Full Sun (Space and Light)

My first reaction was ‘Oh, we’re talking desert or Mediterranean’ and yes those are some of the styles, but that’s only part of it. The RHS definition is that in midsummer, ‘full sun’ is an area that will have at least 6 hours of sun daily. The chances are that within your garden you will have both intensely sunny, partially sunny and shady spots.

Full sun is fun and there are lots of plants for you to choose from. There are a couple of things to remember though. The first being the wind. If your sunny spot is in a wide open area, remember that it can also be exposed to wind and the drying effects that that can have. Don’t forget either that the heat and intensity of the full sun can be magnified by south facing walls, or by patios, stones or gravel that absorb the heat during the day and release it slowly during the night. As a rule of thumb, plants from the hottest and most exposed conditions will have small leaves, often silvery, waxy, leathery or with a mass of tiny hairs designed to trap moisture and to prevent desiccation. Palm trees, Olives, Cupressus, Hippophae rhamnoides, and Elaeagnus angustifolia all spring to mind. Other plants such as bay trees, Cistus, lavender and rosemary contain oils that protect the leaves from water loss and make them popular with gardeners and cooks alike for their flowers, their scents and their flavours. And then there are Pines. This is a plant family ideally suited to full sun, open and often windy sites and well drained soil. They come in all shapes, sizes, colours and textures enough that there will be a suitable candidate for practically any sunny spot. Not all sunny beds are the same, and although generally, these are plants that like good drainage and are tolerant of dry soils. But a bed with full sun and well drained but moist, rich soils means you can add some vibrant colour with Lobelia tupa, Cannas or Hedychiums.