greenhouse

9 Cooking Herbs That Grow in Shade

Many herbs that are used for cooking purposes can be grown in shady areas. This is ideal for those who do not have a lot of sun in their yard or garden. There are a few things to keep in mind when growing herbs in shade, though. Make sure the area is well-ventilated and has plenty of drainages.

Also, choose herbs that are known to do well in shady areas. Some good options include chives, mint, and parsley. With a little care, you can have a thriving herb garden in a shady spot.

Fresh herbs in the kitchen are just fantastic. Making homemade pizza? Tear up some basil and sprinkle it over top. Do you want an afternoon mojito? To end, gather a few mint leaves. Do you require herbs for your handmade butter?

Chop a few and combine them with the cream. It’s wonderful to have herbs on hand! However, there are occasions when you are short on space and wonder where your herbs can go. What if all of the sunny areas are already taken? The good news is that there are various herb kinds that thrive in shade. Actually, there are a few that thrive in the shadow. Here, we list eight kitchen herbs that grow in the shadow and, more significantly, advise you on what NOT to plant with them!

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)

I adore Mexican cooking, so cilantro had to be at the top of my list. However, this proposal requires some clarification. Cilantro is a sun-loving herb, and in colder locations, it will thrive in the sun rather than the shade. However, cilantro grows swiftly and can bolt if exposed to too much sunlight. (If you’re unfamiliar with the term, ‘bolting’ happens when plants grow too rapidly and then attempt to set seeds. They do this to guarantee their own existence. When this happens, they cease blooming and lose flavor, which we want to prevent.)

Because of the risk of bolting, pull your cilantro into the shade if you live in a very sunny and hot region. Some growers advise using partial shade. Others will start seeds in the shade and let the plants to develop there. Remember that cilantro dislikes being transferred, thus they must be able to flourish where their seeds are placed.

Mint (Mentha ssp.)

Mint is another good plant that grows well in the shade. The robust mint plant tolerates a wide range of light and soil conditions. However, they prefer wet areas away from direct sunshine. Most mint kinds do best in a light shade (is that an oxymoron? ), which means they can get some sunshine but not direct sunlight. You should pay extra attention to mint kinds that require direct sunlight protection, since even partial shade may provide too much sun for them depending on other factors. Trim the mint frequently since the plants grow fast and are creepers, which means they might overpower other plants if left to their own devices.

Shallots (Allium schoenoprasum)

The tasty chive is next on the list. Chives are a welcome addition to most farmhouse kitchens since they are so easy to harvest and cook and have so many varied applications. Chives, like mint, tend to grow in mild shade in most regions. If you reside in a very bright and hot location, your chives may become overcrowded and struggle. On the other hand, if you place chives in a too dark and damp location, they will not grow. For most chive kinds, somewhere in the center is approximately right, but verify the specific variety you have in case there are outliers. Chives are self-seeders, so they’re perfect for shaded gardens since they fill in the gaps and mostly take care of themselves.

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)

Picking a few lemon balm leaves is an excellent method to add natural lemon flavor to cakes and to add zest to salads. Lemon balm leaves can also be added to hot water and steeped to make a delicious tea. Whatever you decide to do with them, starting them in the shade is a smart idea. They are not picky about where they reside as long as the soil quality is acceptable, although they, like chives, might become overwhelmed if it is too sunny. If you live in a colder region, you may need to expose your lemon balm to sunlight for part of the day. A beautiful shaded space can suffice in hotter regions.

Beeswax (Monarda didyma)

Yet another balm! Bee balm has two vital functions. First and foremost, it is a delectable herb in its own right. Second, it attracts pollinating bees, who are essential to the development of our plants. Bee balm flowers may be used in salads (they have an intriguing somewhat spicy flavor!) and the leaves provide an earthy almost-Italian flavor to supper meals. While bee balm is OK out of the sun, don’t place it anywhere that gets too wet. Because these plants are prone to powdery mildew, they require drier environments.

Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)

Tarragon, while it sounds like a Lord of the Rings character to me, is not. Tarragon (also known as French Tarragon) is a brilliant green plant with an anise/aniseedy flavor. If you’re roasting veggies from the garden, pluck some tarragon while you’re at it and toss it in for a rich and unique flavor. Tarragon will withstand some sun, and if you live in a colder area, consider leaving it in the sun for a few hours each day.

Shives (Petroselinum crispum)

Another cooking essential that can be used in anything from salads to stuffing is flat-leaf parsley. Only in warmer areas will a parsley plant grow in the shade. If you live in a colder region, the plant will require more sunshine to grow since the cold and moisture are too much for it. Snip off the outside stalks first, then peel the leaves for use in cooking as the plant matures.

Sourdough (Rumex ssp.)

Sorrel has a more acidic flavor than some of the other herbs that grow in the shadow described here, but it is still an excellent accent to a variety of dishes in the farmhouse kitchen. You may toss the leaves into salads or wilt them in a skillet and use them like spinach. Sorrel grows well in the shadow as long as the soil is not wet, since it requires loose soil to develop and achieve its biggest, most delectable potential.

Which Herbs Shouldn’t Be Planted Next to Each Other in the Shade?

There are certain herbs that do not mix well with other herbs or vegetables and vice versa. Dill is well-known in this sense, but there are others. As a result, it’s always a good idea to double-check your precise combination before planting. Here are several plants to which you should pay special attention:

Dill – this fragrant little gem can be extremely devious, especially when combined with carrots or tomatoes. Dill can inhibit carrot growth and harm tomatoes, so keep this in mind if you have some shaded patches in that area of your garden.

Fennel – this one must always be planted on its alone. Plants not only do not grow as well in close proximity to fennel but the flavor of the plants might also be altered by the fennel. It’s best to keep this one out of the way of others because it doesn’t play well.

Even though mint is on this list of herbs to thrive in the shadow, it’s worth considering growing it on its own, especially if it’s outside and has the freedom to move. Mint grows swiftly and spreads rapidly, stealing nutrients and water from other plants as it does so.

Other Common Kitchen Herbs Grown in the Shade

The herbs indicated above either require or may survive in shade. Of course, not all herbs are like that, so I wanted to focus on a few more typical culinary herbs and their proclivity to grow in shade.

Does rosemary grow in the shade?

Unfortunately, rosemary dislikes the shadow, so if you were expecting to plant some in a gloomy part of the yard, you’ll have to reconsider. Rosemary plants enjoy sunny, hot, dry locations that are also wind-free. 2. Can basil thrive in shade?

Basil like hot, sunny, and airy environments. However, if you’re desperate for some and that’s the only location you have available, it can thrive in partial shade. If you maintain basil in the shade, be careful not to overwater it.

Does thyme grow in the shade?

Yes, you can grow thyme in the shadow! However, avoid planting in damp locations because thyme loves to thrive in dry environments (it is also quite drought resistant once established, which may be useful in some climes!)

Have You Ever Tried Growing Herbs in the Shade?

There you have it, the solution to the question, “Do any herbs grow well in shade?” They do, and once they are thriving, there are several things you can produce with them (including money!) What has been your experience with herbs that thrive in the shade? Do you have any tips for beginning shade gardeners?

Scroll to Top