Amy Draiss
Most yards feature a combination of light levels that allows a variety of plants to grow and thrive. Plants for morning sun and afternoon shade are perhaps the most versatile, because many full-sun plants also do well in partial shade. You may think of these specific light situations as limiting your options for plants and shrubs, but happily there are plenty of plants that do very well with this specific requirements.
Partial shade plants need 3-4 hours of direct sun a day. Locations in your yard with partial sun could be an area that faces east and gets morning sun, followed by afternoon shade. Certain shade loving plants that like morning sun and afternoon shade are also happy under a large tree canopy with filtered sunlight. Discover some of the most impactful and versatile plants for your ‘half and half’ planting situation.
Plants For Morning Sun And Afternoon Shade
When choosing plants for partial shade, it is important to locate them correctly as well as provide the proper soil pH, moisture, and fertility. Morning sun, afternoon shade plants may scorch if they receive too much sun. Conversely, if they sit in too deep shade, they may languish and fail to flower. Whether you opt for shrubs or perennial plants for shade gardens, make sure the right conditions will be met.
Potted plants that like morning sun and afternoon shade include the dwarf forms of hydrangea, compact summersweet cultivars, beautyberry, coral bells, Indian pink, and ‘Feather Falls’ sedge. So combine some of these low maintenance shade plants and shrubs with a large planter or tub to add another dimension to partial shade areas.
For a rustic themed shade garden container, try the 3-pack of BNSPLY Wooden Planter Barrels from Amazon, which help to add gentle warmth and tone to subdued corners, and also have handles to help you move them around. The following shade plant superstars for morning sun, afternoon shade all provide beauty plus something extra – such as colorful foliage, fall fruit, fragrance or wildlife appeal.
1. Arrowwood Viburnum
Arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) is a versatile, deciduous shrub that appeals to wildlife and provides multi season interest. The fuzzy white flower clusters that appear in late spring attract pollinators, then give way to blue-black drupes in the fall that feed birds and other wildlife. The glossy, green foliage of this arrowwood shrub turns shades of red, yellow, or purple in autumn. These are some of the most vibrant foliage plants that like morning sun and afternoon shade.
This North American native shrub can reach 6-10ft (1.8-3m) tall and wide, but several cultivars stay shorter. Prune it soon after flowering if needed. It tolerates most soils, but moist, well-draining soil is ideal. This shrub is winter hardy in USDA zones 2-8. You can buy ‘Blue Muffin’ Arrowwood Viburnum by Hirt’s Gardens from Amazon.
2. Beautyberry
Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a deciduous, US native shrub with striking, iridescent purple berries that encircle the stems at leaf axils. Cultivars are available that produce white or pink berries. One team favorite is ‘Early Amethyst’ Beautyberry by Spring Hill Nurseries from Walmart. Many types of songbirds and small mammals relish the fruits that persist into fall.
The arching stems of beautyberry shrubs can grow up to 8ft tall (2.4m) with a 6ft (1.8m) spread so give it ample room. Lavender-pink blooms precede the berries in summer. It can be cut back to 1ft (0.3m) in late winter as it flowers and fruits on new growth. It thrives in moist, well-draining soil in full sun to light shade in USDA zones 6-11.
3. Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.) are popular deciduous shrubs that produce large, showy panicles of flowers in summer, including white, pink, blue, red, and several that start white and fade to pink. Certain hydrangea varieties grow happily in morning sun and afternoon shade, such as smooth hydrangea (H. arborescens) and oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia).
Smooth hydrangea is native to the Eastern US and forms a rounded shrub 3-5ft tall and wide (0.9-1.5m) with large white, pink, or red blooms. These hydrangeas can be pruned hard in late winter and flowers on new growth. It prefers neutral to acidic, well-draining soil and thrives in USDA zones 3-9. You can buy ‘Annabelle’ Smooth Hydrangea by New Life Nursery & Garden from Amazon.
Oakleaf hydrangea, native to the Southeastern US, is favored for its oak-shaped leaves that produce red, orange, and purple leaf color in fall. Its showy, long panicles of white flowers in summer age to pink, then brown. It grows to 8ft tall (2.4 m) but newer dwarf cultivars stay compact. Prune after flowering, if needed. It prefers organically rich soil and good drainage in USDA zones 5-9. You can buy ‘Snowcicle’ Oakleaf Hydrangea by Spring HIll Nurseries from Amazon.
4. Summersweet
Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) is a showy shrub that is native to Eastern North America, summer flowering in long spikes of small, white or pink flowers. Summersweet (aka sweet pepperbush) is also an outstanding plant for a pollinator garden, as it provides nectar and pollen to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
It flowers even in shade, during late summer when most plants are ramping down. Seeds are produced in brown capsules that birds relish in fall and winter. Plant summersweet in moist, acidic, organically rich soil in USDA zones 3-9. You can buy ‘Sixteen Candles’ Summersweet from Nature Hills.
5. Coral Bells
Coral bells (Heuchera spp.) are a perennial mainstay in many partial-shade gardens, thanks to their easy care and wide variety of foliage colors. Its evergreen to semi-evergreen foliage makes a great groundcover in leaf colors such as purple, red, orange, peach, chartreuse and amber.
In early summer, you can see tall, thin shoots sprout with tiny, bell-shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds. Cutting those back will produce more flowers. Grow coral bells in slightly acidic, organically rich soil in USDA zones 3-9. Some cultivars will take more shade than others. As entry level options for morning sun and afternoon shade, buy ‘Caramel’ Heuchera and ‘Wildberry’ Heuchera live plants, both from Amazon.
6. Indian Pink
Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica) is a US native perennial that grows on stems 1-2ft (0.3-0.6 m) tall and wide. Its red, tubular blooms are capped by bright yellow star shaped petals. One of its common names is firecracker plant, and it’s no wonder hummingbirds flock to its flowers in June.
When you grow Indian pink, you’ll find it is a delightfully low maintenance plant that thrives in part shade. Indian pink prefers a slightly acidic, well-draining soil in USDA zones 5-9. You can buy ‘Ragin Cajun’ Indian Pink live plants from Nature Hills.
7. ‘Feather Falls’ Sedge
‘Feather Falls’ sedge (Carex oshimensis) is a great container or groundcover plant with flowing, green and cream variegated foliage that stays trouble free all summer and fall. This ornamental grass forms a 14-18 inch tall (36-46cm) clump that looks best when the narrow foliage is allowed to fall gracefully down the sides of a tall container or allowed to drape as groundcover.
When growing this sedge plant, you’ll find its evergreen foliage can be cut back by one-third in spring. It is hardy in USDA zones 5-9. You can buy ‘Feather Falls’ Sedge from Nature Hills, along with many other attractive sedge varieties.
8. Woodland Phlox
Woodland phlox (P. divaricata) is a North American native perennial that blooms in spring with blue clusters of fragrant flowers on plants growing 6-12 inches tall (15-30cm). When caring for woodland phlox, you’ll find the clump spreads horizontally. It freely reseeds and may pop up in other garden areas, delightfully so.
The showy flowers of these phlox varieties attract pollinators and hummingbirds for its nectar. Newer cultivars bloom in white, lavender blue, pale blue, purple blue and lavender pink. Woodland phlox prefers organically rich, well draining soil in USDA zones 3-8. You can buy Woodland Phlox ‘Blue Moon’ by Green Promise Farms from Amazon.
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