I’ve been growing all kinds of plants for years, experimenting with different exposures, soil types, perennials and shrubs, and I’ve developed a good feel for what will thrive in those tricky spots and, of course, made a few mistakes along the way. So I thought it would be good to go into more details about plants that are perfect morning shade afternoon sun perennials.
Morning Shade Afternoon Sun Perennials
Perhaps you’ve got that patch of garden that gets a little bit of shade early in the day, maybe until late morning, and then gets the full blast of afternoon sun. In other words, morning shade, afternoon sun. So let’s look closer at what perennials might thrive in these conditions.
Understanding the Exposure
When I say ‘morning shade, afternoon sun,’ here’s what I actually mean. The garden bed starts the day in partial or full shade, perhaps because of a tall wall, fence or tree canopy, then as the sun moves westward, it begins to strike the plants directly in the late morning/afternoon, often a few hours of strong direct afternoon sun. That means those plants are subjected to hot rays, rising temperatures, possibly dry soil, and more stress than simple part afternoon shade.
In gardening speak, you might think part shade (2-4 hours light) or part sun’(4-6 hours) apply, but if you’re getting the intense afternoon rays you might actually need plants that are labelled full sun (6+ hours) or at least full sun/part shade as afternoon sun is a lot hotter than morning sun.
Many of the perennial flowers suitable for this exposure are those labelled for full sun because they can tolerate the stronger afternoon rays.
And don’t forget, there are other factors in play here, too. Soil, moisture, heat reflected off walls (especially in a west-facing garden) and seasonal shifts.
Soil Preparation
Before planting anything at all, I always prepare the soil thoroughly. For a site that gets afternoon sun and some degree of morning shade, you’ll want to choose a well-drained soil. Afternoon sun tends to dry soil out faster, so avoid heavy clay that stays soggy or bakes solid.
From here, you should add a generous amount of organic matter, new compost, leaf mould, or some well-rotted manure should do it. This will help retain moisture while still ensuring good drainage.
If you have a west-facing garden, you know you’ll get the hottest sun. West-facing borders are considered partially shady, but actually still require plants that can tolerate full sun or partial shade.
You can mulch your plants to keep their roots cool and soil moisture stable under the high heat of late spring or early summer.
Morning Shade Afternoon Sun Perennials
Now to the fun part and the question you want answered. Which perennial plants will happily grow in morning shade and afternoon sun? I’ve highlighted some plants which are perfect for full sun or full sun/part shade and do well in hot spaces, dry soil, whilst still providing gorgeous blooms. These are also perennials, so they will return each year. I would steer clear of shade-loving plants in your garden design as there’s too much sun for them. The following plants are the best plants for your garden. I have a mix of low-maintenance perennials which can stand hours of direct sunlight in south-facing gardens and those with a western aspect.
Rudbeckia Fulgida (commonly “black-eyed Susan”)
Bright yellow flowers, lots of summer colour, thrives in full sun. It’s a low-maintenance perennial.
Phlox Paniculata
Works well in beds with good sun exposure. It’s great for morning shade with afternoon sun spots.
Echinacea
These have lovely, eye-catching flowers which are great for pollinators. They love full sun and make for great cut flowers.
Agastache
These will add spikes of colour and handle hot afternoons well.
Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender)
These produce fragrant purple blooms, which are drought-tolerant. Lavender attracts bees, so it is a great addition to your garden.
Coreopsis Verticillata (Tickseed)
Plant these in your sunny spot and you’ll get masses of yellow or orange flowers. They are low-maintenance and long-flowering. They will still do well in poor soil in your garden.
Gaillardia X Grandiflora (Blanket Flower)
Lovely, red and yellow daisy-like blooms. These are good for heat and drought and are very low-maintenance.
Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ (Catmint)
You’ll love the soft lavender-blue flowers that bloom all summer. These are great for edging borders and are also a pretty good deterrent for pests.
Achillea Millefolium (Yarrow)
Eye-catching flat-topped flower heads in shades of yellow, pink, or white. These are hardy and loved by the butterflies throughout the summer.
Salvia Nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ (Balkan Clary)
Lovely, deep purple flower spikes with a very long flowering period. They will bring an elegance to your garden.
Verbena Bonariensis
If you want something tall that will float above your borders, this is a good call. They self-seed for the next year, and they are perfect for your pollinators.
Geranium ‘Rozanne’ (Cranesbill)
This geranium will produce masses of blue flowers from summer to autumn. It’s a really low-maintenance plant.
Because the afternoon sun can be intense, I like to plant hardy sun-loving perennials in the middle/back of the border, so they get full exposure and use semi-shade-tolerant plants at the front (or in slight morning shade portions) to soften the transition.
So you might pair a black-eyed Susan (bright yellow blooms) with a purple-flowering perennial in front that tolerates a bit less sun. This gives you bright yellow flowers, purple flowers, and plants that have new growth in early spring, bloom in early summer, and keep interest into early autumn.
If you underestimate the strength of that afternoon sun, you’ll end up with scorched leaves, droopy plants, or perennials that bloom poorly. Don’t treat the area as part shade just because the morning is shady. The afternoon makes a big difference.
If your soil is also dry-soil prone, don’t plant moisture-loving shade plants; you need sun-tolerant, possibly drought-adapted species. If you have a west-facing wall or garden, you’ll need to really think about what you plant there, as heat can be an issue in the height of summer. So pick the right plant and admit it may require more maintenance than a north-facing deep shade bed.
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I hope this has helped you find some gems to plant in your garden. Here’s hoping your beds bloom profusely into late summer and early autumn under that wonderful mix of morning shade and afternoon sun!
