Sun
Part sun
light shade
shade




The vast majority of plants are adaptable to a range of lighting conditions. Shade plants need to adapt the moment a tree dies and falls, suddenly allowing far more light to filter in. Meanwhile, sun plants need to adapt for pioneer species that take root and begin casting shade as they grow taller. After all, nature isn’t a static picture. A wild landscape is constantly changing through the years.
Knowing this, by learning in which habitats our native plants naturally occur, these ranges make more sense. We need to think of lighting requirements as they might exist over a span of a lifetime, not just throughout the day. Areas that receive full sun now would not necessarily get it throughout their lifespans. Areas cast in deep shade may suddenly find themselves cast in brighter light due to the death of mature trees, a forest fire, landslide, or other calamity.
One last point I need to make: plants require a lot of energy to produce flowers and fruit. Shade plants understandably produce far less of it than ones which grow in full sun. There are, of course, always exceptions to the rule. When siting a plant, you generally want to aim for the highest light tolerance. Any plants that prefer something in between, but can tolerate lighting in either direction are noted in that plant’s description. It is true that I have asters that grow and bloom in full shade, but moved to a sunnier location, they grow far more dense and bloom prolifically. In the shade they tend to grow sparse with a few blooms here and there. The more sun they get, the more energy they can devote to reproduction.
