How much sun does a west-facing garden get?

West-facing gardens typically get a minimum of five to six hours of sunlight every day. These gardens get most of their sunlight during the afternoon and evening, which is usually the hottest part of the day.

Gardens facing north or east usually get morning sun with some shade during the afternoon. Because gardens that face west get hot afternoon sun, consider shrubs and perennials that can tolerate the heat. Some examples include spirea, lilac, juniper, ornamental grasses, hardy geranium, aster, purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan and ornamental sage. Add pops of color with heat-tolerant annuals such as amaranth, celosia, cosmos, marigolds and ornamental peppers.