Golden oregano can be grown in partial shade to avoid it from becoming scorched and wilting in direct sunlight. This partial shade loving herb is as beautiful as it is fragrant. 5 hours of morning sun, however, is a lot different than 5 hours of hot, afternoon sun. It is on the north side of the stairs out, so do want some taller ones in the back so they will still get sun when slants over in late fall/winter. Tarragon likes sun too. Tarragon likes sun too. Thanks to the vanilla like taste of sweet woodruff it is often used in dessert recipes, teas, wine, cordials, and in candy making. This herb has a distinctive but not unpleasant sour flavor. Lemon balm also attracts many butterflies and honeybees. Herbalists have used thyme to treat general stomach ache, sore throat, gas, colic, diarrhea, parasitic worm infestations, whooping cough, dyspraxia, bronchitis, arthritis, and even bed wetting. Mint prefers a bit of shade. The entire cilantro plant can be consumed. Above the stairs is open space, then a simple handrail, so the herbs can bush out a few inches there, and a few inches into the path, and that would allow for a 3' spread. Herbalists have traditionally used anise to deal with or help prevent common cold symptoms like a runny nose, stomach aches, to facilitate a productive cough, gas, to stimulate appetite, and as a diuretic. rosemary, thyme, lemon thyme, chocolate mint, spearmint, chives, dill, oregano, chamomile, basil, purple basil, and marjoram for now. Black elderberry plants will not produce berries until they are two or three years after they are planted. Wild ginger has traditionally been used by herbalists to treat stomach aches and cramping and gas. Meadowsweet is loosely related to a rose, and it is often heralded for its sweet smell. Mint prefers a bit of shade. Although the leaves and flowers of this herb plant are safe to eat, they are most often used only for their scent. Herbalists have heralded the antiseptic properties of this shade-loving herb, and have used it to help balance out hair and skin that is either dry or oily in texture. Herbs that grow in light, partial, or close to full shade can vastly increase your culinary herb or apothecary patch. also - as a subshrub - thinking it would retain it's branching, thus being high enough to get sun over a longer period of time than lovage which would need to grow 4 feet or wait for the angle of the sun to not be blocked by the stairs.....I'm thinking this happens in may.....not sure, will check this year! Basically, with decent sun and adequate but not excessive water, most herbs will grow, albeit seasonally (except for rosemary, which is year round). The smaller basils would make a nice edging. Tarragon will wilt quickly if it is exposed to too much sunlight or to high temperatures. Nice to have chairs facing both directions, so as to enjoy the view outside or to chat with those in the kitchen. Thanks FataM - I will likely stick with culinary herbs and some flowers to add a bit of sparkle to the area......maybe some attractive greens....This is an odd little area, and hard to figure out what to do with. On the left wall, place an antique armoire (if wall allows) to counter balance the large doors on other wall and for storage of books and magazines, candles, etc. Thyme is a well-loved and time-honored perennial herb. Herbalists have used sorrel as part of natural treatments for nasal and respiratory tract inflammations, as a diuretic, and to treat bacterial infections. her homesteading skills are unmatched, she raises chickens, goats, horses, a wide variety of vegetables, not to mention she’s an expert is all sorts of homesteading skills such as hide tanning, doll making, tree tapping and many, many more. Although chives are part of the onion family, they are truly an herb, and can grow quite well in light to partial shade. Or have I misunderstood? Although this herb plant is often looked upon as a mere weed (one that prickles your skin relentlessly), stinging nettles are absolutely edible once they have been processed. Not only will doing so allow you to maximize your growing area, but will introduce new tastes, scents, and home remedy options to your family – perhaps creating some new favorites that will be grown on the land for generations to come. Every part of the Angelica herb is edible, but the root is poisonous. This shade thriving herb is often grown to use as a fragrance because it may have a more pungent taste than other more common varieties of oregano. If the plant is happy where it is, the mature plants will easily reach 4 to 5 feet in height.