Perennials growing in a partial sun garden have the best of both worlds. They have a cooler growing spot away from the intensity of high elevation sunshine and even full sun perennials are more attractive and thrive better in partial shade in mountain gardens. Partial shade areas give shade plants enough sunlight for some sunshine to reach the plants so they grow and bloom better.
Partial sun garden plants require about four to five hours of shade a day and the early morning or late afternoon when the sunlight is angled seems to suit the perennials better
Below are a few very special partial sun perennials
Campanula, with delicate flowers of blue or white is suited to a partial shade area. The image above features ‘White Clips,’ a late-season bloomer that looks appealing when planted as an edger. The spike type of Campanulas also grows well in a high mountain partial shade garden.
Heuchera is usually called Coral Bells because of the tiny bells that cover the wiry stems. Heuchera is another edging perennial that stays evergreen during winter and is known for its elegant foliage of many colors.
Ligularia is a huge Perennial that brings both its delightful size and bronze foliage to the garden. The undersides of this glorious partial shade perennial are a deep purple-red. Ligularia blooms late season with a golden sunflower type of flower. Pictured above is a seed variety of Ligularia known as ‘Midnight Lady’ that thrives best in mountain gardens.
Lilium should win the award for being the perennial with the most elegant flowers and foliage. The distinctive flowers are breathtakingly beautiful and the foliage is attractive until late September when it can be pulled safely without disturbing the bulb. L.A. Liliums have very sturdy stems, live longer in high mountain gardens and are not bothered by rodents.
Tall garden Phlox is ideally suited to partial shade and high mountain gardens. Pictured above is the pink, Phlox ‘Bright Eyes.’ It is an old-fashioned Phlox that still has a wonderful refreshing fragrance. Accompanying the Phlox is a full sun Perennial, Shasta Daisy, ‘Snow Cap’. The Daisy blooms longer and stays fresher when growing in a partial shade garden.
Polemonium or Jacob’s Ladder adds a fresh white centered true blue and fern-like foliage to a partial shade garden. As the blooms fade, remove the stems and allow the fern foliage to grow taller. The foliage stays attractive all season.
This is just a sampling of the many perennials that look nicer when located in a partial shade garden. A full-sun perennial may look tired and dried out in a hot sun location. The plant is telling you to move it to partial shade where it will perk up. If a full shade perennial looks lanky as it stretches for sunlight move it into the partial shade garden. In Western gardens, know that most perennials enjoy a partial shade.
How Can I Tell if My Garden is Full Sun, Part Sun, or Full Shade?
This quick video describes an easy way to determine the sun zone for your garden area so you’ll know what type of perennials are best to plant.
