Herbs for Shady Areas

Most herbs originate from the sunny Mediterranean region and thus require growing conditions that receive six to eight hours of direct sunlight every day. But if you have a shady garden, you still have options. A few herbs can grow in shade-covered conditions, adding texture, color and exotic aromas to the landscape.

Herbs and other plants are classified by the type of sunlight conditions they need. Familiarize yourself with these general sun and shade categories so that you can better understand the needs of your herbs:

Full sun: A minimum of six hours of direct sunlight daily

Partial sun: Four to six hours of direct sunlight

Partial shade: Two to four hours of direct sunlight

Full shade: Less than two hours of direct sunlight

The hours of direct sunlight don't need to be continuous. For example, the corner of your yard that gets two hours of morning sunlight and two hours of late afternoon sunlight still counts as "partial sun."

These shade-friendly herbs may not be as well known as their sun-loving cousins, but once you experiment with them, you may wonder why you haven't dabbled in shade gardening sooner:

Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) is a perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8.  It thrives in partial shade to full shade. Used primarily as a ground cover, it forms a dense mat with lance-shaped fragrant foliage and white blossoms.

Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) is also hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8. It grows best in partial shade to full sun and reaches a height of up to 4 feet. It's prized for its purple flower clusters that attract butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators. True to its name, this herb smells like anise.

Wild ginger (Asarum canadense) prefers USDA zones 4 through 6. It does well in partial shade to full shade, where it's typically used as a ground cover. The plant produces textured, dark-green, heart-shaped leaves covered in fine hairs. Its roots smell similar to culinary ginger.

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is a culinary annual that grows in partial shade to full sun. Triangle-shaped, delicate leaves are used as a garnish in various dishes. It reaches a height of up to 1 foot. In areas that don't have freezing temperatures, this plant can sometimes survive as a biennial.

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 7. Citrus-smelling leaves are topped by white or yellow flower spikes. It does well in partial shade to full sun and can reach a height of up to 2 feet.

Although lemon balm readily reseeds itself and can become invasive in certain pockets of the country, it is rarely so aggressive that it becomes a problem.

While each specific plant may have unique growing requirements, several general cultural tips can ensure success when raising herbs in a shady garden bed.

Most herbs that do well in shade are used to growing in woodlands and therefore thrive best in soil that's exceptionally rich in organic matter. Mimic a sunlight-dappled forest's soil structure by mixing 3 to 4 inches of organic matter, such as peat moss or compost, into the top 8 to 10 inches of soil before planting the herbs.

Sun-loving herbs prefer it when their soil dries out between watering. In contrast, shade-loving herbs prefer soil that's consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water the herbs daily. At times, you may need to water herbs more than once a day. Monitor the top inch of soil and irrigate as soon as the surface soil dries out.

Shady growing conditions are typically caused by overhanging trees and shrubs. Not only do these larger plants block rainwater from reaching the herbs growing in their shade, but the trees' and shrubs' roots may also compete for soil moisture. Increase watering frequency if you notice these signs of drought stress in your shaded herbs:

Leaf wilting

Leaf curling

Flopping, weak stems

Mulch doesn't just help to keep weeds from invading your shaded herb beds. It also protects soil moisture and enriches the underlying soil with organic matter, making mulch especially beneficial for shade-grown herb plants. Spread 2 inches of mulch around the plants. Cover all bare soil, but avoid allowing the mulch to press up against the herb plant's base. This can cause rotting.

Examples of mulch include these materials:

Shredded leaves

Compost

Shredded pine bark

Wood chips

Weed-free straw or hay

Herbs do not require regular fertilization. Soil that's overly rich in nutrients can cause herbs to lose their trademark aromas. However, if you notice slow growth, pale foliage and other signs of nutritional deficiencies, you may wish to consider periodic fertilization. Fertilize an herb garden just as you would a traditional vegetable garden. For an established herb bed, use 1 pound of 10-10-10 fertilizer for every 100 square feet of garden space. Apply the fertilizer approximately a month after planting or after new growth begins to appear on perennial herbs.