Understanding Shade in the Garden and What You Can Grow
June 16th, 2025 | Categories
Shady spots in a garden are often disappointingly resigned to being no grow areas, but with the right approach, they can become some of the most beautiful and productive parts of your outdoor space. Whether your garden is shaded by buildings, trees, or fences, there are plenty of ways to work with the light you have. Even in the sunniest of gardens every corner won’t bask in sunshine all day, but that doesn’t mean those areas can’t be full of life, colour, texture and interest. Shady spots offer a surprising number of options for both decorative and edible planting, and with a little know-how can be turned into flourishing features.
First, Know Your Shade
Knowing what kind of light and shade your garden gets is the first step. Different types of shade can have a big impact on what will grow well, so here’s a quick breakdown:
Full Sun
OK, it’s not really shade, but good to include so you know what full sun is classified as. A fully sunny spot gets direct sunlight for six or more hours a day which is ideal for many flowering plants and fruiting vegetables like tomatoes, courgettes and pumpkins.
Light Shade
A bright area that’s open to the sky but doesn’t get much direct sun. For example, the shade cast by a north-facing fence for part of the day. Good for many perennials and leafy greens.
Partial Shade
Receives direct sun for three to six hours daily in summer often in the morning or evening but shaded the rest of the time. Many plants can do well here, including a variety of fruit bushes and ornamental shrubs.
Dappled Shade
Caused by something partially blocking sunlight, such as a tree canopy but allowing blotches of light through. This is one of the easiest types of shade to work with and is great for woodland-style planting like ferns, primroses, and hardy geraniums.
Moderate Shade
Sunlight is significantly limited to a maximum of two to three hours of direct sunlight per day in summer, such as near tall buildings or hedges. Suitable for more shade-adapted plants like hostas, foxgloves, and some brassicas (vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, kale and more).
Deep or Heavy Shade
Hardly any direct sun at all; less than two hours of sunlight per day in summer. This is often found under dense evergreens or in the shadow of walls. This is the trickiest kind, but not impossible. Look for robust shade specialists like ivy, ferns, and some groundcovers like phlox.
How to Work with Different Types of Shade
Every type of shade comes with its own set of growing conditions, but with the right approach, you can still create a beautiful and productive space. Here’s how to work with the main types of shade around the garden:
Working with Light Shade
In light shade you’ll find a surprising number of plants that thrive. Many flowering perennials, such as hardy geraniums and heucheras do well here, and it’s a good setting for leafy crops like lettuce or spinach. You can make the most of available light by choosing pale paving stones or garden features to reflect light back onto your plants. Growth tends to be slower in light shade, so your plants might not need as much feeding as their full sun counterparts.
Working with Partial Shade
Partial shade offers one of the most flexible environments in the garden. Morning or late afternoon sun is gentler, making it ideal for soft fruit like raspberries, currants, and rhubarb, as well as ornamentals such as hydrangeas or foxgloves. It’s also a useful area for vertical growing, where climbing plants like clematis or climbing hydrangeas can reach for light without being scorched. If you’re just starting out, partial shade beds make excellent beginner planting areas as they offer a good balance between sun and shelter.
Working with Dappled Shade
Dappled shade is a fantastic environment for creating a woodland-style garden using plants like primroses, bluebells, ferns, and hardy geraniums. You can also extend your planting season by taking advantage of early spring light; bulbs like snowdrops and daffodils will flower before tree leaves emerge fully. However, be mindful of competition from tree roots which can drain water and nutrients. Planting in raised beds or enriching the soil regularly can help support your plants.
Working with Moderate Shade
Moderate shade means your plant choices will need to be more shade-tolerant, but that doesn’t mean your options are dull. Plants with striking foliage such as hostas, tiarellas, and heucheras can bring colour and texture without relying on flowers. As light levels are lower, it’s important not to overcrowd these areas; too many plants in too little light can lead to weak, leggy growth. Focus instead on a few strong performers and keep the soil healthy with compost and organic mulch.
Working with Deep or Heavy Shade
Deep shade is the most challenging environment in the garden. Still, even these areas can be transformed. Groundcover plants like ivy and periwinkle, along with tough ferns and certain evergreen shrubs, can cope with these conditions. Consider introducing elements beyond plants too such as gravel paths, garden seating, or sculpture to add structure and interest. Using plants with silvery or variegated leaves can also help brighten up dark corners by reflecting what little light there is.
Edibles That Don’t Mind the Shade
If you’ve always fancied growing your own, then shady areas don’t need to hold you back completely. While fruit and veg are often associated with sun, there are quite a few that can handle – even appreciate – some shade:
- Leafy crops like lettuce, spinach, rocket, and Swiss chard cope well with limited sunlight and can stay tender for longer. In fact, they’re less likely to bolt (go to seed early) in cooler, shadier conditions.
- Root vegetables such as beetroot, radishes, and smaller carrots can be grown in lighter shade.
- Legumes like peas and runner beans may still crop modestly in areas with partial and dappled shade.
- Fruits like gooseberries, currants, raspberries, and rhubarb can all produce decent harvests in light and partially shaded areas.
So, as you can see you don’t need full sun to grow something tasty. Starting crops off in pots somewhere sunny, then moving them into their final position once they’ve established strong roots gives them a head start for those tougher conditions.
More Tips for Growing in Shade
- Start strong: Germinate seeds in brighter spots or indoors, then transplant once they’re established.
- Feed the soil: Shady areas more often than not have dry, tired soil. Enrich it with a good quality compost or well-rotted manure.
- Apply Mulch: Helps keep moisture in and weeds down.
- Water wisely: Even though shaded spots are cooler, tree roots and low rainfall can make soil dry so don’t neglect watering.
- Keep things open: Prune overhanging branches or nearby shrubs to let in as much light as possible without removing the canopy entirely.
- Be patient: Shade gardening can take a little longer to establish, but it’s worth the wait.
Brighten Shady Spaces with the Right Plants
A shady part of the garden doesn’t have to be a compromise. With a little effort, and thoughtful planting and care, it can be one of the most rewarding spots in your garden. With the right approach, they can become the most peaceful, productive, and visually interesting parts of your outdoor space; perfect for creating a calming retreat or growing some edibles. If you’ve got some shady areas in the garden why not use this summer to transform them for years to come?
