What Bushes Like the Morning Sun?

Many deciduous shrub varieties prefer morning sun. The hydrangea is a hardy shrub for USDA hardiness zones 6 to 9 that thrives with morning sun and afternoon shade. Other deciduous shrubs include the viburnum varieties Burkwood and the Koreanspice, which are hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8. The Burkwood viburnum is an ornamental shrub with a round canopy that becomes more distinctive as the shrub matures. The shrub has darker foliage on the top and lighter foliage on the bottom.

Boxwood varieties are ideal for locations with the morning sun and afternoon shade. These evergreen shrubs are hardy in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9. Other evergreen shrubs for an eastern exposure location include rhododendron and azalea varieties including Exbury azalea varieties. Exbury azalea shrubs prefer full to partial shade, which makes this plant ideal for a location with morning sun. Shrubs grow in an upright direction and have the appearance of a vase-shape.

Many ground cover shrubs prefer afternoon shade and morning sun. Shrubs that grow in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 to 6 include dwarf holly and the box huckleberry. The box huckleberry has toothed glossy, thick leaves that closely resemble the Japanese boxwood. The shrub is self-sterile and produces fleshy dark blue berries that have no taste when mature.

The American Red rhododendron is a flowering shrub that prefers eastern sun. The bright morning sun will enhance the flower color. Shrubs have red, funnel-shaped flowers and matte, dull green leaves. Other flowering shrubs include the fothergilla, which has creamy-white flowers with a honey scent. Fothergilla shrubs are hardy to USDA zones 5 to 8.