Garden Vegetable Garden Ideas 12 Edible Plants That Thrive in Shady Gardens, According to Horticulturists From fruits and vegetables to culinary flowers, these plants don't need full sun to yield a bountiful harvest. By Haniya Rae Haniya Rae Haniya Rae is a gardening writer with nearly a decade of experience writing about plants, gardening, and landscape design. She's worked on plant and garden features for Landscape Architecture Magazine, Consumer Reports, and Cottages & Gardens. Editorial Guidelines Published on January 6, 2025 Close Photo: Lavju / Getty Images Despite what you may think, a shady garden is a great place to grow edible plants, whether it's tucked under a tree or next to a large fence. The one variable to pay attention to is just how much—or how little—light these plants are getting. Some leafy greens like spinach, lettuce, cilantro, and parsley do well in dappled shade, for example, while others may only need a few hours of sunlight a day to thrive. Here, experts recommended a handful of culinary delights that are perfect for gardens that don't get a lot of sunlight. Brooke Edmunds, associate professor and horticulturist at Oregon State University Laura Irish-Hanson, horticulture educator at the University of Minnesota 13 Shade-Loving Vegetables That Flourish With Little to No Sun 01 of 12 Scented Geraniums Getty Images Easily grown in-ground but also perfect for containers, scented geraniums add small pops of color. Their leaves waft a citrus-like scent and can be used to infuse lemon or lime flavors into various recipes. You can grow them in full sun, but they'll also thrive in partial shade.“I have a love affair with scented geraniums,” says Brooke Edmunds, an associate professor and horticulturist at Oregon State University. “They're great for flavoring cream, milk for custards, or ice cream. I also infuse them in a simple syrup that can be used for tea or mocktails." Zones: 10 to 11Size: 12 to 36 inches tallGrowing conditions: Medium watering required, well-draining soil, full sun to partial shade 02 of 12 Garlic Aksana Zavadskaya / Getty Images A kitchen staple, garlic has fragrant leaves and, depending on the variety may have large, bulbous, pink-and-white flowers. Edmunds says she keeps her garlic on her north-facing back deck, which only gets a few hours of direct sun and is otherwise in the shade for the majority of the day. Zones: 4 to 11Size: Up to 16 inches tallGrowing conditions: Well-drained fertile soil, full to filtered sunlight, medium water How to Know When Garlic Is Ready to Harvest—Plus the Best Way to Do It 03 of 12 Peas Bloomberg Creative / Getty Images Garden peas have a very wide hardiness zone and are generally a cool-season crop. The common advice is that they need full sun, but they can grow in partial shade, too. “This past growing season, we had success growing these in a raised bed on the north side of a building that never received direct sunlight,” says Laura Irish-Hanson, a horticulture educator at the University of Minnesota. Zones: 2 to 11Size: Up to 16 inches tallGrowing conditions: Moisture-retaining soil, medium watering, full sun to partial shade 04 of 12 Cucamelons Olga Rozhkova / GETTY IMAGES Native to Central America, cucamelons look like small watermelons and have a tart flavor. Though it's often recommended that they grow in full sun, they really only need a few hours of direct sunlight a day to be happy. “[Our] cucamelons don’t make it out of the garden,” says Edmunds. “My kids and I snack on them right off the vine.” Zones: 9 to 11Size: Vines reach 5 to 10 feet longGrowing conditions: Well-drained fertile soil, partial sun 05 of 12 Carrots DimaSobko / GETTY IMAGES Carrots are perfect for soups, salads, and snacking, and they can thrive in a shady area that gets a little bit of light. Just be aware that the germination time may take a little longer in a shadier spot, and your plants may not be as compact as they would be growing in full sun, according to Irish-Hanson. That doesn’t mean they won’t still be tasty, though. Zones: 2 to 11Size: 3 inches to 3 feet tallGrowing conditions: Well-drained fertile soil, medium watering, and filtered sunlight How to Grow Carrots in Your Own Backyard, According to Gardening Experts 06 of 12 Dwarf Peppers Getty / Ali Majdfar If you have limited sunlight and space, consider dwarf peppers, a variety that can grow in light shade. These small vegetables can thrive in a larger container, under the leaves of a taller tomato plant, or in a shaded area of the yard. They can be a colorful addition to your yard and are also great for salads. Zones: VariesSize: 1 to 2 feet tallGrowing conditions: Well-drained Loamy soil, full to filtered sunlight 07 of 12 Spinach Vaivirga / Getty Images What summer salad would be complete without a few cups of spinach leaves? Spinach is perfect for a smaller garden, as it stays compact, and you can harvest the baby leaves to keep the plant even smaller. It can grow in partial shade too—Irish-Hanson says she grew spinach in raised beds on the north side of a building, so the plant only received 1 to 2 hours of direct light during the summer. Zones: 2 to 11Size: Up to 1 foot tallGrowing conditions: Well-drained organic soil, partial shade, medium watering 08 of 12 Cilantro Elizabeth Fernandez/Getty Images. Cilantro is a must for those who enjoy fresh salsa—and it can grow well in light shade. Also, if you let the plant go to seed, you’ll have a large supply ready for the winter. It's perfect in a fresh salad or chopped up as a topping for tacos, says Edmunds. Zones: 2 to 11Size: Up to 2 feet tall Growing conditions: Well-drained fertile soil, filtered sunlight How to Grow Cilantro That Yields a Steady Supply of Fresh Herbs 09 of 12 Parsley jjpoole / Getty Images This low-maintenance, versatile herb adds flavor to many dishes and can even be dried for winter use. Parsley can grow in partial shade, but make sure that it doesn't get too stringy. To help avoid this, Irish-Hanson recommends giving each plant more space than you typically would in a full-sun area. Zones: 2 to 11Size: Up 6 feet tall Growing conditions: Well-drained fertile soil, medium watering, partial shade to filtered sunlight 10 of 12 Bok Choy Like spinach, you can grow bok choy as a smaller plant, harvesting the leaves when they are just a few inches. If you harvest them quickly, they won't experience any issues with not having enough light, Edmunds says, as they aren't growing to full maturity. Zones: 2 to 11Size: 6 to 12 inches tall and wideGrowing conditions: Well-drained fertile soil, medium watering, partial shade 11 of 12 Ginger Karl Tapales / Getty Images Ginger is another great option for small gardens, and thrives in shaded areas— provided you have enough heat and humidity to keep it happy. The rhizomes, or roots, are perfect for teas and are often used in Asian cuisine. “I haven’t personally grown ginger or turmeric, but they are understory plants that tolerate shade,” says Edmunds. “Many folks will keep them in a container and move it to different areas of the garden.” Zones: 9 to 12Size: Up to 4 feet tall Growing conditions: Well-drained fertile soil, heavy watering, shaded areas You Don't Need a Garden to Grow Ginger—Here's How to Do It Indoors 12 of 12 Raspberries Getty / Hansen Garrett 500 px A member of the rose family, raspberry bushes are fairly adaptive and provide both native animals and people with delicious, tart fruits in the summer. They can grow in partial shade but will sometimes yield more fruit in full sun. Additionally, keep in mind that these shrubs need a fair amount of pruning to maintain their shape, and they'll take up a bit of space in the garden. Zones: 4 to 8Size: Up to 9 feet tallGrowing conditions: Organic, slightly acidic soil, full sun to partial shade Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit