A patio can look bright all afternoon while receiving very little direct sunlight. Before buying sun-loving flowers, watch where the actual sun falls on the planting space.
Make a rough light map
Check the spot in the morning, around midday, and later in the afternoon. Mark the periods when sunlight reaches the leaves without passing through a roof or dense canopy. Repeat when you can; a single cloudy day will not give a useful picture.
Many plant guides use six or more hours of direct sun as a shorthand for full sun. Treat that as a starting description, not a promise that six hours beside a hot west-facing wall equals six gentle morning hours. Summer heat and reflected light can change what a plant tolerates.
Allow for the season
Trees leaf out, the sun changes angle, and a fence casts a different shadow across the year. A spring windowsill may not provide the same conditions in midsummer.
Keep your notes brief: “sun until lunchtime, sheltered from wind” is already useful. Choose plants to match the conditions you have, then observe their growth. Thin, stretched stems or a persistent lack of flowers are reasons to revisit the light question before reaching for extra fertilizer.
Further guidance & source notes
These are background resources, not an endorsement of this website. Regional instructions and the needs of your plant take priority.