You can grow in most kinds of light but some plants do better than others depending on the sun partial shade or available light. Knowing your conditions and matching them to the plants you use can increase the pleasure you get from gardening.
From a selection of thousands we give 10 plants for each light condition. Also below are our ‘Ten Tips about Light for Plants’

Ten Plants for Sun

• Petunia are treated as annuals that flower prolifically in a sunny spot.
• Passion flowers show there true colours in the sun
• French Marigolds, Tagetes and African Marigolds are vibrant after being baked in the sunshine for 6 hours a day
• Olive trees and Figs need both the light and heat from the sun.
• Lavender flowers best in full sun and this helps the natural scented oils to develop.
• Sunflowers and Viola family members are plants that turn there flower heads to the sun to maximise the light they get.
• Already I have covered 10 plants for full sun but add Fuchsias, Carnations and Phlox for cottage garden splendor.

Ten Plants for Shade

• Shade plants are less likely to have strong coloured flowers but Foxgloves give a good splash of colour.
• In deep shade think of good leaf shape and form from plants like Ferns or Hostas
• Dog woods or Cornus are grown for their coloured stems but also have small flowers
• Hebe like the variety Green Globe have a fresh green appearance in shade.
• Snowdrops in late winter followed by Dicentrica Bleeding Heart offer show colour in shade.
• Asters and Camelias will tolerate shade but prefer partial shade.
• Japanese Acers, Bay trees and Box are OK in shade.

Ten Tips about Light for Plants

• All plants have an ideal exposure to light levels and ‘time in the sun’. Try to accommodate your best plants in appropriate areas.
• As a rule of thumb 5 or more hours of direct sunlight is ‘full sun’, less than 2 hours is ‘shade’ and in between is ‘partial shade’.
• No plants survive in total dark ( fungus and mushrooms may grow) but filtered dark will allow Ivy and Aspidistra to survive although probably not thrive.
• Brightest coloured flowers are often those needing most sun but remember water also brings out the strength of colour.
• Beware the shade created by taller plants and trees.
• Shady areas can be quite dry so be prepared to water if needed. Most plants in shade like a fertile soil
• Bought plants often have an indication on the label as to the amount of light/sun required. Read the label before you buy.
• Dappled shade can be good for plants with ‘thin leaves’ like salad crops.
• Compare other gardens to see what is planted where and how well plants do in shade or full sun.
• Mediterranean and South African flowering plants generally enjoy sunny conditions at home so they expect that in our gardens