Hill Gardens of Maine - Herbs That Will Grow In The Shade

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Lots of Herbs Grow In The Shade!
by Fred Davis, MG, Hill Gardens of Maine (To view other previous articles, click Archives)

Welcome through Fred's Garden Gate! Here’s a frequently asked question: "I want to grow some herbs but I have a lot of shade. . .which ones should I choose?" Herbs – both culinary and medicinal – are among the easiest to grow and, in many instances, the most forgiving when it comes to lighting conditions. Some, of course, would prefer considerable shade but will tolerate sun. Others – better suited to full sun – can deal with partial shade but at the possible sacrifice of plant strength, aroma and concentrations of essential herbal oils.

It’s always wise to remember that as one preferred growing condition is adjusted, it may be necessary to adjust others as a sort of counter-balance. Plants bred specifically for shade can, and often do, tolerate very bright, sunny conditions if other factors like moisture, soil depth and nutrition are properly attended to. Remember also that "half-shade" assumes dappled – roughly 50% shade throughout the day. . .not a half day of shade in the morning followed by roaring, blistering hot sun in the afternoon. . .or vice versa. It wouldn’t hurt to recall that "shade" implies trees. Most trees have aggressive root systems that will – more sooner than later – move into your shady herb garden. You’ll need to watch moisture and nutrition closely, and may find it necessary to "root-prune" the trees to give your herbs a fair shake.

Following is a list of herbs that will do quite nicely in dappled, more-or-less continuous half-shade:

Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
Angelica (biennial – Angelica archangelica – previously officinalis)
Beebalm ("Bergamot" – Monarda didyma)
Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
Boneset (Eupatorium purpureum)
Borage (Borago officinalis)
Burdock (Arctium lappa)
Chervil (Anthrisus cerefolium)
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara – Caution: can be very invasive!)
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale – Caution: can be very invasive!)
Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea; E. pallida)
Elecampane (Inula helenium)
European or Canadian Wild Ginger (Asarum europeum or canadensis)
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)
Ginseng (Panax quinqefolius)
Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)
Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)
Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla xanthochlora or vulgaris)
Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis)
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)
Mints (Mentha spp.) – Great caution should be exercised with mints. They can – and will – be very invasive in good soil.
Nettles (Urtica dioica)
Pennyroyal (Mentha pelugium)
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Skullcap (Scutellaria laterifolia)
Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana)
Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
Thyme (Thymus spp.)
Trillium ("Stinking Benjamin" – Trillium erectum)
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
Wormwood Artemisia absinthium)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

There are others that will grow in partial shade, of course, but those listed above are most of the more popular species and varieties. I’d recommend – urge – you find a good (emphasize "GOOD") book on herbs before any form of self-treatment. Many on this list can be dangerous if consumed or used in other than "suggested" concentrations, and personal allergies or intolerance can be a significant factor limiting their use and effectiveness. Remember that herbology is an imprecise and essentially unregulated "science" and, in uninformed hands, can be dangerous – if not life-threatening.

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