Whether you want a garden with bright, vibrant colors or prefer a more subdued environment, you should find a plant that can thrive in part sun and evening shade. Plants in part shade will thrive and grow well, but they won’t get as much sunlight as plants that get full sun in the morning. While you may not be able to get full sunlight in the morning, you can still pamper them in other ways. Before you decide on the plants for part shade or full sun, make sure to consider your local climate and last spring frost.
Coneflowers
Echinacea, or purple coneflower, is a perennial plant with purple flowers and yellow center cones. These flowers are pollinator magnets, attracting butterflies, hummingbirds, and goldfinches. As a bonus, the plants are non-GMO and guaranteed to grow in your garden. Besides being attractive to butterflies, they also attract songbirds and other wildlife.
Because they grow best in soil that is neutral in pH, they can be planted in a wide range of soils. Despite their name, coneflowers do not like wet or mucky soil. It is best to amend your soil with compost if you have it. Though they are listed as drought-tolerant plants, they do need watering, about an inch per week. Older plants may need water only during droughts.
Plant coneflowers between two to three feet apart, but you should avoid planting them too close to one another. The best time to plant coneflowers is when the first frost has passed. However, they can be planted early in the fall. They need at least six weeks to establish roots before the first frost. They do best in partial shade or morning sun. You should avoid putting them in direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day.
Daylilies
If you’re considering planting daylilies in your garden, you should know that they prefer morning sun and afternoon shade. While midday sun can be harsh, daylilies thrive in shade. Morning shade is preferred for their delicate blooms, but the plant will benefit from exposure to sunlight during the day. To select the best location for your new flower, assess the conditions of your garden.
After the first year, divide your daylilies if you see them starting to overgrow. When you divide them, you will give each plant more room to grow and air circulation between the plants. You can divide daylilies in spring or late fall. Daylilies are not true lilies, so they don’t attract pests. Daylilies are also very versatile, able to grow in a variety of soils, and are resistant to most diseases.
If you have morning sun and afternoon shade, make sure that you water the plants regularly. Daylilies don’t tolerate nighttime watering. You can also use insecticides and neem oil to control aphids. You can also treat your daylilies for rust, which appears on the leaves in yellow and orange streaks. However, you should make sure to check for signs of this disease on your daylilies.
Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are low-maintenance shrubs that grow well in consistently moist soil. They do not like heavy clay or standing water. This type of plant thrives along coastal areas where the air is cool. Although hydrangeas can withstand droughts, they are not tolerant of sandy soil. For optimal growth, add compost or organic soil amendments to the garden soil. Mulch will help retain moisture and prevent weeds from growing. Use locally available mulch.
Many hydrangeas are tolerant of partial sunlight. This means that they can be planted in areas that get morning sun but spend the afternoon in the shade. The best varieties for partial-shade conditions include Quick Fire, Tuff Stuff, and Endless Summer. All three varieties offer lots of blooms. They also like moist soil. Depending on the climate in which you live, you can plant one of them in the morning, two in the afternoon, or even both.
A good hydrangea plant should receive plenty of morning sunlight. Planting it in dappled afternoon shade may result in scorched leaves. However, if your garden receives partial afternoon shade, you can plant a bigleaf hydrangea. Despite the fact that hydrangeas are not hardy, they are able to grow in a variety of conditions. If you’re not sure what to plant, read the following articles to determine the right type of hydrangea for your garden.
Epimedium
The best plants for morning sun and afternoon shade include azaleas and rhododendrons. Azaleas, also called wild ginger, are low maintenance, drought resistant groundcovers. Many of these plants will thrive in both morning and afternoon sun, and they are very easy to grow. Some varieties of lantanas will even grow in partial shade. Consider a variety called lantana sunshine, which has bright yellow blooms and a pleasant fragrance.
If you live in an area that receives both morning and afternoon sun, you can plant flowers and herbs that require both types of light. Many flowering plants can thrive in either situation. Morning shade plants can be planted in areas that receive early morning and midday sun, while full sun plants require more sunlight during the afternoon. For more information, consider reading this article. You’ll be glad you did. Soak up the knowledge.
If you’re a plant lover, a good option for morning and afternoon shade is something like hostas. These perennials will look their best with morning sun, which is more prevalent during the early morning hours. Some hydrangeas can handle some afternoon shade, but need a bit more light in the afternoon. If you’re not sure, just make sure that you know the time of day when you’ll lastly experience frost in your area.
Epimedium ‘Million Kisses’
This perennial flowering shrub likes light shade and dappled sunlight, and will not tolerate direct morning or afternoon sun. It’s best to plant epimediums near other plants and structures that will shade the shrub’s foliage during the day. Plant epimediums in a pot in a location where there is dappled shade, but not full sun. Epimediums prefer a neutral to slightly acidic soil, and they grow best when pH is between five to seven.
This shrub is native to Eastern Asia and the Mediterranean, and is drought-tolerant once established. Its foliage has fantastic variegated leaves, which can appear red in the fall. Plants in partial shade will tolerate short dry periods that last two to three weeks. Epimediums can be interspersed with other shade-loving ground covers to create a colorful planting scheme.
Another popular choice for gardens with part shade is an Epimedium ‘Million Kisse’ shrub. This shrub has yellow flowers and a drought-tolerant, deer-resistant root system. This perennial is one of the easiest plants to care for and rewards a patient gardener with its long life. Its foliage is beautiful, and it plays well with other plants.
Angelwing begonia
Angelwing begonias prefer a slightly pot-bound condition, and they need just enough water to stay green and crisp, but not so much that their stems and leaves rot. They do best in a room that is kept at a temperature between 55 degrees and 70 degrees. However, they will thrive in a sunny window if they receive morning sunlight. A good rule of thumb is to keep them slightly pot-bound, or they will be a little less tolerant of the sun’s effects.
When growing an angel wing begonia, make sure you prune it when it’s time to plant it. Pinch off at least half of its crown, leaving the leaves intact. This way, the plant can focus its energy on developing roots rather than growing wings. Clean your pruning shears between each cut. Use a cleaning agent to remove any residue from your hands to prevent disease transfer. Try Pine-Sol or Lysol to kill off any bacteria that may have settled on the blades. Then, save the cut stems for starting new plants.
Tree peonies
When planting tree peonies, the planting depth should be at the same level as the nursery pot. Make sure that the soil is deep enough to cover the graft union. After planting, pack the soil around the rootstock gently. Tamp it down again. After three months, check the plant for signs of growth. Then change watering schedules. Tree peonies prefer morning sun and afternoon shade.
Plants of this type need good drainage and good air circulation. They are tolerant of drought but don’t like waterlogged soil. Avoid overwatering and heavy soil, which will cause root rot. Ideally, plant them in sandy loam that drains well. Tree peonies also need a generous amount of organic fertilizer in the fall. In addition, a tree peony needs to be watered once a day, but don’t water it too much, or it will be stressed.
The Chinese tree peony is known for its silky flowers. Some varieties grow up to a foot wide, but most only reach eight to 10 inches across. The Chinese variety has the greatest range of color. The flowers are white, pink, red, and maroon, with some frosted tips. Light yellow blossoms fade to white in the morning sun, while dark purple flowers turn lavender in the afternoon sun.
Itoh peonies
If you live in an area with a lot of morning sun and little afternoon shade, you can grow Itoh peonies. These plants do best in well-drained soil. Morning sun is best, and they can tolerate partial shade in the afternoon. They require at least a full day of direct sunlight to bloom their best. Even though they grow in partial shade, they still prefer morning sun for the best flowers.
If you want to plant peonies in a sunny location, you can choose from a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. You can choose from herbaceous or tree varieties. Herbaceous peonies flower in mid-spring and are available in a variety of colors. Tree peonies have blooms that can reach seven to ten inches long. You can also choose Itoh peonies, which are a cross between tree peonies and herbaceous varieties. Itoh peonies are best for morning or afternoon shade, but will tolerate part sun if you have it. They are best for rich soil with a pH of six to seven.
Both itoh and tree peonies do well in a pot. Itoh peonies are less hardy than bush peonies, so additional measures will be required to protect them from cold weather. If you choose to divide your peony, you will have to remove the foliage first and then cut through the crown. Each piece should have a strong tuberous root and three to five eyes.