Don’t have a sun-soaked garden? No problem. While most herbs love the sun, there are several surprising varieties that actually do well in partial shade—or even mostly shady spots.
If you’ve got a balcony, porch, or garden corner that gets limited light, these 11 herbs might just be your new green best friends.
Lemon Balm
This citrus-scented herb is a shade-lover that brings both flavor and calm. It thrives in dappled light and is great for teas, tinctures, or just brushing against for a fresh scent. Bonus: It’s known to repel mosquitoes!
Sweet Woodruff
Typically grown as a ground cover in shaded areas, sweet woodruff has delicate white blooms and a sweet hay-like aroma. It’s often used in German desserts and herbal syrups. A truly underrated herb that loves the shade.
Parsley
While it enjoys some sun, parsley actually prefers cooler temperatures and can grow well in partial shade. Its deep green leaves become more tender in lower light. Both curly and flat-leaf varieties will thrive with just a few hours of sun.
Chervil
Chervil has a mild anise flavor and grows best in cooler, shaded areas. It bolts quickly in full sun, so shade actually helps extend its growing season. It’s perfect for French-inspired cooking.
Mint
Mint is a vigorous grower that doesn’t mind the shade—just make sure it’s contained! It grows happily in low light and spreads fast, making it ideal for shady corners or pots on a covered patio.
Cilantro
Cilantro prefers cooler weather and benefits from partial shade, especially in warmer climates. The shade slows down bolting and keeps the leaves flavorful for longer. Great for salsa lovers without a sunny garden!
Sorrel
Sorrel brings a lemony zing to dishes and grows well in part-shade environments. It’s a hardy perennial that doesn’t mind a break from full sun. Harvest young leaves for the best flavor.
Lovage
With a flavor similar to celery, lovage is a bold herb that can grow quite large—even in the shade. Its robust leaves are perfect for soups and stews. It prefers cooler, shadier spots once established.
Wild Garlic (Ramsons)
This foraged favorite is shade-loving by nature and thrives in woodland-like conditions. Both the leaves and flowers are edible and packed with garlicky goodness. It’s a great native plant for shadier gardens.
Feverfew
Traditionally used as a medicinal herb, feverfew grows well in partial shade and adds a pop of daisy-like flowers to your garden. It’s often used for natural headache remedies and insect repellent.
Angelica
This tall, aromatic herb prefers cooler, shaded spots and moist soil. Often used in liqueurs and desserts, angelica has edible stalks and seeds. It’s an elegant addition to a shady herb garden.
Don’t let a lack of sunlight stop you from growing fresh herbs. With these shade-tolerant varieties, you can enjoy homegrown flavor even in the dimmest corners of your garden or patio. Go ahead—plant confidently in the shade.
Comments
No Comments