens, but flower it did! Some plants like pulsatilla and chelone will grow in either except they will flower later in the shade. Learning these idiosyncrasies of the plants we grow is one of our chief pleasures in gardening.
We hope you agree.