Herb Gardening in the Shade

By B. E. Conrad

While it is true that many herbs prefer to have full sunlight, it is also true that many gardeners are not blessed with a large plot of land that receives full sunlight most of the day. These gardeners would do well to seek out the many varieties of herbs that are able to thrive in shadier conditions.

The exact nature of shade needed by each type of herb will vary according to the type of herb, and according to the intensity of the sun in your own area. Some herbs may need full sunlight in northern regions, but prefer shadier areas in hotter regions of the country.

Before choosing herbs for a shade garden, it is important to get a good understanding of just what is meant by shade, partial shade, and filtered sunlight. These terms are used frequently in the world of gardening, but it can sometimes be difficult to get a good definition of these common terms.

• An area of the garden is considered to be in partial shade if it receives at least six hours of direct sunlight a day, but with at least four of those hours taking place in the morning, when sunlight is less intense.
• In filtered sunlight, some of the sunlight is blocked by natural objects like trees, or by artificial structures like buildings or lattices.
• In full shade, there is no direct sunlight at all. Few plants, other than some wildflowers, are able to thrive in total shade.

For those gardeners who must plant herbs in the shade of trees, it is a good idea to prune some of the lower branches in order to allow more sunlight to get through. Pruning the lower branches of overhanging trees will also improve air circulation for the herbs.

In addition, the roots of the trees may compete with the herbs for much needed nutrients and water. In particular, trees such as beech, red maple, sugar maple and birches will compete with all other plants, and other plants may fail to grow in their company. These trees all have extensive root systems, and the trees will quickly soak up any available water.

Planting an herb garden in the shade provides the gardener with an opportunity to blend his or her favorite herbs with other kinds of plants. This combination can create a beautiful landscape, as well as providing fresh herbs for cooking and good health. When planting the herb garden, it is important to remember that most shade loving herbs are native to woodland settings. This provenance means that they prefer a humus rich soil that is kept consistently moist without being soggy. It is important to amend poor quality soils with a quality compost or other organic matter prior to planting.

The herbs should be planted either before or after their active growth period. At this time, the plants will be able to devote their full energy to getting established in their new environment. In order to conserve the moisture of the soil and keep the herb garden moist, a good quality mulch, combined with a couple of inches of leaf mold, compost or well rotted manure, should be used.

Some of the best herbs for the herb garden in the shade include:

• Wild ginger (Asarum canadense)
• Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum)
• Holy grass (Hierochloe odorata)
• Mioga ginger (Zingiber mioga)
• Angelica (Angelica archangelica)
• American pennyroyal (Hedeoma pulegioides)
• Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium)
• Japanese wild parsley (Cryptotaenia japonica Mitsuba)
• Stone mint (Cunila origanoides)
• Musk geranium (Geranium macrorhizum)
• Corsican mint (Mentha requienii)

There are many reasons to start an herb garden, and many uses for the herbs that are grown. Herbs provide a wonderful aroma, both when they are growing in the garden and after they are harvested. In addition, fresh herbs make virtually any dish more delicious, and fresh herbs are a great way to encourage good health as well. Choosing shade tolerant varieties of herbs is a perfect way for the gardener with limited sunlight to enjoy a wide variety of healthy and delicious herbs.

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