Just as our natural world is bursting full with an incredible variety of plants, it also contains a broad range of growing requirements. While some plants grow well with morning sun and evening shade, others are just the opposite. Plants that require evening sun are typically adapted to harsh and sunny climates. These types of plants are perfect for sunny gardens on the south and western sides of a home.
Most herbs are sun-loving plants that like well-drained soil. If an herb likes full sun, chances are it will like evening shade. Herbs are a popular plant because they have so many applications: culinary, medicinal, arts and crafts, and simple house cleaning. Popular herbs that like evening sun include lavender, rosemary, basil, thyme, oregano, chives, yarrow, winter savory, mint, dill, purple cone flower, fennel, aloe vera, lemon balm parsley, garlic and sage.
There are hundreds of varieties of roses. Geological evidence suggests that roses grew in pre-historic times. Today roses grow both wild and cultivated in every temperate zone from sub-arctic to tropical. Most cultivated species of roses prefer full sun and will do well when planted in a garden that receives southwestern exposure and evening light. Rose varieties range from old roses and wild roses to hybrids such as the English Tea rose and the floribunda.
Grapes and roses have a similar history and background. Both grew in the wild long before being cultivated. Both were cultivated around the same time in the same areas, and both like the same types of growing conditions. In vineyards, roses will be grown in bushes at the ends of grape rows because the flowers are sensitive to the same types of diseases. A diseased rose bush is an early warning system that tells growers when it is time to spray their plants against diseases. Grape vines are grown on trellises on the southern end of a hillside to take advantage of evening sun. Grape vines that do not get evening sun will not produce abundant clusters of grapes.