There are various degrees of sun or shade. Full sun means 6 to 8 hours of exposure to sunlight. Filtered shade is sun coming through a canopy of leaves. Partial shade refers to an area that is shaded for part of the day and sunny for less than 6 hours a day. Deep shade is cast from a structure resulting in little or no direct sunlight.
Plants have individual and collective aesthetic value.
Some plants are so beautiful, they can stand alone as a focal point. Others are individually less beautiful, but can be combined with complementing plants to create a pleasing effect. Most landscapes are limited in the number of plants that can fit into the available space. Know the size of a plant at maturity and provide adequate space for it. It is important to consider the aesthetic value of the plant throughout the seasons of the year.