What Herbs Grow Best In Partial Shade

There are a lot of different questions you might have if you’re wanting to know “what herbs grow best in partial shade.” If you are like me, you might wonder, “Do herbs really grow well in the shade?” The reality is that most herbs will do just as well in the shade as they will in full sun.

The difference is that some herbs need a little more sunshine or rain than others, depending on the type of plant and the climate where they live. Knowing these things ahead of time will save you a lot of trouble when you start gardening and choosing your plants. Below you will find a list that I compiled of plants that do well in partial shade.

Angelica

Image by Mabel Amber from Pixabay

Growing Angelica on your own, though not as easy as some would have you believe, can be made easier with the right amount of care. The first step to take when deciding on growing Angelica in your garden is to determine which plant is best suited for your climate. Angelica thrives best in a relatively cool and moist climate. Because of this they are perfect for containers and can be grown in virtually any type of pot, from terracotta pots to plastic containers. If you are growing them indoors, make sure that the area receives a lot of sunlight during the day and that the soil is well drained.

Once you have decided on the Angelica species you will be growing, it is time to get started. Although they grow quite tall, it is important to prune them often so that their roots don’t become overly crowded. If the roots are crowded they will not grow properly. Another way to ensure that it develop properly is to ensure that they receive all the moisture and nutrients they need each and every day. Watering and fertilizing are a vital part of their overall growth process, and are especially important during the growing season.

Bee Balm

Bee Balm
Image by Theo Dawson from Pixabay

Bee balm, also known as wax balm, is an herb that grows wild throughout Europe and Asia, but is now becoming a popular crop for organic gardeners in the United States. It’s a perennial, which has a fleshy taproot and a rhizome (the bulbous end of the plant) that is covered in a honey-colored substance. Growing bee balm can be great fun if you know what types of conditions to look for and how to best prepare the soil for it. The bees prefer a healthy root system, so it is important to make sure that your soil is rich in nutrients and is not too acidic or high in nitrogen.

You should not plant it in places where it would compete with other native plants as it will likely take over. To encourage pollinators, make sure there is plenty of sunlight and air in the area where you are planting it. You want to attract both butterflies and bees. Native flowers and herbs will also provide essential habitat for the bees and butterflies. You can grow bee balm in any location, whether it’s in the backyard, near a tree, or in a container. This easy annual will provide healthy blooms for your garden all year long.

Catnip

Catnip
Image by R. E. Beck from Pixabay

Why should you be growing catnip plants? Catnip grows very well in fields, gardens, and on your deck or patio. The best time to plant it is late spring or early summer. If you are not sure of how the plant will do, you can purchase it pre-grown at a nursery and just start growing your own herbs. It will do well and soon have established itself as one of your favorite outdoor plants. If you are planting a garden in a sunny area, consider using a hanging pot, a type which has holes at the bottom.

These pots enable better drainage, and they are more useful in drought-prone areas. Another benefit of a hanging pot is that it can serve as a gardening and catnip container that you can move about easier as well. Many people believe that catnip has some beneficial properties for humans, although there is no scientific evidence to prove this. It has been noted though, that cats do enjoy the scent and prefer chase and nibble on it. So if you want to grow catnip for the benefit of your cats, you should place it near a window where they get to see it and smell it.

Chervil

chervil
Image by Beverly Buckley from Pixabay

Growing chervil in a sunny and well drained site that receives regular watering is ideal. They like a lot of sun but do need to have a little shade if there is a lot of overhanging tree limbs or heavy shade from the roof. It is quite hard to over-water this small perennial, preferring the slightly moist soil with a light sand color. If the soil dries out too much it may contract, losing some of its fine, fragrant leaves. They will regain their vigor through pruning frequently.

It is a good idea to prune the plant regularly, taking away some dead and broken leaves as well as any damaged roots. Chervil does best in containers, but it will tolerate some clay soil. In a large container it will attract bees and other beneficial insects, creating a beautiful display as the plants develop. The beautiful blooms, several shades of pink, are a delight for eating and for planting. They are low maintenance and reward you with a fresh, delicious flavor whenever you want them.

Feverfew

feverfew
Image by DieFia from Pixabay

Growing Feverfew is not that difficult if you know what to do. It is a perennial plant, climbing up to six feet tall, with dark green leaves. The flowers are purple and the foliage keeps it looking pretty. It grows well in many types of soil, including sand and rocky soils. It needs partial shade to keep it from burning during hot days. Because it is a shade loving plant, it is a good choice for potting in raised beds. If you are growing this plant in your home, you will want to provide it with some extra light.

Growing Feverfew in a window box or on a trellis is a fun way to enjoy the blooms, along with the scent of the plant. You can easily grow growing feverfew in a variety of conditions. If you live in an area where perennials grow very well, you may find that you have trouble with this plant in the winter. Just remember that it does come back again the next year. If you want a plant that stays green year around, this one is for you. it small. Try growing feverfew and enjoy the beauty it offers.

Hyssop

Hyssop
Image by Marina Pershina from Pixabay

Hyssop requires a cold climate with a moderate amount of rainfall. It likes a soil that is slightly acidic in nature but not acidic enough to completely destroy the foliage. It needs a variety of conditions in order to thrive: lots of sunlight, good drainage, well drained soil, and a well-drained soil with plenty of nutrients. Hyssop needs nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. As far as potting mediums go, a trellis pot will be fine.

If you are growing Hyssop, you’ll need a root rake or wire trellis, a deep dish for planting, and, for the base, a shallow dish. Your hyssop will need constant pruning. Hyssop doesn’t like to be crowded, so you should avoid putting your plants too close together. Remember, however, that if you want your Hyssop trees to have a container garden, you will need to provide separate pots for each plant. 

Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm
Image by planet_fox from Pixabay

 If you live in a warm climate and have access to a large backyard area, growing lemon balm would be a great hobby for you. There are several considerations you need to keep in mind when deciding whether to grow it or not. You will also want to keep in mind that there is a specific temperature requirement for each variety. Most varieties can handle most seasons, but you will want to double-check with an expert before planting. Another consideration is the amount of time it takes to harvest the balm after it blooms.

Different varieties may take up to four weeks to harvest, so make sure that you can commit to this time before you plant. When growing lemon balm, it is important to remember that it does require a fair amount of care. It is a tropical plant and requires a lot of sun and water. You should prepare your soil in advance by mixing in a lot of organic mulch and sand to help retain moisture. You will also want to fertilize and condition your plants regularly, especially in the beginning. Finally, you will want to harvest your balm regularly to keep it fresh and flavorful.

Lovage

Lovage
Image by ivabalk from Pixabay

Growing lovage is not as hard as it seems. Lovage should be planted next to tall-growing bushes and potted with soil and compost if they do not flower at the right time. Lovage does not like full sunlight, so it will not do well in areas where the sun is shining hard. A good location for these plants would be along a sloping driveway, near a sidewalk where the sun will shine all day or near a window that gets lots of indirect light from a large south-facing window.

It also helps if the plants are potted in a sunny area of a garden or raised bed rather than in the shade of trees as Lovage prefers shady places. Fertilizing is also very important because it helps the plant to become strong and healthy. Make sure that the location receives regular watering as it will need it, and use an organic soil, that is well drained.

Mint

Mint
Image by 41330 from Pixabay

Growing mint is not hard, since it almost grows itself. Mint grows very quickly, covering ground within hours after it is planted. This habit to roam around has earned this little herb a bad reputation as a nuisance garden pest, but really there are only a few things that you can do to maintain mint in check. With any kind of plant, you must be certain that it receives adequate nutrients and water. Mint will grow if you only supply it with sufficient water, and it would be a good idea to provide it with additional fertilizer at the first sign of leaves.

The same basic principle applies to mint that applies to any type of plant, so keep those nutrients flowing! Another key to growing mint is to make sure that it gets full sun on the best days. Mint tends to prefer full sun, and doing anything to block it from full sun will interfere with its growth and development. When it is growing well, you should also give it the occasional pruning to help keep it small and neat. Mint will spread quickly when conditions are right, so you may want to train it by removing some of its unwanted growth. 

Sweet Cicely

sweet cicely
Photo by PIXNIO

Growing Sweet Cicely starts with understanding how the cicely flowers grow. They typically bloom in the spring but have also been known to bloom in other seasons. The flowers are usually white, although depending on where they grow it may be more yellow. When you prune them they will go into a dormant state for a couple of months. They will then bloom again in the spring. You should carefully clip off the dead flowers as they will pollinate the ground and take over the soil as the grass begins to die back.

They are easy to grow and yield very quickly if you are able to get the timing right. Although they are not hardy in the colder climates they will do fine in a range of different conditions. They are an evergreen perennial plant and should do well in most climates. It is a good idea to plant them away from other hardy plants as they can cause trouble to neighboring plants when they get too close to them.

Sweet Violet

Image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay

Growing Sweet Violets as a hobby is one way to brighten up your home. Violets are small, elegant, and bloom beautifully in almost all colors of the rainbow, making them a wonderful plant to have. One thing that you can count on is that the Sweet Violet will grow with you. They love sunny weather, but you should not plant them near fences or anything that might cause the roots to go out of the ground. If you want to plant this plant in your front yard, there are a few things you need to keep in mind before you start.

If you are going to grow more than one Sweet Violet, the best place for them is at the base of a tree, or somewhere that you can dig a hole that is slightly bigger than the roots of the plant. If you have never grown anything that is self-supporting like the Sweet Violet before, it may seem a little overwhelming, but with the right amount of care you can have a beautiful garden full of blossoms in no time. As with any other plant, you need to water it regularly, and fertilize it occasionally to help keep it healthy. 

Sweet Woodruff

Sweet Woodruff
Image by May_hokkaido from Pixabay

Sweet Woodruff Herbs is such a beautiful addition to your home. They have been around for a few decades now and have become very popular with gardeners. The sweet woodruff herb plant is most often used as an ornamental grass or landscape feature, though it can also be planted to keep the ground moist and smelling wonderful. This is a gorgeous little plant that will grow pretty fast and is very easy to take care of.

In fact, it’s so easy that I even grow them indoors now in my tiny apartment! If you are looking for a very tough, compact cactus with big leaves that won’t die easily in the rain, then growing Sweet Woodruff Herb Plant is definitely the way to go. The best part is that it doesn’t require a lot of upkeep and is a very forgiving plant when it does get ruined.

Wintergreen

 Wintergreen is an evergreen perennial, which grows best in fields or around trees during cold winters. The main issues with this plant are that it needs full sunlight during the cold months of the year and can get destroyed by low temperatures. The Wintergreen has a pretty large root system and can grow quite fast if well cared for, but it can be quite an expensive plant to have since it takes over four years to mature.Growing Wintergreen indoors is not difficult if you know what to do. You can try a hydroponic growing system.

If you are just growing a little Wintergreen during the winter months, you may be able to use a standard hydroponic system. This can be more cost-effective, and you can see results in less time. Wintergreen grows very well in nutrient-rich soil that has good drainage. So you need to choose a spot that is going to receive full sun throughout the day and not shaded at all during the night. Also try to avoid any type of overhanging plantings which will only provide shade for the roots and will result in stunted or dead plants.

Author

  • Vince S

    Hello, I'm Vince, and I bring over 25 years of dedicated experience in the world of herb gardening. From cultivating fragrant basil to nurturing hardy rosemary, my journey as a passionate herb enthusiast has allowed me to explore the wonders of these versatile plants. Through diyherbgardener.com, I'm thrilled to share my knowledge, tips, and insights to help you embark on your own herb gardening adventures. Let's grow together!