What herbs return yearly in shaded gardens?
Written by
Liu Xiaohui
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.Perennial herbs provide continual interest over the years with little maintenance in shady spaces. Mint is a vigorous spreader from below-ground runners. Chives create dense clusters and bloom with purple flowers. Lemon balm reseeds comfortably in moist soil. My herb patch in the shade of a crab apple in the yard comes back every year without the effort of replanting, without any waste of time and resources.
Mint is well known for reigning supreme in shaded areas due to its long-lived rhizomes. It can overwinter down to -20°F and will return with vigor every spring. Chives propagate via dividing roots, where they double in size each year. Lemon balm will self-sow heavily in moist soil. All three of these herbs will outlive annuals as long as there is low light.
Mint
- Propagation: Rhizomes/spreading roots
- Hardiness: USDA zones 3-9
- Tip: Contain roots to control expansion
Chives
- Propagation: Bulb division
- Hardiness: USDA zones 3-10
- Tip: Divide every 3 years in spring
Lemon Balm
- Propagation: Self-seeding
- Hardiness: USDA zones 4-9
- Tip: Cut flower stalks to limit spreading
Prepare perennial herbs for winter dormancy in shady spaces. Prepare parsley herbs for winter dormancy. Cease fertilization by late summer to toughen growth. Once the frost strikes, cover the ground with straw mulch. For mints, cut back to ground-level after frost. My lemon balm survives even the coldest winters under six inches of leaf mulch.
To increase your shade garden, propagate existing perennials. Chive clumps should be divided every three years in the spring. Cuttings of mint can be put in water, and they will root during the summer. Lemon balm volunteers can be relocated. The divisions or relocations produce three times the number of plants each year without requiring new purchases.
Maximize your Perennial herb productivity in shady areas. You can harvest mint for the entire summer season with continual regrowth. Cut your chives at their base to encourage new growth. Prune lemon balm once a month to keep it from flowering, which allows leaf production to continue. Practice these methods and enjoy plentiful harvests every year.
Adapt these durable perennials to your sustainable shady garden. Mint chives and lemon balm offer dependable annual growth with minimal effort. Start with these hardy herbs to create a productive, low-maintenance garden in your shady areas.
Read the full article: 10 Shade Loving Herbs for Your Garden
