Northwest gardens · 40 plants
Plants for shade
Most vegetables want six or more hours of direct sun, but a shady Northwest yard isn't a lost cause. Leafy crops, many herbs and a long list of native plants grow in part shade, which usually means three to six hours of direct sun or bright, dappled light under high branches.
Tips for a shady garden
Leaves are the part shade-tolerant crops grow best: lettuce, chard, kale and other greens. Fruit and roots slow down in shade, so expect smaller harvests of berries and root crops. Deep shade under evergreens suits natives like sword fern, salal and Oregon grape far better than any vegetable.
Shade also means slower-drying soil and more slugs, so give shady beds good drainage, space plants for airflow and start slug control early. In hot eastern valleys, afternoon shade is a gift for lettuce, spinach and other greens that bolt in heat.
Salad greens
- LettuceFull sun in spring; afternoon shade in summer
- SpinachFull sun to part shade
- ArugulaFull sun to part shade
- Swiss chardFull sun to part shade
- MâcheFull sun to part shade
Cabbage family
- KaleFull sun to part shade
- Bok choyFull sun to part shade
- CollardsFull sun to part shade
- Mustard greensFull sun to part shade
Root vegetables
Peas and beans
Herbs
- CilantroFull sun; afternoon shade in summer
- ParsleyFull sun to part shade
- ChivesFull sun to part shade
- MintFull sun to part shade
- Lemon balmFull sun to part shade
Berries
- Hardy kiwiFull sun to light shade
- GooseberriesFull sun to part shade
- ElderberriesFull sun to part shade
Perennial vegetables
Native plants
- HuckleberriesPart shade to full sun
- Oregon grapeFull sun to full shade
- Red-flowering currantFull sun to part shade
- ServiceberryFull sun to part shade
- CamasFull sun to light shade
- ThimbleberryPart shade to full sun
- SalmonberryPart shade to full sun
- SalalPart shade; full sun on the coast
- KinnikinnickFull sun to light shade
- Western columbineFull sun to part shade
- Douglas asterFull sun to part shade
- Pacific ninebarkFull sun to part shade
- Sword fernPart to full shade
- Oregon irisFull sun to light shade
Flowers
Common questions
What vegetables grow in shade?
Leafy crops are the best bet: lettuce, spinach, chard, kale, collards, arugula and mustard greens grow in part shade. Peas and some herbs manage too. Fruiting crops like tomatoes, squash and peppers need full sun.
How many hours of sun is part shade?
Usually three to six hours of direct sun a day, or bright, filtered light all day. Under three hours is full shade, where natives like sword fern and salal do better than vegetables.
What native plants grow in dry shade under trees?
Sword fern, salal, Oregon grape and evergreen huckleberry all handle the dry shade under Northwest conifers once established. Water them through their first two summers.