Do you have sun, shade or somewhere in between?Northwest Florida has a very diverse landscape. We have the beautiful sandy beaches of the Forgotten Coast. We have breathtaking Cypress swamplands, sinkholes, and rivers that flow out to the Gulf of Mexico. There have been plenty of articles written about plants that can handle the grueling effects of the hot sun rays and occasional dry spells. There have been articles written on plants that flourish in the moist, tropical conditions that are common in this area. A lot of the Big Bend Region – as well as many homeowners – live somewhere in between the two extremes. Some homeowners have a lot of tall trees on their property. Pines and other conifers (cone bearing trees) are very common, but they take up a great amount of sun. There are other trees, understory trees, that appreciate a little break from the direct rays of the sun. They do, however, prefer a little bit of filtered light. One such tree is the native red buckeye (Aesculus pavia). A deciduous tree – one that loses its leaves in the winter – typically grows between 20 to 30 feet tall. In the spring, it flowers out with beautiful red panicles that are loved by many pollinators, especially hummingbirds. The best time to plant trees in North Florida is late fall or early winter, so now would be a great time to consider adding one of these to your landscape. A hardy, low growing plant that enjoys filtered shade is the Carolina wild petunia (Ruellia caroliniensis). Wild petunia spreads nicely and makes a great groundcover. It dies back in the winter, but you are rewarded during the spring, summer, and fall with blue and violet flowers. Wild violets (Viola spp.) are also great little groundcovers that bloom at various times of the year, depending on the particular species. Sweet potato vine (Ipomea pandurata), also called man-of-the-earth, can make quite a stunning sight when walking around a partly shaded area in the morning. The flowers are white, with a deep red or purple in its throat. The root of this plant is edible and was a favorite of the early Native Americans. There are morning glories that look similar, but can be very invasive. You can tell the Ipomea pandurata by the cordate, or heart-shaped leaves. A great way to get more information on plants that can tolerate a wide variety of conditions is to contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Office. They can help you come up with some great gardening ideas specific to the light conditions in your yard. Local nurseries can also assist you in finding the color that will brighten up any spot in your landscape. Carole McKay is a Master Gardener trainee with UF/IFAS Leon County Extension. For gardening questions, email the extension office at AskAMasterGardener@ifas.ufl.edu.