My balcony faces North, so I do not get enough direct sunlight to plant anything that would require a substantial amount of sun to thrive. That eliminates both full and part sun plants. I thought that I had come to terms with this fact, but I find my self often getting a bit jealous during this time of year as I am taunted by an abundance of sun loving plants everywhere that I go. At first glance there may seem to be a greater variety of sun loving plants readily available, but there are also an many shade loving plants which make it possible to create a beautiful container garden with diverse offerings in the shade. There are however different types of shade and it is necessary to know what type of shade that you are dealing with before you begin. There are three types, Dappled Shade, Part Shade and Deep Shade.
Partial Shade/Dappled Shade
This shade is often produced by trees with sparse leaves or high branches. There is a lot of light present without the intense heat of the sun. The area receives 3-6 hours of direct sun a day. There are a wide array of choices for Partial Shade/Dappled Shade conditions. Many Part Sun plant will work in this area too but it will be mostly trial and error to see if they will thrive.
Medium Shade
This type of shade is often produced by tall trees. There is some direct sun here but not during the peak hours of the day. If you have this type of shade you are venturing in the world of full shade lovers.
Full Shade
This type of shade is produced by tall trees with dense foliage and smaller trees with branches close to the ground. A neighboring tall building can also create this condition. The area receives less that 3 hours of direct sun a day.
The following are a few plant choices for shade:
Annuals
Impatiens
Monkey Flower
Tuberous Rooted Begonia
Perennial
Astilbe
Fuschia
Hosta
Happy Container Gardening!
Tennille
