Help?? My home and business is on the same piece of property in Jacksonville, Florida, a zone 8. The building for my business is a large, green metal building and is visible with 2 airconditioning units. After the first 2 feet from the building the area recieves strong late morning and afternoon sun until 5 - 7pm depending on the time of year. I wanted to plant hydrangea but the sun is too much. Do you have a suggestion as to what I can plant that would have a similar impact? I posted this in the wrong area earlier, I'm still new to how forums work.

Rose of Sharon, Poinsiettia, Spirea..

Thank you - I'm really looking forward to learning more about gardening - I've finally got some time and a backyard to work with. I just don't have any knowledge.

There's always oleander.

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I posted a reply to this earlier on another part of the forum, but why not try: Azalea, Gardenia, and I forgot the rest of the one's I mentioned earlier... :rolleyes: Guess you're going to have to find the other post Best of wishes from a fellow Floridian.

Hi Olvoyl!

Since you mentioned hydrangea, I'm assuming you are looking more for shrubs or bushes, rather than just flowers. Am I correct?

I was thinking maybe some Hibiscus, Butterfly bushes or Shrub Roses. I have "Nearly Wild Rose" and they are awesome! Many businesses in our area use them in their landscaping and they are beautiful! All of the above would do very well in the sun. Gardenias, however, do not fair very well if they are placed in direct, hot sunlight.

Of course, there are a variety of flowers which will do beautifully in the sun.

I hope this helps!




Gardenia as a potted plant indoors, keep it out of direct, hot sun, and allow it to only get bright light. ...

Hmm, my Gardenia is VERY old, it used to live in the front yard of my inlaws house in the sun. Now, it resides at the end of my house (too bad the house is broke...) and it still recieves quite a bit of sun, and I too am in Florida. I'm in the Pensacola/Destin area of the state.

When I had mine I was told to put where it gets morning sun and afternoon shade. I was also told that it did not like the direct, hot afternoon sun. I did what I was told and mine did great, so I don't know!

Maybe I just have an odd Gardenia. LOL. Anyways...live, learn and garden is my philosophy.

The reflected heat from the sides of the building on the western side will probably be too much for a lot of plants. Not ideal for a gardenia, or an azalea. Though they will grow in the sun, they like cool roots and use a bit of water. The side of the shed is probably going to affect that, esp if it's a metal shed.
You'll need something that can handle the reflected heat of mid summer and a relatively high soil temperature if it's going to thrive.
Look for some Plants for 'Hotspots' at your local nursery.