Types of shade

Looking for some advice please as I'm getting a bit confused about what constitutes "light shade"

I have a north facing border which gets no direct sun at all because of the 6 ft fence, but it isn't overhung by any trees, so would this be classed as light shade?

Thanks in advance

Alex

 

In some books it would yes. If it's only shaded by a fence, it won't be dry shade as you would expect underneath trees. Just avoid plants that require a sunny spot. Lot's of shrubs do well out of direct sunlight, e.g. those with leathery evergreen foliage. Also hydrangeas and Sambucus etc., Lots of good foliage perennials too, brunneras, pulmonarias, hellebores, and just about any woodland plants too.

 

I would classify that as full shade.
If only overhung with trees this could be dappled shade if not too dense.
I would add ferns, astilbes, carex, acorus, certain grasses and some Heucheras

 

I always think the whole issue of shade is a bit clouded.

By that I mean some things in full sun in summer are actually in full shade in winter, ie behind a wall or fence, and you actually get the opposite in woodland, full sun in winter and often total shade in summer.

So I think its all a bit iffy, I understand, dappled shade in summer, I understand deciduous woodland plants, but I think often they just say semi shade or full sun.
What is semi shade. is that in summer or winter?

 

Groan

 

Quite clear to me given the description. Grow things for full shade

 

But is it light shade or deep shade?

It's already planted up, just wanted to clarify the terminology

 

I would say deep shade because it is shaded all year round and gets no sunlight.

I have an area which gets no sun whatsoever at any time of year and I treat it as deep shade.

 

Agree with mum....deep shade.
What did you,plant?

 

I think the term is more usually "part shade", I've not come across "light shade" before that I can remember.

"Part shade", to me, means that it is in shade for part of the day - so perhaps a tree the the South such that it still gets Morning and Evening sun, but not midday sun.

"light shade" might be "dappled" I suppose? where the movement of trees and leaves in the wind allows the sun through, because the canopy above is not very dense. That would allow the sun onto the leaves for only a short time, but perhaps frequently. This might prevent leaves from burning, compared to them being in full sun for part of the day.

 

Thanks for all the replies

Currently has mainly young Camellias in various colours which I planted last year, but I think I'm going to move those and re-plant with some more mature plants which I've currently got such as :

Elaeagnus x ebbingei
Viburnum Tinus
Rhododendron
Sarcococca Confusa
Skimmia Japonica Rubella.

Then I'll add in some Hellebores and some perennials (yet to be decided).

 

I too have a North-facing border. Full shade all year round. The only thing that has thrived have been the Hellebore's , but after reading the above posts , this year I will experiment