Q. How much sunlight is considered full sun? Part sun? Shade?

A. Generally, six hours or more of direct sunlight per day is considered full sun. Partial sun is defined as three to six hours of direct sunlight. Dappled or filtered sunlight is generally found under deciduous trees and is especially noticeable under trees that are beginning to leaf out in the spring.

When selecting plants based on light requirements, it's usually best not to rely exclusively on nursery tags for light requirements. Plant tags are frequently manufactured off-site by companies other than the grower and may not be entirely accurate. A little research can ensure that you select the right plant for your conditions.