Wondering what to plant in those shady areas of your landscape?
There’s no need to resign yourself to standard shade-fillers when you could be growing useful herbs that thrive in low- light conditions.
While many culinary herbs do require lots of direct sunlight (like basil and oregano), other herbs usually listed as full-sun plants will do just fine in partial shade. Parsley, anise hyssop, lemon balm and shiso are among the best herbs for dappled light or areas that receive only a couple of hours of direct sun daily.
Other, less-familiar herbs actually prefer shade. In nature, these plants can be found growing in the dappled light below trees, or at the edges of forests, where the sun shines directly on them for only a short time each day. These plants — which include wild ginger, spicebush and sweet woodruff — will do beautifully in a shady garden site, and will add enticing new flavors and aromas to your cooking.
For beds and borders shaded by trees, fences or buildings, try one or more of these shade stars.
Excerpted from The Herb Companion magazine, a national magazine devoted to growing, cooking and healing with herbs. Read other articles at .
