Selecting the right plant for a location doesn’t need to be an exercise in trial and error. Here we’ve organized some of the most successful San Diego North County plants by the amount of sun exposure they can tolerate. To use our plant selection guide, click on the area of the yard or a sun exposure
symbol to see a list of recommended plants for those conditions.
Full Sun
Recommended plants for areas receiving full sun (areas that are in shade for 1 hour or less, usually at the beginning or end of the day), and areas with reflected heat from streets, fences, and buildings.
Ground Cover | Accent Plants | Shrubs | SmallTrees | LargeTrees | Vines |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ajuga Acacia redolens Coprosma kirkii Delosperma Festuca Gazania Junipers Lampranthus Lantana Myporium Pelargonium Sedum Thyme |
Agapanthus Armeria Begonia Semp. Canna Gardenia Garlic Hemerocallis Iris Lavandula Lantana Nandina domestica Phorium Strelitizia reginae |
Abelia Carissa Cistus Cotoneaster Escallonia Hakea Hibiscus Ilex Nerium Pittosporum Pyracantha Raphiolepis Tecomeria Xylosma |
Arbutus Acer Bauhinia Cercis Feijoa sellowiana Magnolia Legerstroemea Leptospermum Melaleuca Nesophilla Palms |
Acacia Ceratonia Eucalyptus Koelreuteria Loniceria Melaleuca Pine Prunus Schinus Tabebuia Tristania |
Bogainvillea Gelsemium Jasmine Ivy |
Partial Sun
Recommended plants for areas receiving partial sun (areas that are in shade for roughly 50% of the time, or for over 3 hours during the hottest part of the day).
Ground Cover | Accent Plants | Shrubs | SmallTrees | LargeTrees | Vines |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ajuga Coprosma kirkii Festuca Gazania Ivy Junipers Lantana Myporium Pelargonium Sedum Thyme Vinca |
Agapanthus Azalea Begonia Semp. Canna Garlic Gardenia Hemerocallis Impatiens Iris Lilium Nandina domestica Phorium Strelitizia reginae |
Abelia Camellia Carissa Escallonia Hakea Hibiscus Ilex Juniper Nerium Pittosporuma Pyracantha Raphiolepis Tecomeria Xylosma |
Abutilion Acer Albizia Arbutus Bauhinia Feijoa sellowiana Leptospermum Magnolia Melaleuca Nesophilla Palms |
Ceratonia Cercis Koelreuteria Magnolia Pine Tristania |
Bogainvillea Clytostoma Gelsemium Ivy Jasmine Loniceria Mandevilla Wisteria |
Partial Shade
Recommended plants for areas receiving partial shade (areas that are in shade for at least 5 hours during the hottest part of the day).
Ground Cover | Accent Plants | Shrubs | SmallTrees | LargeTrees | Vines |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ajuga Coprosma kirkii Festuca Gazania Ivy Junipers Lantana Myporium Pelargonium Sedum Thyme Vinca |
Agapanthus Aquilegia Aspidistra Azalea Begonia Canna Gardenia Hemerocallis Impatiens Iris Lilium Nandina domestica Phorium Strelitizia reginae |
Acuba jab Camellia Coprosma Escallonia Fatsia Ferns Hibiscus Philodendron Pittosporum Taxus |
Abutilion Acer Bauhinia Cyathea Feijoa sellowiana Palms |
Ceratonia Cercis Magnolia |
Gelsemium Ivy Jasmine Mandevilla Pratia Viola Wisteria |
Full Shade
Recommended plants for areas receiving full shade (areas that receive little or no direct sun light).
Ground Cover | Accent Plants | Shrubs | SmallTrees | LargeTrees | Vines |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asarum Galium Pratia Soleirolia Vinca |
Begonia Caladium Clivia Nandina Polystichum |
Acuba Fatsia japonica Philodendron Taxus |
Raphis Palm | Hoya |