What Grows in Shade? Vegetables, Herbs, and Flowers for Low-Light Gardens

Not every yard comes with good sun. Narrow side yards, north-facing beds, and gardens shaded by fences or buildings can still be productive. You just need to know which plants to choose and what to expect. This guide covers which vegetables, herbs, and flowers grow in partial shade or low-light gardens, how to make the most of the sun you do have, and what I’ve learned from years of growing in my own limited-sun side yard.

Looking for how to add shade cloth to protect plants from summer heat? That’s a different topic. I cover it here, “How to Create Shade in the Garden.”

Here’s what to remember:

Plants grown for leaves do best in partial shade — lettuce, kale, spinach, and most herbs are your best options. Root crops need at least 4 hours of sun. Fruiting and flowering crops need 6 or more hours and will struggle in low light. Expect slower growth, water less than you think, give plants more spacing than the seed packet says, and plant earlier in the season to catch better sun angles. The full plant list with links is in Tip 5.

1. Evaluate your garden to determine how much sunlight it receives

One of the most important principles for gardening success is sunlight. Understanding the different terms related to the amount of sunlight an area receives matters more than most people realize when they’re getting started.

The sun’s angle changes throughout the year. Evaluate your garden at different times of day throughout the year — spring, summer, fall, and winter — to understand how much light your garden actually receives. Consider the height of surrounding trees, buildings, and other obstructions, as these all limit the light that reaches your garden. Use an app or program to map out the sun’s route and learn exactly when your garden gets direct sunlight, partial shade, and full shade. This will help you determine what plants are best suited for your space.

• Full Sun: 6 to 8 hours or more of direct sunlight daily
• Partial Sun: 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight per day
• Partial Shade: 3 to 4 hours of direct sunlight per day
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sun
• Deep Shade: No direct sun

Vegetables, herbs, and flowers may not grow if your garden receives less than 3 hours of sun.

2. Know how much sun different types of plants need

Although some plants need very little sun, plants grown for food usually need plenty of sunlight. Some types of vegetables, herbs, and flowers tolerate more shade than others, but all need sun. Most plants do best with at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. For example:

• Flowering plants need a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight
• Plants grown for edible roots need at least 4 hours of direct sunlight
• Plants grown for edible leaves need at least 3 hours of direct sunlight

3. Maximize the available sunlight your garden receives

• Leave more space between plants. Plants too close to each other will shade one another.
• Use containers or grow bags to move the garden where the sunlight is.
• Anticipate areas that will receive more sun as trees lose their leaves.
• Grow plants vertically. Place vertical supports on the north side of your garden to prevent shading of other plants.
• Be aware of microclimates in your garden and plant accordingly.

4. Anticipate the challenges of growing in the shade

• Take care not to overwater. Plants grown in areas that receive less sun will need less water. Check the soil before you water rather than going by a schedule.
• Be patient. Plants grown in less than ideal sunlight will take longer to develop than the “days to harvest” on the seed packet suggests. That’s normal.
• Expect smaller plants. Vegetables, herbs, and flowers grown with less sun may be smaller than their full-sun counterparts.
• Harvest more often. Some herbs and vegetables get leggy as they reach for the sun. Regular harvesting keeps plants more compact.
• Go easy on fertilizer. Plants require less fertilization when grown in the shade.
• Watch for pests. Pests are drawn to plants grown in less-than-ideal conditions. Daily checks and early detection are your best defense. Read this post for organic pest control options.

What I’ve Learned From Years of Gardening in My Side Yard

My side yard is a narrow strip between my house and a neighbor’s two-story home. It gets limited sun, the angle shifts a lot throughout the year, and in winter, the area closest to the north-facing wall gets surprisingly little light.

I gardened there exclusively for years before I had a full-sun bed. I even taught gardening classes from that space. It worked. But when I eventually added raised beds in a full-sun part of my yard, the difference was hard to miss. Things grew faster, produced more, and needed less problem-solving. The side yard didn’t stop being useful — I still garden there now — but I understood better what I’d been working with all along.

A few things I’ve figured out from that garden:

Herbs and peppers have been the real standouts. Both do surprisingly well with limited sun. Kale and leafy greens have been consistent performers too. Melons are a different story. Watermelon and cantaloupe have struggled there. They want more direct sun than that space offers most of the season.

Spacing matters more than people expect. In a low-light garden, plants that are too close compete for whatever sun is available. Give them more room than you normally would.

Plant earlier in the fall. As the sun’s angle drops through fall and winter, north-facing and shaded areas lose light faster than the rest of the yard. Getting plants established while the sun is still higher makes a real difference in how they perform through winter.

A trellis at the end closest to the house helps. Vining plants can grow up and over toward the open sky instead of staying low where the shade is deepest.

Check soil moisture more carefully. Shaded beds hold water longer. It’s easy to overwater without noticing. Check the soil before you water rather than going by a set schedule.

I’m used to the slower pace of this garden now. Things don’t move as quickly as they do in full sun, and I don’t expect them to. But the garden produces, and it’s taught me a lot about working with what you have.

5. Plant the right vegetables, herbs, and flowers for the sunlight you have

(Click the links for how-to-grow guides for each crop.)

Vegetables that tolerate partial sun (4-6 hours of direct sunlight) include broccoli, peas, celery, beans, onions, cauliflower, cabbage, leeks, asparagus, and scallions.

Vegetables that tolerate partial shade (3 to 4 hours of direct sunlight): arugula, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, kale, beets, kohlrabi, parsnip, carrots, turnip, radish, lettuce, spinach, mustard greens, and chard.

Many herbs tolerate partial shade, including chervil, cilantro, dill, lemon balm, chives, thyme, ginger,  lemon verbena, parsley, mint, bay, oregano, sage, and turmeric.

Flowers that tolerate partial shade: nasturtium, sweet peas, lobelia, larkspur, foxglove, impatiens, begonia, calendula, fuchsia, forget-me-not, violet, and alyssum.

Also worth knowing: if you’re curious which vegetables need shade protection from summer heat versus which ones thrive in full sun, I cover that specifically here: “Which Vegetables Need Shade and Which Thrive in Full Sun“.

Shade Gardening FAQ’s