While plant labels, websites, and catalogs use a variety of terms to describe a plant’s tolerated light conditions, these categories can be confusing when deciding whether your situation is sufficient for getting the most flowering out of your shade plants.

Let’s begin by defining shade. It’s easiest to break shade into four categories: partial shade, light shade, dark deciduous shade, and dark evergreen shade.

1. Partial shade

Partial shade technically means that a garden area has shade for part of the day and sun for part of the day. We usually define this as anything less than six hours of sun. Many sun-tolerant plants prefer being shielded from harsh afternoon sun and grow best in these conditions.

2. Light shade or dappled shade

Light shade or dappled shade refers to the part of the garden that never gets any direct sun. Instead, these areas get indirect light, and on a bright day, scattered rays of light would hit the ground. These areas allow for the most flowering. In general, any plant that indicates that it grows well in full shade will grow better in light shade.

3. Dark deciduous shade

Dark deciduous shade, which never sees any light hit the ground during the growing season, is best reserved for plants that have winter foliage to absorb the light when the tree limbs are bare.

4. Dark evergreen shade

Dark evergreen shade is the most limiting condition for flowering plants, where the least amount of light can reach plants below the tree line. For clarification on the best light situation for your plant, pay more attention to written descriptions than simple terms or icons, or ask the vendor selling the plant.

Tony Avent is a plant explorer and hybridizer, and the owner of Juniper Level Botanic Garden and Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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