Sun in the South can be ferocious. In summer, afternoon rays can fry gardens and sap every drop of moisture. Gardeners seeking advice for a scorched section of yard or searching for plants that won't fail to bloom in half-a-day's sunlight will find the right advice in Southern Sun: A Plant Selection Guide from Jo Kellum, native southerner and landscape expert. Choosing plants wisely for southern sun can be tricky. Some plants thrive in morning light only to curl up and die when blazing western rays reach them. Kellum considers seasonality as well. Summer sunlight is by far hotter than winter sunshine. Some plants desire plenty of sun along with plenty of water-these are the ones gardeners find crispy brown upon return from vacation. Still, more sun-loving plants perish at the thought of too much water.
