Choose the Best Plants for Your Garden: My Top Picks for Sun, Shade & Tricky Soils
Hey guys, its January 2026, Pakistan, i am sitting in my little backyard with a cup of doodh patti ☕(tea with milk) and the winter sun feeling just perfect. Every single day I learn something new about this gardening thing — seriously, I still feel like a beginner sometimes
You know how our weather is? One minute it’s blasting hot sun that can fry anything delicate, the next the soil is either super sticky (chikni mitti) that sticks to your shoes like glue, or sandy that lets water run through like it’s nothing. I’ve been battling the same patch for years now — lost so many plants, but also got some real winners that keep coming back stronger. Today’s post is just me sharing what actually works for me so you don’t waste money or heartbreak like I did at first!
I break it down into three main things:
- Plants that love full blasting sun
- Plants that are happy in shade (my favorite reading corner!)
- Plants that don’t mind our weird soils (clay, sand, whatever pH drama)
Lets jump in — no fancy stuff, just what I’ve seen with my own eyes.
Sun Lovers:where it gets really hot and bright
If your spot gets 6–8 hours of direct sun (south-facing verandah, open rooftop, or front lawn), these are the champs. They laugh at our summer heat.
My absolute favorites:Marigold (genda)
oh man, these are everywhere in Pakistan for a reason! Golden, orange, yellow — they keep bugs away, look cheerful, and literally grow themselves. I just throw seeds in pots, give a little water, and boom — they’re glowing like little suns right now in front of my house.
Here are some real marigolds from gardens just like ours:
Sunflower:
the kids go crazy for these! Tall, big faces following the sun. Plant seeds now-ish (winter is good), and in a few months you’ll have giants. InBirds love the seeds too،so sometimes I tie a net if I want to save some 😁
Portulaca (also called moss rose or 9 o’clock flower)
🔝Check these vibrant ones۔this is my sunshine queen! Super colorful, needs almost no water, blooms like crazy even in the hottest part of the day. I have some that open under the tube light at night sometimes — crazy right?
Quick tips:
Cover the soil with old dry leaves or grass (mulch) so it doesn’t dry out too fast in our heat.
Now — Shade Babies (under trees, north side, or covered areas)
Don’t think shade means boring! My favorite corner is under the neem tree — I put a small chair there, read books, and it’s pure peace.These work beautifully۔
ferns (especially Boston fern)
Hanging ones on my porch look so fresh. They love moisture and no direct sun.
Hosta :
the leaves are the real show, all different greens and patterns. Flowers are bonus.
Jasmine / Chameli / Motia:
our desi ones thrive in partial shade, and the smell at night? Heaven!
A shady nook that feels like mine:garden.lighting
Tip from me: Keep the soil moist but don’t drown them, and skip heavy fertilizer — they get leggy.
Last — Dealing with Tricky Soils (because our mitti is drama queen)
Soil is boss in gardening. Mine is mostly chikni (clay) in some spots — super sticky when wet, cracks like crazy when dry. Other areas are sandy — water disappears in seconds.
Clay soil (when wet it sticks like this)
For clay I love Daylilies — tough, beautiful flowers, keep blooming.
Daylilies in heavy soil:
Sandy soil (water drains super fast like this test)
For sandy — Yarrow and Portulaca again — they don’t complain.
My best advice: Mix in lots of compost, old cow dung, and even some coconut husk if you can find it. Makes everything better slowly.That’s it from me today!
If you try any of these, please come back and tell me — which one is rocking in your garden? Marigolds? Sunflowers? Or did you find a secret shade hero? I read every comment, promise.Happy gardening, and stay warm this winter!☕🌼
