Sun or Shade

Most plants respond best to a certain amount of sunlight each day, Full Sun, Partial Sun (Light Shade), Partial Shade, Full Shade, or Dense Shade. Cloudy, rainy days coupled with the shade provided by nearby plants and structures can significantly reduce the amount of sunlight available.  Plants survive only where the amount is within a specified range.

Direct Sunlight – the sun shines directly on the plant with no other plants, trees, or structures interfering with the sunlight.

Filtered Sunlight – the sun shines on the plant through the branches or leaves of another plant or tree, or through a structure.

DEGREE of SHADE	SUNLIGHT	DEFINITION
FULL SUN	6 - 8 Hours each Day	Direct Sunlight on the plant ALL DAY.
PARTIAL SUN (aka LIGHT SHADE)	4 to 6 Hours each Day	Direct Sunlight on the plant for 4 to 6 hours each day.
	OR
	All Day	Filtered Sunlight on the plant ALL DAY ( half sun and half shade )
PARTIAL SHADE	2 to 4 Hours each Day	Direct Sunlight on the plant for 2 to 4 hours each day.
	OR
	All Day	Filtered Sunlight on the plant ALL DAY ( 25 % or less sun )
FULL SHADE	All Day	NO Direct Sunlight or Filtered Sunlight on the plant. Only reflected or indirect sunlight.
DENSE SHADE	All Day	NO Sunlight at all.

Sunlight Calculator
Here’s a neat little device if you don’t feel like sitting in your yard with a stop watch all day counting hours of direct sunlight.