Over the past year I have been collecting edible plants that will thrive with less than shade and partial shade. That is, they will flourish with four hours or less of direct sun, and sometimes with only filtered sun. Here is an updated list with all the previous lists combined, and also some new plants.
Photo by catbiscuit
Have you been able to grow any of these plants in the shade?
- Aloe
- Beans
- Beebalm
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Brussels Sprouts
- Catnip
- Cauliflower
- Chamomile
- Comfrey
- Coriander (Cilantro)
- Currants
- Echinacea
- Garlic
- Honeyberry
- Hyssop
- Leafy Greens, such as collards, mustard greens, spinach, and kale
- Kiwi
- Lemon Balm
- Mint
- Nasturtium
- Parsley
- Peas
- Radishes
- Salad Greens, such as leaf lettuce, arugula, endive, cress, and radicchio
- Swiss Chard
- Thyme
UPDATE: Here is a list of shade tolerant edibles from Oregon Live.
If you know of any other shade tolerant edibles, please share them in the comments.
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{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
I believe Heucheras could be considered “edibles”; they add a bitter tang to salads. They would look lovely in an edible shady container garden.
My aloe is in bright shade — n. side of my house, under the eaves, in between a rose bush and a huge outdoor orchid, with a magnolia tree over it, (location is bright in late afternoon, but the aloe isn’t actually in the sun) and it is thriving.
Mint is on a bright window sill in my kitchen, under a 4 foot overhang (bright shade) and so far it is growing well also.
Oh, basil is right next to the mint on my kitchen window sill. Last year basil, was in the bright shade on the n. side of my house – but it did get some direct western sun in the late late afternoon (maybe 1-2 hours at the most). Basil grew well in both locations.
sdat–I haven’t had good luck growing basil in the shade, although I have noticed that purple basils seems to do better with less sun. Do you know what variety you have that is doing well in the bright shade?
Bob–I didn’t realize that Heucheras were edible!
It was just a regular green basil plant – last year, bought it at Trader Joes, this year, it is a cutting from the plant I bought it from Lowes (the parent plant is on my full sun balcony, the two cuttings are new plants to replace the balcony plant when it dies). Neither of them had tags as far as varieties on them.
I have done well in bright shade with winter savory, parsley, chives, spinach, chard and aloe. Matter of fact, I think aloe looks it’s best in bright shade and the leaves seem a bit juicier
Kat–I can’t believe I forgot the ones you mentioned. They’re all excellent part shade/bright shade plants!
Dude, I grew ONE “Sugar Baby” pumpkin AND ornamental blue corn. Not all the kernels developed but it was more for “funsies.”
Cauliflower “Purple of Sicily” from Baker Creek Heirloom seeds did really well!
Thanks for the list – some I hadn’t thought of! I didn’t know huecheras were edible either – that kind of color would look awesome in a salad! I’ve had good luck growing Arugula in a part-shade spot. It actually overwintered well in zone 6 and came back in the spring. Edamame also did okay last year.
Hello
Please, please help me!
This is my first time to your blog. I’m feeling really overwhelmed!
Ever since seeing my first greenhouse when i was a little girl, i’ve wanted to grow my own herbs and veg. But i’ve never lived in a place with a garden. Recently i heard somewhere that you can grown them even on a balcony! Well after most of the afternoon researching, im completely stuck. I live in Florida and i have a balcony that gets the morning sun up until 1pm. To start off I would love to grow Lavender, oregano, mint and at a push garlic and tomatoes! I’m not sure where to start or what to get, could you PLEASE help me?
thank yoooou!
My advice is to just dive in. You will learn what will and won’t work in your space. I started a balcony garden about a year ago. I’ve had plenty of frustrations and times when I wanted to throw my hands up until I had a “real” garden (a couple of weeks ago). Herbs are my favorite to grow because they stick around for a long time and save me money (I cook with lots o fresh herbs). I started by just buying seeds or plants of whatever I wanted and ignored the light requirements. I’ve been burned by this a few times. But I have actually been surprised at what has survived. I grew carrots last fall that shouldn’t have produced. Granted they were smaller than they should be, but still equally delicious. Then I have had other plants, like cucumbers, that should be able to grow in my conditions, but refuse to grow more than 6 inches.
I would find your closest local gardening center and talk to an expert there. They should be able to help you with everything. Good luck!!!
Hello! I’ve had success growing rosemary, oregano, plain basil and gaillardia (not edible but nice addition to an herb garden!:D) in a site where they received 3 hours or less of morning sunlight and only from early March to late August. All of them bloomed very well until November, with fewer flowers than in full sun but lasting longer. Sage didn’t bloom but has grown very well.
Yay! I’m so excited to try some balcony gardening this spring and summer. My balcony faces North and gets no direct sun, but I’m willing to give some of these yummy edibles a go. Im already hungry, thanks so much for posting this.
Hi Julie,
Did you get anywhere with growing stuff last year? I also have a north facing balcony (plus zero gardening knowledge!), and am excited to at least try growing something this year.
I’ll be sharing your post with some gardening friends who have light-challenged yards.
i’m in the same boat as kate, morning sun until about 1:30/2:00-ish. as far as herbs, i’ve started seedlings for dill, thyme, basil, rosemary, spearmint. veggies – i’ve also planted, tomatoes,cucumbers, peppers-thai and jalapenos (nestled into the sunniest part of the balc). today i picked up some lettuce and spinach (for shadier areas).
am i setting myself up for failure? yikes! heeellllppp lol
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Thanks for this! My balcony IS south=facing, but between the fact that it has walls instead of a railing (and one that goes all the way up on one side), trees, and other tall apartment buildings around me, “full sun” pretty much means “on the railing” and not so much “on the floor of the balcony”. I will have to try some of these!
Also, my lettuce has always said “full sun” on the seed packets – I didn’t know you could get away with less light on those! I may do some re-arranging of pots…
I grow Tarragon, Peppers, Celery, Oregano, Beans, Carrots, Parsley, Lettuce, Chives, Basil and more that I can’t think of right now. All these listed only get sun until 12pm at most. Some of these even get shaded out as summer goes on and still grow, just not thrive.
Hi I would like to start a garden on my balcony. I have been doing research and came across this website which seems amazing. I have grown stuff in containers out in the sun before but I have no experiences with plants growing in the shade. The balcony is covered by the roof of the apartment and though it can be really bright out there there is not a ray of sunlight that hits directly. Is it possible with my situation to even grown the plants mentioned in the list? I am off course aware that TLC makes the world of difference
Kav–There’s only one way to find out! How many hours of bright shade do you get?
Since the balcony faces north, it is bright out there as long as the sun is out. I’m in Arizona so that’s most of the day especially now that summer is right around the corner. Thanks so much for the help
I’m in the EXACT same situation that Kav is in except in El Paso TX. I’ve gone from a GA outdoor garden to a tiny patio apartment garden and I’ve really had trouble figuring out what to do!
I’ve been able to grow: mint, kale, nasturtium, peas, radishes, arugula and lettuce & cilantro (limited success because heat waves came early last two years). I’m testing out lemon balm, chard, beets, fava beans, broccoli, mustard, spinach, cress, garlic and shallots this year. I’ve also had success with basil & hot peppers (planted together) in the sunnier spot, roughly 5 hrs of direct sunlight during the longer days of summer when the sun is high. For herbs, sage has also been successful in both low light and sunnier spots, rosemary and oregano not so much.
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