Morning Sun and Shade Lovers - Partial Sun Plants

We are using this post to provide prospects and customers a means to view plants they may wish to consider based on location throughout their property's landscape.

There may be other options. These are plant only considerations I have collected over time. 

This post is not meant for anyone other than the intended viewers, but you may find it interesting or beneficial.

• Some of these plants may also be suited for partial to full sun.
• Plants listed should do well in our hardiness zone in the Midlands.
• Obviously, these are only a portion of the plants available, but I will be posting more over time.
• ALSO, many of these plants are available in species and cultivars which may vary in branch structure, form and mature dimensions.

Please use the FOLLOW BY EMAIL feature to the right to receive newly listed plant updates.

IMPORTANT: I can only provide certain images of these plants. To best see them in different aspects and applications, please use the common name, such as "Croton", or better yet, the botanical name, "Codiaeum variegatum", in your favorite search engine, but please remember to identify the images you view as many may display as a similar, but different plant.

MOST IMPORTANT: I can only afford to list a certain genus of plant, but not all the species within the genus. These are ideas to help you plan, but please contact me with any specific concerns.

ALSO, many of these plants are available in species and cultivars which may vary in branch structure, form and mature dimensions.

Feel free to check out Afternoon Southwestern (POV) Sun Warriors.

Click on an image to see a larger presentation.

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Munchkin Oakleaf Hydrangea - Hydrangea quercifolia 'Munchkin'

An exceptional U.S. National Arboretum introduction. Enjoy a profusion of robust flower clusters that open white and age to pink, remaining upright even after heavy rain. Dark green, deeply lobed oak-like foliage turns brilliant mahogany in fall. Compact and well-suited for smaller landscapes, in groups, or as a hedge.

Deciduous

Blooms: Summer, White to Pink

Foliage: Green to Brilliant (Reddish) Mahogany Early Spring

Sunlight: Part Shade to Partial Sun

Water/Soil: Moist, not soggy/well-drained. Water weekly or more often in extreme heat.

Croton - Codiaeum variegatum

Note: Works very well as a potted plant.

Evergreen

Blooms: Insignificant infloresence; prized for foliage color.

Sunlight: Shade, Morning or Indirect Sunlight

Water/Soil: Moist, not soggy/well-drained. Water weekly or more often in extreme heat.

Mature Height: 3 to 8'  Mature Spread: 3 to 6'

Note: Crotons don't take well to transplanting and some times even being moved. They may experience leaf drop or severe leaf drop, but will usually recover. Also, move indoors (potted) or cover (planted) when temperatures reach mid-40s.

Hosta (Hunderds of species and cultivars)

Note: Great as a filler in beds and as an understory plant for specimen trees.

Herbaceous Perennial

Blooms: Tubular whitish blooms above the plant at varying heights. Prized for foliage which is  usually of green, yellow and/or blue tones - many species are variegated.

Sunlight: Mostly shade to part sun, while some species thrive in full sun.

Water/Soil: Moist, not soggy/well-drained. Water weekly or more often in extreme heat.

Mature Height: .5 to 3'   Mature Spread: Up to 8'

Leopard Plant - Farfugium japonicum var. giganteum

Note: Wonderful specimen plant in a bed or for filling a corner area of a property.

Herbaceous Semi-Evergreen; Evergreen in this Area Depending on Winter Temperatures

Blooms: Late Summer into Fall

Sunlight: Partial Shade to Filtered Light

Water/Soil: Moist soil. Water weekly or more often.

Mature Height: 3 to 4'   Mature Spread: up to 3'


Cast Iron Plant - Aspidistra elatior

Note: Many people like to surround mature trees with these. I love them scattered or randomly placed throughout a yard or plant bed.

Perennial Evergreen

Blooms: Inconspicuous

Sunlight: Full Shade to Partial Sun

Water/Soil: Moist soil surface, not soggy.

Mature Height: 2 to 3'   Mature Spread: 2 to 3'

Golden Japanese Forest Grass - Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'

Herbaceous Perennial

Blooms: Inconspicuous; prized for foliage, which becomes pink tinged in the fall

Sunlight: Partial Shade to Partial Sun

Water/Soil: Moist, not soggy/well-drained. Water weekly or more often in extreme heat.

Mature Height: 18" Mature Spread: 18"

Japanese Aralia - Fatsia japonica

Evergreen

Blooms: Late Winter - Small white flower umbels followed by black berries.

Sunlight: Full Shade to Partial Sun

Water/Soil: Moist, not soggy/well-drained. Water weekly or more often in extreme heat.

Mature Height: 5 to 8'  Mature Spread: 5 to 8'

Shanghai Coral Bells - Heuchera 'Shanghai' 

These wonderful plants used to come in a few drab colors, with small and insignificant blooms. Now they come in a whole rainbow of colors, with some varieties grown specifically for their masses of flowers.

Perennial

Blooms: White flowers on dark stems throughout the season - late Spring to Summer

Sunlight: Full Shade (Other species also thrive in Part and Full Sun.)

Water/Soil: Moist, not soggy/well-drained.

Mature Height: Roughly 10 to 18"   Mature Spread: 8 to 12"

White Spotted Lady Lenten Rose - Helleborus orientalis 'White Spotted Lady'

These are actually not roses, but are named such because of their blooms and there are many varieties.

Perennial, Evergreen

Blooms: Late Winter to Early Spring

Sunlight: Full Shade

Water/Soil: Moist, not soggy/well-drained. Water weekly or more often in extreme heat.

Mature Height: 20" Mature Spread: 12"

Nikko Blue Hydrangea

Deciduous

Sunlight: Partial Sun (Morning) to Partial Shade

Water/Soil: Moist soil. Water weekly or more often.

pH: Acidic, 5.0 to 6.5 for maintaining blue color.

Mature Height: 4 to 6'   Mature Spread: 4 to 6'

Cranesbill - Geranium 'Roseanne'

Perennial

Sunlight: Partial to Full Sun

Water/Soil: Moist, not soggy/well-drained. Less water needed once established.

Mature Height: 18 to 20"   Mature Spread: 12 to 15"

Blooms: Spring to Summer, perhaps again in Fall

Kapit Elephant Ear - Alocasia infernalis 'Kapit'

Perennial, Semi-Evergreen

Blooms: Inconspicuous

Sunlight: Partial Sun

Water/Soil: Moist soil surface, not soggy.

Mature Height: 12 to 18"   Mature Spread: 12 to 18"

Japanese Holly Fern
Cyrtomium falcatum 'Rochfordianum'

Evergreen (in mild climates)

Sunlight: Full Shade to Partial Shade

Water/Soil: Moist, not soggy/Well-drained

Mature Height: 2'   Mature Spread: 3'

Jacobs Ladder

Perennial

Sunlight: Full Shade to Partial Shade

Water/Soil: Moist, not soggy/Well-drained

Mature Height: 2 to 3'   Mature Spread: 1 to 3'

Japanese Aucuba 'Nana'

Evergreen

Sunlight: Full Shade to Partial Shade

Water/Soil: Moist, not soggy/Well-drained

Mature Height: 3 to 5'   Mature Spread: 3 to 5'

Note: Toxic if eaten.