I've found that a garden with some shade is ultimately more satisfying than one with full blasting sunlight. It offers the chance to create a cool retreat in which to sit and enjoy the garden or dine outdoors on hot summer days. It's helpful for extending the harvest season of crops which might otherwise bolt too quickly in summer heat, and you can enjoy all the beautiful ornamental plants that actually prefer some shade to thrive. I was just reminded of the great multitude of shade-loving plants on a hike through an old-growth section of our local forest. Under a canopy of Douglas firs and Western maples
was growing a dense carpet of huge, tropical looking ferns, lacy-leaved Meadow Rue, splendid white flowering Dogwood, and delicate pink Bleeding Hearts, among many others. As we stood on a bridge over a stream in a canyon, admiring this incredible diversity and beauty,
we thought we were in Paradise!
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Still, many gardeners face the following dilemma: They want to grow vegetables and herbs, but don't have the required 6 hours of direct sunlight per day that most edible plants need. Or, they want to grow some colorful flowers from seed, but aren't sure which will grow in their partially shady location. Depending on the type of shade your garden receives, as well as your climate and the time of year, you may be surprised at the range of choices you actually have.
The first step in selecting plants for your garden is knowing how
much sun it actually receives at different times of year. Draw a map
of your garden and note the position of buildings and trees, and
when they are likely to cast shadows. The area in front of my living
room window, for example, is shady in summer but sunny in winter.
When a large oak loses its foliage-so it's a perfect spot for early
spring-flowering bulbs. I located our vegetable garden in the middle
of a large field behind our house (although I'd have preferred it
closer to the back door) because our house casts long shadows to the
East in late summer and fall. After you've drawn up a plan,
it's helpful to understand some of the different kinds of shade, and
which plants tolerate each.
Types of Shade
Partial or Half Shade: This very variable and confusing term is often defined as about half a day of
direct sun. Gardeners in areas with 5-6 hours of afternoon sun
may be able to grow most vegetables and herbs. However, those with only 3-4 hours of morning sun
will have better success with true shade-lovers, and should choose other types of plants as the main focus of
Dappled Shade, or Light Shade: The sunlight in these areas is filtered through trees with an open habit and small leaves, rather than a dense leaf cover. Sun falls on your garden, but it doesn't hit specific
sections for as long as it would without the trees. Again, the longer and brighter the sun shines in a particular area, the more flexibility you have in your choice of edibles and shade-tolerant
annuals for that spot.
Open Shade: An example of this would be the North side of a building
which gets no direct sun throughout the entire day, but is not otherwise covered by trees or structures. In general, this is too much shade for good production of most vegetables.
Full Shade, or Dense Shade: In this situation the
garden doesn't receive direct sun and is also shaded by trees or
structures, resulting in little ambient
light. The plants in this article are unlikely to thrive in such a
Vegetables and Herbs for Half Shade and Dappled Shade
Of all the vegetables, leafy crops are most tolerant of partial and dappled shade. In hot areas,
it's actually preferable to grow them where they don't receive full
sun all day, since they'll hold longer before they bolt and taste
bitter. A garden grown in a partial or half shaded plot can contain lettuce
of all kinds,
Asian stir-fry greens,
leeks. Herbs include
If you are unsure whether you have enough sunlight for these crops to grow well, start
small and experiment. If you have too much shade, leaves will be
spindly, soft and weak. They'll have a mild, bland flavor and lack
Flowers for Half Shade and Dappled Shade
A partially shaded location is ideal for
nasturtiums, since if they receive too much intense sunlight, their leaves fry and become unsightly. They come in some hot, tropical color mixes such as
" Amazon Jewel",
"Copper Sunset" and
"Whirlybird", as well as some cool pastels like butter-cream
"Moonlight" and cream splashed with red
A variety of cutting flowers, such as our
"White Wonder" feverfew,
salvia , and
"Pride of Gibraltar" cerinthe
can also tolerate about half a day of shade. For containers, I like ruffled
"Victorian Posy" pansies.
Flowers for Open Shade
Many of the flowers that prefer shady locations have unusual, exotically-shaped flowers that give an enchanted, fairylike quality to a shady place.
"Mrs. Scott Elliot" columbines,
"Apricot Fairy Queen" foxgloves, and
"Mulberry Rose" and
Violet" Nigella come to mind. My other favorites include evening-scented
"Alata" nicotiana and deep blue
"Azure Bluebirds" forget-me-nots.
Tips for Growing Plants from Seed in Partial Shade
Keep your soil moist but not soggy to avoid damping off of seedlings, particularly if the weather is cool. Since water doesn't evaporate as quickly as it does in full sunlight, you may not need to water as often. Make sure to follow the packet directions and don't plant too early in the season!
Plant in well-drained soil. Dig soil at least a foot deep and add about a six inch layer of well-rotted sifted compost before sowing your seeds. Most plants are unlikely to thrive if planted
directly under large trees unless the soil is dug in pockets between tree roots and covered with a thick layer of well-rotted compost.
Protect young seedlings from slugs and snails who inhabit shady places, and hide under mulch or in nearby grass. I prefer to use a granular bait made out of chelated iron called "Sluggo" because it is safer to use around pets than liquid baits.
When you thin or transplant your plants to their final spacing, plant them no closer than recommended on the seed packet, or slightly farther apart to allow some air to circulate around the
If you are growing seedlings in flats, choose a location with as
much light as possible for strong plants better able to withstand transplanting. Partial shade is a good place to harden off seedlings grown in a greenhouse or under grow lights
indoors as they can more gradually adjust to outdoor growing conditions and don't evaporate moisture as quickly as they would in full sun.
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