At one time, assessing a plant's environmental requirements used to be some sort of arcane art known only to the few. Not any more. Nurseries have obliged by providing cultural information with their plants (it's in their interests that we keep them alive). Labels tell us everything we need to know: How much water and light they require, what type of soil, and often much more. How can we go wrong (do I really have to ask?)?
Well, apart from the fact that most people don't even read the labels - or do read them but ignore what they say because they inform them the plants are completely unsuited to their chosen location - things never seem to work out how we thought they would (do they ever?). Very seldom can we accommodate a plant's exact requirements.
Also, many find labels confusing. Half a sun (those arcane arts again) might not mean much to Great Aunt Bertha who remembers how the gardener seemed to make things so simple to her childish mind . . . she just wants it in plain English like it used to be.
And does it really matter if we only have a quarter of a sun and not a half? Probably not. My experience is that plants thrive in the oddest of situations, for no apparent reason and in complete defiance of any manner they are supposed to (another one of those mysteries). So we should not take labels too seriously; they are only a guide - and to be fair, usually a pretty good one.
But just in case you're wondering, what does half a sun actually mean? Are you there, Aunt Bertha?
- Full White Sun - sun for most of the day with little shade (when it's sunny, of course)
- Half Sun or Partial Shade - sun for about half the day, or dappled shade (think of woodland on a sunny spring day - can you smell the bluebells?)
- Full Black Sun or Full Shade - full shade with little or no sun
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