In our hemisphere, insolation from the S is the strongest, follwed by W,E, and N in order. Yes, plants should be sited according to their preferences.

You should learn about your plants from more than just one source, because there is so often quite a bit of disagreement between them. I prefer university-based internet sites but I have a bunch of books, too.

What mentha said! :-)

What Rhizo and Mentha said.

But, quite honestly, if someone made me choose one exposure exclusively for growing houseplants, never allowing me to grow in any other window again, I'd choose East. I'd probably have to eliminate several succulents, and a few flowering houseplants from my repertoire, but most of the plants I've grown and loved over the years do fantastically well placed directly in east windows. (To disagree with Mentha, [just a little] I've found that my Hoya carnosa couldn't be happier, and most variegates and purple-leaved plants do fine. Multi-colored variegates like crotons, and red leaved plants, like Cordylines and Iresines, I do agree, need a stronger exposure.) In the case of some low light plants, a couple of feet away or slightly to the side of the east windows is also quite good.

Guest, I'm sure you can appreciate the countless manner which light can be mastered to fit any situation.
Light from any exposure can be questioned by how it is received by the plant. i.e. a tree, that has open canopy, allows more light than a tree with a compact growth of leaves.
Yet, such light can be received from the best source.

I've never heard much difference given "partial sun" as opposed to "partial shade"....they are one and the same thing.
"Partial" leaves the question up in the air about how partial is meant by the term.
A rosebush is recommended to be given "full" sun....and that be 8 hours. The best sun for roses comes from the south or western exposures. The plant may though do just as well given 6 hours...if the light is strong.
The "eastern" exposure is referred to as the "cool" sun...the "morning" sun....and plants that do well in "full" often do "almost" as well in east facing sunlight...with the consideration that barriers to its fullness can directly work its effectiveness.

In general, a northern exposure is not a reliable sun..yet some plants, not needing such strong light, can do somewhat well. Most plants that are situated in a northern light do not flower as well, nor do they put out such strong growth as well.

You can always put something in between a source of light and where you wish it to reach. Trees and other plants, overhangs of buildings, fences or gazebos, tables or chairs, anything and everything that might influence how much light is given an area, can decide on what exposure a plant should be given.
Put a rose bush behind a compact canopy of tree, in a western exposure, and the plant may well not flower.

Karen,
I agree, the light levels in both are interchangable, but some plants like more light and less heat, so an East window would be better, however, a West window would do better for ones which like a little more warmth.

Thank you everyone! This is fantastic and really clarifies this perfectly. Thanks.

Rhizo,

Were you saying that in Alabama a south-facing window would be considered shade? In other words, the explanation provided by Mentha would be opposite for someone in the southern United States? Thanks.

Rhizo meant somewhere in the southern hemishere, like Australia.

I actually think of "partial" to mean "mostly." So partial sun would be mostly sun with just a bit of shade during part of the day (maybe a wall or tree obstructs the sun for just a bit). And partial shade would have shade for most of the day. I've never thought of them as the same thing.
Is that how others feel about it?

hemisphere oops

In Australia and other southern equator places the seasons are also reversed, this time is their summer. They don't all it "The Land Down Under" for nothing.

Imlooking for the best windows for my plants. I really want to know what facing window is best for a sensitive plant. That is the actual name of the plant