Light shade, partial shade, dappled shade, half shade, deep shade, dry shade, damp shade. Exactly what do these terms mean? They're all very vague and confusing to the new shade gardener. I know they were for me when I started out. Gardening is not an exact science. There aren't any absolutes. That's something it took me a lot of years to figure out. Light Shade means that there are about two or three hours during the day when the area in question receives full shade. The rest of the day it will receive spotty, sparse shade like that cast by trees that have a very small leaf and open structure, like the Black Locust (Robinia pseudacacia), or by small, sapling trees. In hot climates, many plants listed for full sun do quite well in light shade. Some, in fact prefer it as their foliage burns in total full sun. Dappled or Filtered Shade is shade cast by deciduous trees that are not too dense and that let sun in between their leaves in an ever-changing pattern of dark and light. Half Shade (Part Shade, Semishade, Medium Shade). These are all interchangeable terms and describe an area with full shade for four or five hours a day and full sun for the rest of the day. The half day of sun can be either morning or afternoon sun. The difference is important because many plants that will do well with morning sun can scorch in the hotter afternoon sun. Heavy Shade (Deep Shade, Dense Shade) is a bit tricky. To me, it can vary from the kind found under a big, old evergreen to that found under a deciduous tree with low branches and a dense canopy, like a Dogwood (Cornus florida) or way back under a deck. Not many plants will flourish in this kind of shade, which is usually very dry.
It's important to get a grasp on the 'shades' of shade, however, since plants that will flourish in one kind and will die on you in another. Keep in mind, too, that the amount of moisture in the air will affect how well a particular plant does in shade. We'll talk about that more another time.
First, let's tackle the different degrees of shade. Note that these descriptions apply to shade, during the day and the height of the growing season (midsummer). Shade in most areas will vary with the seasons as the sun shifts position in the sky.
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