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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{ 14 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!
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.
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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