Sometimes we get so caught up in gardening out in the sun that we forget that many fruits are native to woodland areas. Native fruits are often shade tolerant and will produce fruits in 4-6 hours of sun a day.
These 9 fruits will give you great yield in shade and are quite hardy.
Blackberries
Blackberries are quite adaptable and can tolerate partial shade, although they will produce better with more sunlight. Around 4-6 hours of sun per day is optimal.
Blackberries are common on the edges of woods, in meadows, and along waterways. They need 4-5 hours of sun and will do well if you plant them along a fence where they get half a day of sunlight.
They need well-drained, acidic soil and do well in raised beds if you have heavy soil. They don’t like wet feet. Plant the brambles five to six feet apart. I always grow mine along a fence. If you live in a hot climate then afternoon shade is best.
Blackberries are self-pollinating, so you don’t need multiple plants for fruit production. Bees and other insects will also pollinate them. Ripe blackberries will be black and plump. You will need to harvest every few days as they ripen over several weeks.
Hello Organics Triple Crown (Amazon) is a wonderful established variety that has done well for me.
Perfect breakfast!
Blueberries
Blueberry bushes thrive in partial shade, requiring around 4-6 hours of sunlight daily. They produce sweet and nutritious berries.
There is a fabulous children's book called Blueberries for Sal about a mother and daughter who go picking wild blueberries. Lowbush berries are native to woodland meadows in northeast and north central regions of America. You can purchase lowbush berries for your home orchard. They do best with morning sun and afternoon shade.
There are two types of blueberries, lowbush and highbush. Lowbush varieties are smaller but very tasty and can handle more shade than highbush. The smaller size of the lowbush varieties makes them great for urban gardening, in pots, or in an herb garden.
Both need acid soil that is loose and well-draining. Acidic soil with a pH between 4.0 – 5.0 is essential. That's more acidic than our average garden soil of 6.5. Backyard Berry Plants in Indiana has several varieties of lowbush blueberries.
Check out my blueberry article to learn more about planting blueberries.
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Currants
Currant bushes can thrive in partial shade conditions, producing tasty and colorful berries.
Currants are in the ribes (ribeyes) genus along with gooseberries which we will discuss in a moment.
Ribes are widely distributed through the Northern Hemisphere both in North America and Europe. They like cool, moist growing areas and can be found in woodland meadows or near streams. In the wild, they are understory shrubs and like a sheltered spot with partial shade.
Currants are small round berries that come in several colors - black, red, and yellow. They are very high in Vitamin C and in Great Britain are often made into juice and wine.
They are attractive plants and are great in edible landscaping or a food forest. They also do well as a foundation hedge bordering the home or an outbuilding.
They are great for wildlife gardens too. Birds love the berries both for eating and shelter. And hummingbirds are attracted to the nectar-rich flowers.
Currants do when they get morning sun and afternoon shade. They don't like heat and will get wilted looking above 85 degrees Fahrenheit or 29 Celcius. They need good air circulation.
They tend to flower very early in the spring and should not be planted in a site that is prone to late frosts. Good news for my zone 6 friends - they do well in clay soil. They need nutrients so amend your soil with compost and some kelp meal.
Ribes plants such as currants and gooseberries are hosts to white pine blister rust. Because of that, there are restrictions on growing them in some states. So check with your local ag office. This ban is one reason that eating currants is not as popular in the U.S. as it is in Europe.
Check out my book on Growing Fruit!
Your comprehensive guide offers solutions and answers to your fruit gardening questions. This book covers 16 tree fruits, berries, and perennial vegetables. Beginner-friendly and practical so you feel supported on your gardening journey!
Elderberries
Elderberries can do well in partial shade, requiring around 4-6 hours of sunlight daily. They are valued for their health benefits and culinary uses.
Another great woodland berry is the elderberry which has edible flowers as well as berries. Keep in mind that elderberries can not be eaten fresh. All parts of the elderberry plant are toxic and must be cooked before ingesting. Elderberries do well in partial shade, requiring around 4-6 hours of sunlight daily.
They are valued for their health benefits and culinary uses. Elderberry is widely grown as a medicinal herb. You can watch my elderberry video for a recipe for elderberry cold syrup.
Most times when you order elderberry they will come as a bare root plant. When planting elderberry dig a hole twice as deep as the roots. Elderberries like slightly acidic soil at 5.5 - 6.0. Do a soil test if needed. There are several things you can add to lower your pH such as cottonseed, peat moss, coffee grounds, and gypsum. Keep it well-watered the first year. It likes the soil to stay moist.
Plant elderberries 8 feet apart. Both American and European elderberries cross-pollinate so they need another variety. I like the varieties Adams and Johns but you can look into what grows well in your area.
Check out my article ELDERBERRY - GROW YOUR MEDICINE for some great recipes!
Gooseberries
Gooseberries are another option for partially shaded areas, as they can tolerate around 4-6 hours of sunlight daily.
Gooseberries are another option for partially shaded areas, as they can tolerate shade and need around 4-5 hours of sunlight daily. Like currents they are in the Ribees family and have that issue of sometimes being restricted due to white pine blister rust.
My gooseberry video has not been very popular so I get the impression many people don't grow them. But they are definetly worth looking into! Gooseberries are quite hardy, productive, and do well as a backyard plant. Gooseberry plants live for about 15 years. You can typically get 4-5 quarts per plant once it's established.
They are a low-growing bush and have a sweet-tart flavor. Some are good for fresh eating and some are better for jams and pies.
Gooseberries like well-drained, slightly acidic soil so if you have heavy clay dig in plenty of compost, peat, and some green sand. Plant them 3-6 feet apart.
This article goes over a lot of the basics on growing fruit trees and my planting recipe. GROWING FRUIT TREES IN ZONE 6B
Watch my video on mulberries!
Mulberries
Mulberry trees can adapt to varying light conditions, including partial shade. They produce sweet and juicy fruits.
Mulberries are a fabulous addition to the home orchard. There are many species found around the globe. They live in forest edges and along woodland meadows. Mulberries like part shade and do well with at least 5 hours of sun per day.
In the 50s it was quite popular to plant mulberries in city parks and along roads because they are hardy and drought-tolerant. This also makes them a popular and easy-to-find foraging plant.
The red mulberry is a species that is native to the eastern and central United States. I have a cultivar called Illinois everbearing which is a great tree.
They can tolerate a variety of soil types and are relatively pest and disease-resistant. And guess what? They do well in heavy clay soil. Plant them in a location with plenty of space because they do get 30-40 feet tall. Keep young trees consistently moist during the first year of growth. Once established they are quite drought tolerant.
PawPaws
PawPaws are an extremely popular foraged fruit in my home state of Kentucky where we call them Kentucky bananas. I had several growing wild on the farm. They are an understory tree that does well in dappled shade and can grow with just 3-4 hours of sun a day.
You can spot them in the woods in the springtime by their interesting flowers that smell pretty bad. They are pollinated by flies and beetles.
You can grow them from seed or much easier is to buy cultivars. Kentucky University has done a lot of research on growing them.
Domestic varieties grow about 12 feet. You will need to buy at least two different varieties for cross-pollination. Pawpaws like to be kept moist but they also need well-draining soil. I recommend digging in compost and greensand when you plant out.
One of my favorite books on growing fruit is Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden (Amazon link) by Lee Reich.
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Plums
Plums or more specifically- wild plums - do well in shade. They are also great to forage. You will see them listed in catalogs as American plums, native plums, or wild plums.
Fedco Trees has a great variety and the Arbor Day Foundation carries them as well. These trees are native understory trees and will do well in part shade.
Wild plums have pretty spring flowers and are great pollinators for domestic varieties. They are great for wildlife gardens and attract songbirds, pollinators, wild turkeys, and deer.
So you've been warned if you consider them pests! Plums flower early in spring so avoid low spots. Plant on a southwest hill if you have one that warms up early in spring.
Plums like slightly acidic soil that drains well. Follow my secret sauce recipe that I talk more about in my plum video which I’ll put in the description.
Read my full length article on plums.
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Raspberries
These berries do well with around 4-6 hours of sunlight daily. They are known for their delicious taste and can be grown successfully in partial shade.
Raspberries are popular to grow and forage. I have many fond memories of tromping along the edges between fields and woods picking black raspberries. Raspberries are very prolific and come in red, black, and yellow.
Prepare your soil before planting. Do a soil test and dig in lots of compost. Raspberries do like the sun but tolerate part shade. I think that black raspberries do best in partial shade like their wild cousins. Shoot for 5-6 hours of sun a day. They do well along a fence line.
Raspberries are typically purchased as primocanes with 5-10 to a pack. Canes have shallow fibrous roots. When you plant your canes it's a good idea to give them a brief soak in water. Raspberries are self-fertile meaning you don't have to purchase different cultivars to get fruit.
Do you have a small space? Bushel and Berry Raspberry Shortcake® (Amazon) does great in a container!
Author, Ame Vanorio, is the founder of Fox Run EEC and is a Master Gardener and Author. Check out her Amazon Author Page.
