Herbs for the shade

All plants need light to grow, some less than others. Here you will find suggestions for herbs that grow in the shade and are suitable for the garden or balcony.

They are in every garden. The shady spots where nothing really wants to grow. Most of the well-known herbs feel most comfortable in the sun, but apart from oregano, basil and Co. there are also some interesting herbs for the shade.

Herbs for the shade that are hardy

Below are some herbs that can tolerate shade well and can be grown outside in the garden as they are hardy.

Wild garlic (Allium ursinum)

When you go hiking in May, the scent of Wild garlic in the air. His preference for shade is also evident in nature, as he is found mainly in the forest, in rather damp and nutrient-rich locations. If you get wild garlic in your garden, you can avoid the risk of confusion with lilies of the valley, which often arises when collecting in the forest.

Perennial borage (Borago pygmaea)

He is the small, perennial brother of the common one known and used in Germany Borage. The perennial borage prefers loose, well drained soils. Although he likes the sun more, there is also an advantage in planting the herb in the shade. There the leaves become more tender. Thanks to its small size, it is also ideal if you are looking for herbs for a shady balcony. The perennial borage can withstand frost down to -10 ° C, which is why it should be covered with brushwood in very cold winters.

Woodruff (Galium odoratum)

You know it thanks to the effervescent powder, jelly or the notorious May punch. Woodruff next to wild garlic is one of the few herbs that really like shade and cannot tolerate the sun. If it likes its location, which is best of moist, humus-rich and calcareous soil, it can also quickly take over and spread out over root runners. This can be prevented by a root barrier.

Small mountain mint (Calamintha nepeta)

Unlike peppermints, mountain mints do not form runners and are therefore easier to keep in check. Thanks to its compact growth, the small mountain mint is also one of the herbs for shady balconies. Its leaves can be used like those of peppermint and its flowers act as a real magnet for insects. It prefers a dry and rather nutrient-poor location.

Watercress (Nasturtium officinalis)

An evergreen shadow herb whose leaves can be used in many ways in the kitchen is the Watercress. The plant is also an important supplier of vitamin C in winter. However, it needs a very moist location, preferably even in flowing water, which can only be found in a few gardens.

Wasabi, Japanese horseradish (Wasabia japonica)

Of the Wasabi is one of the shadow herbs, because in the sun its leaves often turn yellow and it stops growing. In Japan, roots, stems and leaves are used to make the typical paste that goes well with sushi, for example. When it comes to cultivation, Wasabi can do something with its demands on cool and humid locations Be bitchy, but if you can reward yourself with homemade wasabi paste, it's the bother always worth it.

Yellow Sage (Salvia glutinosa)

Planting sage in the shade for the sun worshiper - is that possible? One of the few Types of sagewhich grows in the shade in rather moist, lime-rich and nutrient-rich locations is the yellow sage. It is also called sticky sage because of its sticky stems. There is no medical evidence for the yellow sage, but its flowers and leaves can still be used for teas, for example. As the only yellow flowering species, it is also an excellent ornamental sage for shade beds.

Tip: Every plant not only has different demands on the sun, but also on the soil and the nutrient supply. Some of the herbs mentioned here enjoy a large range of nutrients and can therefore be used in ours, for example Plantura organic universal soil be cultivated. These include the woodruff, coriander and the mushroom herb. Cardamom and perennial borage are some of the most frugal plants that neither need a lot of sun nor a lot of nutrients. A nutrient-poor substrate, such as ours, is suitable for their cultivation Plantura organic herb & seed compost.

Herbs for the shade that are not hardy

Some shadow herbs do not tolerate frost and are therefore more suitable as potted plants and herbs for shady balconies that are protected from severe frost in winter.

Vietnamese coriander (Polygonum odoratum)

The Vietnamese coriander is an easy to grow herb for the shade that grows quickly in moist, nutrient-rich substrates. Although it feels more comfortable in the sun, it also produces a lot of leaves in the shade, which can be used for salads and soups or for pickling, for example.

Gotu Kula (Centella asiatica)

The Indian pennywort, which comes from Asia, is mainly known here as a superfood. The herb prefers nutrient-rich, moist locations and contains many important minerals and vitamins. Since Gotu Kula can only withstand temperatures down to -4 ° C, it is advisable to cultivate it in a pot and to overwinter in the house.

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)

Of the cardamom is not suitable for year-round outdoor cultivation, as the temperatures there are too low for the herb from India. As a balcony and houseplant, cardamom is undemanding and is one of the herbs that tolerate shady locations well. Although it does not flower, which is why you cannot harvest seeds, its leaves can also be used in the kitchen with their typical taste.

Mushroom Plant (Rungia klossii)

This is an unknown but underestimated shadow herb Mushroom herb. The crisp, thick leaves with the fine mushroom aroma are ideal for salads or to refine dishes. In addition, they contain many nutrients and are very rich in protein for a plant with 3 g of protein per 100 g. Even in shady locations, the herb grows luxuriantly in humus, nutrient-rich substrates, only at If the temperature drops below 10 ° C, it stops growing, which is why the mushrooms prefer to move indoors from autumn onwards should.

If your garden is not all about shady spots, you can read on here and find out about Herbs for the partial shade and Herbs for the sun inform.