Sunlight is one of the most important factors in choosing which native plants you can grow in your garden. Matching the correct plants with the amount of sunlight your garden receives helps improve the over health of your plants. Flowering, growth, and long-term health are all affected by getting the combination right. We categorize all of our seeds into the three sunlight categories below to make it easy to find which native plants are suited for your landscape.
Full Sun
Full Sun refers to locations that receive a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight each day. These areas are typically the brightest and warmest parts of your garden. Many prairie wildflowers, grasses, and pollinator plants absolutely love full sun and will produce their best blooms and strongest growth with plenty of direct light. Some of our favorite full sun native plants are Butterfly Milkweed, Purple Coneflower, and Wild Bergamot.
Partial Sun
Partial Sun describes areas that receive anywhere from three to six hours of direct sunlight daily, often with afternoon shade or filtered light. These conditions suit many woodland edge and open forest floor species that appreciate some sun while avoiding the hottest part of the day. Some of our favorite full sun native plants are Columbine, Jacob's Ladder, and Bottlebrush Grass.
Shade
Shade includes locations that receive less than three hours of direct sunlight, or mostly dappled light beneath trees or structures. Many woodland native plants have adapted to these lower-light environments, where they flourish beneath a forest canopy with cooler temperatures and consistent soil moisture. Some of our favorite full sun native plants are Wild Ginger, Foam Flower, and Virginia Bluebells