If you are from the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and have a shady space in your garden, then there are still many plants that you can grow in shaded areas.
I found that many Pacific Northwest gardeners are frustrated by shaded areas and avoid planting in them. They believe nothing can grow in shade. This causes the waste of valuable garden space.
But believe me, shade doesn’t mean a waste of garden space, if you can use that area wisely. Without the direct sunlight or with partial shade, you have lots of options. So continue reading this article as I am going to give you a well-organized list of some shade-loving plants for the Pacific Northwest region.
After you go through this article and start growing some of them, you will no longer waste your garden space.
The shade loving plants I am going to list here are divided into the following plant categories:
- Vegetables & Leafy Greens
- Herbs
- Flowering Plants
Now let's look at the chart of each plant type that you can grow in shade:
Vegetables & Leafy Greens
If you love growing edible plants in partial shade or full shade with no direct sunlight, then there are a few vegetables and leafy greens that you can grow in your garden, as shown below:
| Vegetable/Leafy Green | Hardiness Zone | Light Requirement | Planting Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arugula | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Spring (Mar-Apr) or Fall (Aug-Sep) |
| Beets | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Spring (Mar-May) or Fall (Jul-Aug) |
| Broccoli | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Spring (Mar-Apr) or Summer (Jun-Jul) |
| Brussels Sprouts | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Summer (May-Jun) |
| Cabbage | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Spring (Mar-Apr) or Summer (Jun-Jul) |
| Cauliflower | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Spring (Mar-Apr) or Summer (Jun-Jul) |
| Chard | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Spring (Mar-May) or Fall (Aug-Sep) |
| Collard Greens | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Spring (Mar-Apr) or Fall (Jul-Aug) |
| Endive | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Spring (Apr-May) or Fall (Aug-Sep) |
| Kale | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Spring (Mar-Apr) or Fall (Jul-Aug) |
| Lettuce | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade or No Direct Sunlight | Spring (Mar-May) or Fall (Aug-Sep) |
| Mesclun Mix | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Spring (Mar-May) or Fall (Aug-Sep) |
| Mustard Greens | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Spring (Mar-Apr) or Fall (Aug-Sep) |
| Peas | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Early Spring (Feb-Mar) |
| Radishes | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Spring (Mar-May) or Fall (Aug-Sep) |
| Spinach | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade or No Direct Sunlight | Spring (Mar-Apr) or Fall (Aug-Sep) |
| Turnips | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Spring (Mar-Apr) or Fall (Jul-Aug) |
To protect the head of your Cauliflower from sun exposure, it needs consistent moisture as well as blanching.
You should carefully monitor Brussels Sprouts for pests and a long growing season with staking for support.
In order to reduce bitterness and precise watering to prevent bolting of Endive, you should use specific blanching techniques.
Herbs
Planting some herbs in a shady area of your garden is also a good idea to start using the unused garden space. Here are some herbs that you can grow in your PNW garden:
| Herb | Hardiness Zone | Light Requirement | Planting Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chervil | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade or No Direct Sunlight | Spring (Mar-Apr) or Fall (Aug-Sep) |
| Chives | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Spring (Mar-May) |
| Cilantro | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Spring (Apr-May) or Fall (Aug-Sep) |
| Lemon Balm | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Spring (Apr-May) |
| Lovage | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Spring (Mar-Apr) |
| Mint | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade or No Direct Sunlight | Spring (Apr-May) |
| Parsley | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Spring (Mar-May) |
| Tarragon | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Spring (Apr-May) |
You may want to delay bolting in your cilantro. Frequent sowing and cool temperatures can help keep your cilantro from bolting too soon.
Tarragon requires well-drained soil and periodic pruning to maintain vigor. It protects from excessive moisture and root rot.
Flowering Plants
By using the shady space of your Pacific Northwest garden, you can make it look beautiful by growing some of the amazing flowers. Choose some flowering plants that you like from the following chart and plant them in the spot where there is partial shade or no direct sunlight:
| Flowering Plant | Hardiness Zone | Light Requirement | Planting Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astilbe | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade or No Direct Sunlight | Spring (Mar-May) |
| Begonia | 8, 9 (Annual in 7) | Partial Shade or No Direct Sunlight | Spring (Apr-May) |
| Bleeding Heart (Dicentra) | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade or No Direct Sunlight | Spring (Mar-Apr) or Fall (Sep-Oct) |
| Columbine (Aquilegia) | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Spring (Mar-May) or Fall (Aug-Sep) |
| Coral Bells (Heuchera) | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Spring (Apr-May) or Fall (Sep-Oct) |
| Foxglove (Digitalis) | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Spring (Mar-Apr) or Fall (Aug-Sep) |
| Hosta | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade or No Direct Sunlight | Spring (Mar-May) or Fall (Sep-Oct) |
| Impatiens | 8, 9 (Annual in 7) | Partial Shade or No Direct Sunlight | Spring (Apr-May) |
| Primrose (Primula) | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade | Spring (Mar-Apr) or Fall (Sep-Oct) |
| Violet (Viola) | 7, 8, 9 | Partial Shade or No Direct Sunlight | Spring (Mar-May) or Fall (Aug-Sep) |
