When I started working with herbs in shady environments, I didn’t realize how much magic could happen without full sunlight. It’s a common misconception that plants need constant light to grow, but many thrive with just a little sun. I quickly learned how to make the most of the part-shade and full-shade conditions in my years of creating kitchen gardens for clients in the inner city, with small yards and neighbouring homes blocking out much of the sun. This allowed me to create successful gardens in places where light was scarce.
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One key element to thriving in these conditions is understanding that many herbs grow best in shady areas or under a tree canopy. In a forest, you’ll notice small leafy plants growing in the dappled light under more giant trees, as they need fewer demands from their environment. These shade-loving herbs can transform a garden into a green sanctuary, even in those less sunlit corners where other plants may struggle. Parsley, mint, and lemon balm are some of the best examples of versatile plants that can adapt to the absence of full sun and still offer wonderful culinary delights.
What I find particularly rewarding about growing herbs in shaded spaces is the balance between effort and outcome. The leaves of these plants need less care, less space, and less sunlight than flowers or fruits, making them ideal plants for these environments. The soothing properties of lemon balm and the vibrant flavour of mint can bring life to any dish, adding fragrance and flavour without needing the bright heat of the sun. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or a beginner looking to make the most of a shady nook, these valuable insights will help you easily create a lush, productive space.
Choosing the right variety of herbs ensures your shady areas are well-spent. With the right combination of sunlight, part shade, and patience, your garden can be as vibrant as any other, filled with the flavour and fragrance of Parsley, mint, and lemon balm. Even without full sun, your garden can thrive, offering a vibrant haven of productive, easy-to-maintain, and deeply rewarding greenery.
Related article: 16 Best Flowering Vines That Flourish in Shade
13 Herbs that Grow Well in Shade
Growing herbs in partial shade or shaded areas is possible and can be pretty rewarding. With the proper selection of plants, you can enjoy fresh herbs in your kitchen, even in spots with limited sunlight. Here are some top herbs that thrive in these conditions.
Parsley
Parsley is a bright green, biennial herb that does well in partial shade. Depending on the variety, it has flat or curly leaves. Known for its lush, tender leaves, Parsley is a must-have for any garden. Its fresh, peppery flavour makes it a popular garnish in salads, soups, and sauces. It’s a staple in Middle Eastern and European cuisines, where it adds depth and enhances the flavour of a wide range of dishes.
Mint
Mint is another excellent choice for shaded areas. This vigorous, perennial herb has a spreading growth. It comes in different types, including peppermint and spearmint, each with distinct flavours. Mint thrives in moist, shaded areas and is incredibly versatile. It’s commonly used in drinks, desserts, savoury dishes, and sauces and is a key ingredient in many Middle Eastern dishes. Its refreshing taste is particularly great in summer beverages.
Thyme
Thyme is a hardy herb that can easily tolerate part shade. It’s an ideal choice if you’re looking for a low-maintenance plant. Thyme is okay if the soil is allowed to dry out between watering. It’s excellent for growing alongside other herbs or flowers in a container, and its fragrant nature adds a lovely aroma to any garden. Thyme is also perfect for seasoning a variety of dishes.
Sage
While many sage varieties prefer full sunlight, certain types, like woodland sage and Japanese woodland sage, can flourish in partial shade. The Salvia family has nearly 900 species, and these sage varieties thrive in dry, lean soils. They’re great for adding structure to your garden and perform well in less sunny environments.
Chives
Chives are a favourite in many gardens. They are part of the Allium schoenoprasum family and are known for their mild onion flavour and ease of growth. Chives prefer moist soil and grow well even in partial shade. These popular kitchen herbs are often used in salads and quark dips, making them a versatile addition to any herb garden.
Chamomile
Chamomile, or Matricaria recutita, is one of the most popular medicinal herbs. Its flowers are often used in teas to help with stomach aches or as anti-inflammatory treatments. Chamomile loves semi-shady spots in the garden, thriving in nutrient-rich, loamy soils with plenty of water. It’s a beautiful addition to any herb garden, offering medicinal and visual benefits.
Calendula
Calendula is a cheerful plant that thrives in both full sun and partial shade. While it prefers the cooler spring and early fall temperatures, it’s best to water regularly to keep the soil from becoming too dry. Once the plant is well-established, calendula can withstand some summer heat, but avoiding extreme hot conditions is essential. This vibrant herb adds colour to your garden and works well in different settings.
Lemon Balm
If you’re looking for an herb with a refreshing scent, lemon balm is an excellent choice. This perennial herb has bushy growth with heart-shaped leaves that release a pleasant lemon scent when bruised. Growing up to 24 inches tall, lemon balm spreads quickly, making it an excellent ground cover for shady areas. The citrus-flavoured leaves are perfect for flavouring teas, desserts, or refreshing lemonade.
Bay Laurel
Bay laurel is a slow-growing evergreen shrub or small tree with glossy, dark green leaves. It can grow up to 20 feet tall if not pruned, making it a stunning feature for any shaded garden. Commonly used for its culinary uses, bay laurel is perfect for seasoning soups, stews, and braises. Its floral flavour enhances many dishes, though the leaves are typically removed before serving.
Golden Oregano
While oregano typically prefers full sun, the golden oregano variety, Aureum, does best in partial shade. Its leaves can fry in direct sunlight, but in a shady spot, this woody herb thrives. It’s part of the mint family and adds an astringent flavour to Italian and Greek dishes. Plant it in well-draining soil for best results and watch it grow in partly shade conditions.
Patchouli
Patchouli is a perennial bush that loves shade and can grow up to 1 meter tall. It has large, rounded green leaves about 14 cm long and small pink-lipped flowers bloom in spikes. It grows best in rich, moist soil and requires regular pruning to maintain its shape. Known for its fragrance, patchouli is commonly used in essential oils, soaps, and shampoo. It is believed to relieve stress, nervous exhaustion, and mild depression.
Sweet Cicely
Sweet cicely, or Myrrhis odorata, has delicate fern-like foliage and produces aniseed-flavored seedheads. The seed pods can be eaten raw or added to soups and stocks for a clean, aniseed flavour. Its roots can be cooked as a vegetable, making it a versatile plant for culinary and decorative purposes in shaded gardens.
Cilantro
Cilantro tends to bolt quickly in the hot sun, making it a great candidate for growing in shade. Plant it directly from seed once the risk of frost has passed. Cilantro develops a strong taproot, so it doesn’t like being transplanted. Once it bolts, you can harvest the seeds, which are known as coriander, to use in savoury dishes.
Plant Your Favorite Herbs in Shady Spots Now
Planting herbs in the shade can still give you many delicious leaves, even if they grow slowly. These slower-growing plants are just as rewarding as those in full sun and are much better than relying on grocery store herbs. My mission is to encourage more people to have an herb garden by 2030, with fresh herbs growing outside their back door. It’s possible to grow herbs without sun, and they can thrive in the right conditions!
Designing Your Shade Herb Garden
Creating a herb garden in a shaded area can be a truly rewarding endeavour, but it requires thoughtful planning to ensure your herbs thrive in these conditions. The first step is to assess the type of shade your garden receives carefully—whether it’s partial shade with some direct sunlight or full shade where the light is mostly blocked. This will strongly influence which herbs you should choose to grow.
Selecting Herbs for Shade
Once you’ve done your shade assessment, it’s time to select herbs that will flourish in your specific garden conditions. For partial shade, herbs like Parsley, chives, and mint are excellent options, as they can handle some sun but prefer less intense light. In areas with denser shade, herbs like lemon balm and bay laurel are excellent choices, as they can grow well even when sunlight is minimal. Coriander is also a good pick due to its adaptability to different light conditions.
Soil Preparation and Drainage
One of the most critical factors in creating a shade herb garden is soil preparation. To help your herbs grow strong, you need well-draining soil rich in organic matter like compost. Adequate drainage is essential in shaded areas, where soil retains moisture for longer periods. A good trick is to use compost tea to enrich the soil while ensuring your herbs have the nutrients they need to thrive in the shade.
Air Circulation and Plant Spacing
Another key to success in a shaded area is proper spacing and air circulation. Plant your herbs with enough room for growth, especially in damp environments where humidity can cause problems. Designing your garden for visual appeal is just as important. Mixing herbs of varying heights, textures, and colours creates a beautiful, functional, and aesthetically pleasing landscape. For example, bay laurel can provide height and structure, while mint can fill lower spaces with its spreading growth.
Container Gardening for Limited Spaces
If you have a particularly dense shade or limited space, container gardening is an excellent option. Using pots allows you to move your herbs to areas where they can catch sunlight when available. You can also arrange them artistically for a lovely visual effect. Ensure your containers have good drainage and are filled with high-quality potting mix to give your herbs the best chance to flourish.
Thriving in Your Shade Herb Garden
By carefully selecting and arranging your herbs and paying attention to soil, drainage, and air circulation, your shade herb garden can be both bountiful and beautiful. Whether you’re growing Parsley, mint, or bay laurel, your shaded space can become a thriving, colourful oasis full of life and flavour.
The Culinary and Healing Powers of Shade-Grown Herbs
The Culinary Benefits
Herbs grown in shaded gardens offer incredible culinary benefits, bringing fresh flavours and a delightful touch to meals. With its peppery taste, Parsley is perfect for garnishing and adding depth to salads, soups, and sauces. This herb can transform dishes into culinary masterpieces. Chives add a mild onion-like flavour, ideal for egg dishes, baked potatoes, and a fried sourdough starter recipe. With its bright citrus note, lemon balm can enhance herbal teas, desserts, and beverages like a refreshing lemonade. Mint is also a versatile herb, ideal for making mojitos or soothing tea, offering a refreshing taste in summer drinks and enhancing many culinary masterpieces. These herbs thrive in less sunny spots, making them perfect for shaded areas.
The Medicinal Benefits
Beyond flavour, shade-loving herbs provide substantial medicinal benefits. Lemon balm is known for its calming effects, helping to alleviate anxiety and improve sleep quality. Mint is widely recognized for its digestive benefits, easing upset stomachs and supporting digestion. Additionally, herbs like bay laurel have antimicrobial properties, making them valuable in herbal medicine. These herbs can make tinctures, salves, and infusions to support holistic health. Incorporating Parsley, rich in vitamins and minerals, into your daily meals helps boost your immune system, contributing to a balanced diet and enhancing wellness.
Growing these herbs also supports mental well-being. Therapeutic gardening in shaded gardens offers a serene environment, providing relaxation and allowing you to connect with nature. Whether using herbs for their culinary or natural remedies, they help promote health and wellness in your everyday routine.
Final Observations
Growing herbs in shady areas is not only possible but incredibly rewarding. From parsley to lemon balm, these shade-loving herbs provide culinary delights, medicinal benefits, and the opportunity to transform underutilized spaces into thriving green havens. With proper planning, soil care, and the right plant selection, even the shadiest corners of your garden can flourish. Embrace the potential of these herbs and let your shaded garden become a source of fresh flavors, vibrant greenery, and natural healing. Start planting today and uncover the magic of herbs that grow well in the shade!
FAQs
What herbs are good in the shade?
Herbs like Parsley, mint, chives, lemon balm, and bay laurel grow well in shaded areas.
What herbs need the least amount of sun?
Herbs such as lemon balm, mint, and bay laurel thrive with minimal sunlight, making them great for low-light conditions.
What is the easiest plant to grow in the shade?
Mint is one of the easiest herbs to grow in the shade due to its hardy nature and fast growth.
Can basil grow in the shade?
Basil prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade; however, it may grow slower and produce fewer leaves.
