Herbs which like shade

This large footprint makes it wise to choose its location carefully! It can be grown from seed, but I had better luck growing it in the shade when I purchased and planted a small lovage plant from the nursery. Lemon balm is a perennial herb grown for its green scented leaves. This hardy plant does like some sun, but like its mint cousins, is certainly capable of thriving even in a shady corner.

Lemon balm is used in herbal tea blends, as it has a lovely flavour and complements other herbs quite well. It is also grown to attract bees to the garden. This is a hardy plant that fares well in either sun or shade. Bee balm does grow best in moist fertile soil — conditions that can be easier to maintain with at least some shade.

Bee balm is used in tea blends to add a flowery scent, similar to the bergamot in Earl Grey tea. This plant is also one of the most popular flowers for attracting hummingbirds to your garden. True to its name, it is also a favourite of bees and of butterflies. Dill is a biennial culinary herb that can be grown in sun or shade. While dill flowers much better in sunny conditions, this is not necessarily a good thing. Many gardeners grow dill only for its feathery foliage known as dill weed, and shady conditions can sometimes allow for a higher production of this leafy herb per square foot of garden soil.

Dill is used most commonly in sauces, especically for fish, potatoes, and vegetables. Salmon and asparagus are two dishes that commonly include dill as a culinary herbal flavouring.

Chives are a perennial culinary herb from the onion family. Chives are quite a low-maintenance herb and will grow in sun or in shade. Chives are used as fresh green onions in salads, sauces, and on top of starchy dishes like baked potatoes.

The flowers are also a favourite of bees and butterflies. Borage is a flowering herb grown for its edible flowers, and also as a medicinal and spiritual herb. While it does like some sun especially for flowers , it can be grown in partial shade. Borage flowers are a beautiful addition to fresh salads.

Traditionally, borage was used in medicines and health tonics. It also makes a lovely addition to the garden as an ornamental. Chervil is a delicate annual culinary herb. This herb does really well in light shade. Chervil is almost always grown from seed rather than transplants , and often re-seeds itself each year. Chervil is graceful in the herb garden and is also quite delicate as a culinary herb.

It is rarely sold in supermarkets and is best grown right at home. Chervil is lovely with chives and dill in spring dishes like herbed asparagus and potato salad.

Angelica is an ornamental biennial herb grown for its decorative fine flowers. The flowers are a lovely addition to the back of a shade garden, where the flowers can grow on stalks up to 6 feet high! Angelica is most commonly grown as an ornamental due to its ability to produce masses of decorative flowers in shady conditions. Historically, this plant was used as a medicinal herb and as a spiritual plant. Nasturtium is a pretty annual grown for its edible green leaves and flowers.

When grown in the sun, it will certainly flower more, but it is completely possible to grow nasturtium in partial shade. Nasturtium leaves and flowers are lovely in fresh salads.

A few nasturtium leaves are also lovely on a sandwich or on top of a freshly-baked pizza. Shiso is a self-seeding annual herb grown for its lovely purple leaves. Shiso is a true shade herb, growing perfectly well in full shade. Shiso has a kind of cinnamon scent, and is used in Japanese cuisine for flavouring fish and bean curd. It is also widely used in pickled ginger served alongside sushi red shiso gives the ginger the lovely bright pink colour!

Ginger is a tropical perennial culinary herb grown for its spicy rhizomes. Ginger is an understory plant which grows well in light shade. Dill reaches 2 to 3 feet at maturity in the full sun. Harvest the foliage at any time throughout the growing season. The edible flower heads are a fun addition to fresh salads. Plus, the blooms support many different species of beneficial insects and pollinators.

This herb fits into one of two categories: flat-leaved Italian parsley and curled parsley. Both types have a fresh, unmistakable flavor. A true biennial, parsley produces only foliage its first growing season. Most common parsley varieties survive the winter in all but the coldest climates. Flowering occurs the second year, after which the plant sets seed and dies. The flavor of the foliage is altered once the flowering process begins.

Parsley can be planted from nursery-grown transplants or by starting seeds indoors under lights about 8 to 10 weeks before the last expected spring frost. Bay laurel Laurus nobilis is a large evergreen shrub or tree with fragrant, dark green, glossy leaves. With limited sunlight and in containers it will stay shorter. The plants thrive in containers as they are fairly drought-tolerant and require little maintenance. During the winter months, bring the pot indoors to protect it from freezing temperatures.

Bay leaves are very flavorful, and they are most often dried before use. To grow your own homegrown bay, start with a plant from a local nursery in the spring. Plant your bay laurel in a glazed ceramic pot or terra cotta container with a drainage hole in the bottom. Use a high-quality potting soil. Water it regularly throughout the summer, but do not overwater. Enjoy your bay throughout the summer but move it indoors as soon as the nighttime temperatures drop into the 50s. There are dozens of different mints Mentha spp.

Mint is one of those herbs that grow in shade or sun. Old-fashioned peppermint Mentha x piperita is a personal favorite. Mint plants are very aggressive. They spread via underground stems and can quickly grow out of bounds, even in the shade. Mint is easiest to start from a nursery-grown plant. An alternative is to get a division or root piece from a friend who grows it.

These divisions are easy to transplant, as long as you keep them well watered for the first few months after planting. Tarragon Artemisia dracunculus is a great addition to shade gardens. The mild licorice-like flavor is essential for flavoring poultry and fish. This is a great perennial herb for the shade. It returns to the garden year after year, bigger and better. Tarragon is a beautiful plant, albeit a little floppy, especially in the shade. Regular harvests help keep the plant more compact.

Snip off stems using a sharp pair of shears. The plant will bounce back quickly by producing new branches. Fresh tarragon is best, but dried is another option, though the flavor will be less intense.

Start your tarragon crop from nursery-grown transplants. You can also start new tarragon plants from stem cuttings if you have a friend that grows this herb. As you can see, these 10 herbs that grow in shade offer an excellent opportunity to expand your culinary horizons. Each has its own distinct flavor and appearance, and has so much to offer both your garden and your kitchen.

Do you grow herbs in the shade? Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content Skip to primary sidebar. Shade vs sun The shade-tolerant herbs I discuss in this article produce their tasty leaves even with limited sunlight.

You may be surprised at the number and diversity of herbs that grow in shade. The keys to growing herbs in shade Aside from maximizing your sunlight as much as possible by placing your herbs in the sunniest spot you have, there are a few other things you can do to encourage success growing herbs in shade.

The long seeds of chervil easily grow into ferny green foliage. You can dry your own parsley and use it in a number of recipes to add flavor. It can also be used to make pesto. The bay laurel plant can grow in full sun or in partial shade. Just like parsley, bay will not grow as tall in the shade as it will in the sun, but it will still produce plenty of leaves for harvesting.

Tip for growing Bay: Move bay indoors when the outdoor evening temperature drops below 50 degrees F. How to use Bay: Dry bay leaves and use them in various dishes. Be sure to remove the leaf before serving your dish because they are very tough after being dried.

While mint grows well in full sun, most varieties grow just fine in partial shade as well. There are a lot of mints in the mint family—find that kind that you enjoy the most! Peppermint and spearmint are the most popular. How to use Mint: Use mint to flavor teas and cocktails. Tip for growing Tarragon: Harvest Tarragon grown in the shade regularly so it stays compact instead of leggy.

How to use Tarragon: Use Tarragon to flavor fish and poultry dishes. It can also be used to infuse oils. You can dry tarragon before using it, but it retains the most flavor when used fresh. Medicinal Actions: carminative, antibiotic, anthelmintic, astringent, expectorant, antimicrobial, anti inflammatory, and antitussive. How to use Thyme: Use thyme fresh or dried with beans, tomatoes, and meat dishes. Thyme also has multiple medicinal uses. It can relieve respiratory conditions, parasite loads, fungal infections, and the list goes on!

Garlic chives are similar to the chives mentioned earlier in this list, but they taste like garlic whereas regular chives have an onion flavor. Garlic chives grow the best in partial shade. Tip for growing Garlic Chives: Cut garlic chives often to encourage the production of new leaves. Use them as a garnish for various dishes or use them chopped up in soups and salads. Now that you know a little more about these herbs that grow in the shade, you can get started on your own shade garden!

You are ready to plant, water, harvest, and preserve your own herbs! Take some time to familiarize yourself with these herbs and all of their incredible benefits. Thank you so much! I found you on YouTube and came to your website. Your email address will not be published. Chickens Homemaking Herbs Recipes Devotionals. About Contact Privacy Policy Shop. Home Membership Shop Cart Looking for something? Using Herbs as Tomato Companion Plants.

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