How To Choose Plants For Full Sun And Shade

How to Choose Plants for Full Sun and Shade (Complete Guide for UK Gardens)

Learn how to choose the best plants for full sun and shade, avoid common mistakes, and create a thriving garden with our easy guide and expert tips.

If you want a thriving, low-stress garden, matching your plants to the amount of sunlight they get is really important. I’ve learned that you can grow healthy, gorgeous plants even in tricky spots, as long as you know what to look for. Here’s my guide to figuring out which plants work for both full sun and shade, and how you can give them the best shot at success.

Hello & welcome, I’m a Hampshire gardener who’s spent most of my life outdoors, inspired by a childhood surrounded by countryside and parents who loved their allotments. For the past five years I’ve been working as a self-employed gardener, growing my skills through hands-on experience, plenty of research, and a genuine passion for watching gardens change through the seasons. Now I share what I’ve learned to help others enjoy creating beautiful, thriving outdoor spaces of their own.

Garden Nest Living grew from a simple idea: to share my love of gardens and creating calm, beautiful spaces, both inside and out. When you buy through my affiliate links, you are allowing me to keep sharing inspiration, ideas and products… at no extra cost to you. Thank you for being a part of my journey!

Top 10 Things to Know Before Choosing Plants for Sun and Shade

Before you choose plants, there are a few things that really help make sense of what might actually survive and thrive where you put it. These key facts take a lot of the guesswork out of gardening and can save you time, money, and frustration.

Light Levels Dramatically Impact Plant Performance

Sun-loving plants need 6+ hours of direct sun a day, while shade plants do best with less than 3 hours or with dappled/indirect light. Choosing what fits your area prevents scraggly growth and poor blooms.

Sun Intensity Varies By Climate and Region

Plants that handle full sun in northern climates may struggle with the same amount in the south. Shade plants might take more sun if it’s cooler or breezier. Look at what thrives locally for clues.

Soil Moisture Needs Often Differ

Full sun plants like dry, welldrained soil (think lavender and salvia). Shade plants often want richer, damper soil since shaded spots don’t dry out as fast.

Leaf Size and Texture Give Clues About Light Preference

Big, thin leaves help shade lovers soak up weak light (hostas, ferns). Small, thick, or silver leaves help sun lovers hold on to water (rosemary, succulents).

Flowering Plants Usually Need More Sun

Most real show-stoppers (like coneflowers, roses, and daisies) need full sun. There are some nice shade flowers, but they tend to be smaller or bloom less often.

Partial Shade and Partial Sun Are Not The Same

Partial shade is cooler and tends to mean AM sun/PM shade. Partial sun is hotter and often means bright afternoon light. It matters which one you have!

Observing Sun Patterns is Essential

How much sun a spot gets can change a lot over the day and seasons. Check your garden at different times before planting anything.

Sun Tolerance Improves with Gradual Acclimation

Take it slow moving plants outdoors from inside or from shade to sun. Sudden bright light can cause sunburn, even for sun lovers.

Mixed-Light Gardens Allow Layered Planting

If you’re creative, you can plant tall sun lovers up top, then put shadelovers beneath. This mimics what happens at the forest edge and makes the most of your space.

Native Plants Usually Do Best

Plants used to your region’s light and heat handle ups and downs a lot better. They’re also great for local pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Understanding Sun, Shade, and Light Levels in Your Garden

I’ve found that knowing the difference between full sun, partial sun, dappled light, and deep shade makes a huge difference. Here’s how I break it down in my own beds and planters:

What Counts as Full Sun?

• 6 or more hours of direct sun per day. Think south or west facing gardens, open lawns, or raised beds with no overhang.

What Is Partial Sun vs Partial Shade?

• Partial sun: 3-6 hours of direct sun, usually hotter afternoon sun.
• Partial shade: 3-6 hours, but mostly morning sun or only filtered through tree branches.

What Is Full Shade or Dappled Shade?

• Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight per day, or no direct sun at all. North sides of buildings or under mature trees.
• Dappled Shade: Places where sunlight filters gently through tree leaves or overhead structures, creating shifting patches of light.

How to Track Sunlight in Your Garden (Simple Method)

The way light moves and bounces off walls, fences, or even water features can change the type of light a plant actually receives. It’s definitely worth checking at a few times a day so you don’t get tricked by a shady morning and a scorching afternoon sun! To get the most accurate sense, walk your garden in the morning, midday, and late afternoon, jotting down which spots stay bright or remain in shadow. This little extra effort upfront can help make your garden planning much smoother and prevent disappointment once summer heats up.

Why Lavender Is My Favourite Garden Plant (And Why You’ll Love It Too!)

One of my all-time favourite plants to grow in my garden is lavender. It’s beautiful, wonderfully fragrant, and absolutely fantastic for bees and other pollinators… which is one of the many reasons I plant it anywhere I possibly can! I have it in pots, lining our entrance, and brightening up sunny corners throughout the garden. The only thing I have to keep in mind is its love of full sun, so I’m always careful to give it a spot where it can bask in the light and truly thrive.

How to Choose the Best Plants for Each Area of Your Garden

Even if you’re brand new to gardening or just want something low maintenance, matching the right plant to the right spot is way more important than picking the prettiest bloom at the nursery. Here’s the basic process I use:

Step 1: Map the Sun and Shade in Your Space

Step 2: Match Plant Labels to Your Light Conditions

Step 3: Consider Climate, Soil and Moisture Levels

Step 4: Ask Garden Centre Experts for Local Advice

A lot of garden centers group plants by light needs, so if you’re new, hanging out in the right section makes things pretty simple. If you have a smartphone, you can even snap quick pics of a plant’s info tag and look up advice right there in the garden aisle. Chat with employees and ask about local favorites for your conditions too. The insiders usually know which varieties handle your weather best, and a simple conversation can save you a lot of guesswork.

Key Features That Help Plants Thrive in Sun or Shade

Drought-Tolerant Traits for Sunny Spots

• Super helpful for sunbaked or dry beds. Look for plants like Russian sage or blanket flower.

How Leaf Size and Texture Signal Light Preference

• Spot shade lovers by their big, floppy leaves (hosta, astilbe, or ferns).

Why Native Plants Often Perform Best

• I always look for local wildflowers or shrubs. They just handle my winter freezes and hot summers with fewer problems.
• Bloom season: For lots of summer color, full sun is best. For spring and early summer, shade gardens can really shine.

• Flexible growers: Some plants are happy in multiple conditions. Coral bells (Heuchera), certain daylilies, and astilbe can handle both more sun or more shade depending on the type.

Common Challenges in Mixed Sun and Shade Gardens

Hot, Dry Conditions in Full Sun Areas

• Southfacing spots dry out quickly so extra watering or mulching is often needed.

Root Competition in Shaded Spaces

• Shade from trees means roots may compete for water. Try planting in raised beds or containers if it seems like nothing will grow.

How Seasonal Light Changes Affect Your Planting Plan

• The sun switches up with the seasons. What’s shady in spring could be blazing hot by the middle of summer. Revisit your layout each season, and be ready to move portable containers if your mixed-light areas swap characteristics during the year.

Why Choosing the Right Plant for Sun or Shade Matters: A Real Garden Lesson

I once worked with a client who absolutely loved ferns. When they decided to extend one of their flower beds, ferns were at the top of their planting list, alongside some beautiful perennials. Everything looked fantastic throughout spring and even into early summer.

But as the UK summer warmed up, the ferns began to struggle. Despite receiving a generous watering every evening, they started drooping and some fronds turned brown. Something wasn’t right.

That’s when we realised the issue: the flower bed was in full sun for most of the day, and ferns are true shade lovers. The intense sunlight was simply too much for them. Sadly, it was too late to save those ferns… but the story has a happy ending.

My client later planted new ferns in a cool, shaded corner of the garden where nothing else had been thriving. And there, the ferns absolutely flourished. A perfect reminder that matching plants to the right light conditions makes all the difference.

Choosing plants for your garden should be a fun and inspiring experience, but it’s important to choose varieties that will truly thrive in your specific conditions. A little research beforehand can save you both time and money—especially when it comes to understanding which plants prefer sun or shade.

To make things easier, I’ve already done the groundwork for you! The RHS has a fantastic guide to shade-loving plants, and BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine also offers an excellent resource dedicated entirely to plants that flourish in shady spots. Both are well worth exploring if you’re planning a low-light area in your garden.

Practical Tips to Make Mixed-Light Gardening Easier

• Use taller, sun-loving plants as a “canopy” over shade lovers. Great for smaller gardens, this gives your garden more variety.

The Benefits of Container Gardening in Tricky Light Areas

• Container gardening lets you move plants if you misjudge the sun.

Using Apps and Tools to Measure Sun Exposure

• Look up sun mappers or light apps for your phone. They can take a lot of guesswork out of the process if you’re just getting started.

Best Plants for Full Sun, Partial Shade, and Deep Shade

Best Plants for Full Sun

• Lavender, salvia, yarrow, coneflower, blackeyed Susan, sedum, bee balm, ornamental grasses, blanket flower, ice plant.

Best Plants for Partial Sun & Partial Shade

• Astilbe, Japanese forest grass, coral bells (Heuchera), lungwort, impatiens, bleeding heart, hosta.

Best Plants for Full Shade

• Ferns, hosta, foamflower, toad lily, Solomon’s seal, wild ginger, sweet woodruff.

Versatile Plants That Grow Well in Both Sun and Shade

• Some hardy daylilies, certain types of coral bells, pachysandra, and vinca minor.

Mixing these adaptable plants can lead to eye-catching combinations. For example, using the bold leaves of hosta with clusters of coral bells features leaf colour contrasts that pop whether tucked into the sun or the shade. Don’t be afraid to try a few “test” plantings in containers the first season to see which types truly thrive in your unique space.

Layered Planting Ideas for Mixed Sun and Shade Gardens

Creating Natural “Canopies” With Tall Sun-Loving Plants

Combining different plants to use all the light in your garden is pretty handy. I like to plant tall sun lovers at the back or center (think tall grasses, coneflowers, or sunflowers).

Using Groundcovers and Underplanting for Shade Layers

Then work in shadetolerant plants underneath or in the most sheltered corners. This not only adds interest but helps plants shelter each other from wind and heat. You can boost the layered look by adding trailing groundcovers along bed edges, while upright perennials provide “bones” or structure to the whole design.

How to Adjust Layering as Your Garden Changes Over Time

Over time, as trees mature or beds grow more crowded, you might need to check again and switch up the mix as light levels gradually change.

Sun vs Shade Plants Summary Table

Light Condition	Characteristics of the Area	Best Plant Types	Example Plants	Why They Thrive Here
Full Sun (6+ hours)	Hot, bright, often dry	Sun-loving perennials, herbs, drought-tolerant plants	Lavender, Salvia, Coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Sedum, Yarrow, Bee Balm, Ornamental Grasses	Thick or silver foliage reduces water loss, strong stems support intense light, many require sun to bloom well
Partial Sun (3–6 hours, hotter PM sun)	Warm, afternoon heat, moderate dryness	Heat-tolerant but not full-sun plants	Daylilies, Heuchera (some types), Japanese Forest Grass, Coreopsis	Can handle sun but benefit from some shade during hottest hours
Partial Shade (3–6 hours, mainly morning sun)	Cool mornings, filtered light in afternoon	Woodland-edge plants	Astilbe, Bleeding Heart, Lungwort, Impatiens, Hostas	Prefer cooler conditions, avoid harsh afternoon sun, retain moisture better
Full Shade (less than 3 hours or dappled light)	Cool, moist, protected	Shade lovers, woodland and groundcover plants	Ferns, Hostas, Toad Lily, Foamflower, Solomon’s Seal, Sweet Woodruff, Wild Ginger	Large, thin leaves absorb weaker light; thrive in moist, cool soil
Versatile / Adaptable	Varies depending on type	Plants that tolerate a range of conditions	Daylilies, Heuchera (Coral Bells), Pachysandra, Vinca Minor	Adaptable foliage and root systems allow survival in multiple light levels, though appearance may vary

Frequently Asked Questions: Choosing Plants for Sun and Shade

How do I know if an area in my garden gets full sun or shade?
Answer: The easiest way is to stand outside and watch how much direct sunlight that area gets across the day. If sunlight hits it more than 6 hours, it’s full sun. Three to six hours is part sun or part shade, and less than that counts as shade. Keep in mind the sun angle changes with the season, so doublecheck in spring, summer, and autumn. Don’t rely only on app data or last year’s memory; your plants will thank you for hands-on observation.

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What plants grow best in full sun versus shade?
Answer: Full sun lovers include lavender, coneflowers, blackeyed Susans, and most herbs. For shady spaces, go with hostas, ferns, astilbe, and foamflower. There are a few adaptable types, like daylilies or coral bells, that succeed in either if you pick the right variety. Mixing a few “bridge plants” like these can help connect the look of sun and shade spots for a more unified landscape.

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Can a plant grow in both sun and shade?
Answer: Some plants can adapt, especially if you choose types bred to handle a range of conditions. Coral bells, daylilies, and certain groundcovers can do pretty well in both spots. They might bloom less or have different leaf colors depending on the amount of light. It’s smart to check each month for color changes or flowering habits in these flexible options.

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Why do my plants get scorched or have yellow leaves in the sun?
Answer: Scorched or yellow leaves usually mean the plant is getting more sun than it can handle, or it dried out. Some shade plants just can’t handle direct sunlight, especially in hot climates. Try moving them to a shadier spot, use mulch to keep roots cooler, and water regularly. If a spot is on the edge, experiment with taller plants or simple trellises to help soften midday intensity.

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How do I choose plants when my garden has both sun and shade?
Answer: It helps to split the garden into sun and shade sections on paper or in your head, then pick plants suited to each zone. If you want a blended look, pick versatile types like coral bells or groundcovers. Layer tall sun lovers up high and fit shade plants underneath or in the cool, protected spaces. You can always add more variety as you spot which plants naturally fill gaps and thrive year after year.

Final Thoughts: Creating a Garden That Thrives in Any Light

Picking the best plants for your garden is all about matching the right type to the spot. Take a little time watching your sunlight, pick varieties with care, and don’t be afraid to experiment. A mixed garden can be pretty eye-catching and surprisingly forgiving once you get the basics dialed in.

Author Bio: My Journey Into Gardening

I grew up surrounded by the rural beauty of the Hampshire countryside, where my earliest dream was to work with animals. After finishing school, I studied at Sparsholt College and earned a National Diploma in Animal Management.

Life, as it often does, took me in a different direction. I built and ran another business, got married, and became a proud mum to three wonderful boys. After the birth of my youngest in 2020, I found myself at a crossroads, ready for a new career. Gardening—something that had always been a passion—was the natural choice.

I’ve now been working as a self-employed gardener in Hampshire for over five years, but my love for gardening began long before that. Growing up, I spent countless hours outside helping my parents, both keen gardeners (with three allotments!). Being outdoors, nurturing plants, and watching gardens transform with the seasons has always brought me joy.

While much of my knowledge has come through hands-on gardening experience, trial and error, and plenty of research, I’ve also relied heavily on trusted resources like the Royal Horticultural Society, which has guided me in becoming a confident, self-taught gardener.

I created Garden Nest Living to share everything I’ve learned and to help others discover the same satisfaction in creating and enjoying beautiful outdoor spaces. Whether you’re looking for UK gardening advice, self-taught gardening tips, or inspiration for your own garden, my goal is to inspire and guide you on your gardening journey.

Part of the flower bed running along our garden, in full sun.